Louisiana CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry.
Visit Official Registry2 years (24 months)
Renewal Period
8 hours of paid nursing duties in an LDH-licensed facility per 24-month period
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Louisiana CNA License
Open the Louisiana CNA/DSW Search tool
Go to the LDH online registry lookup hosted at tlc.dhh.la.gov. This is the official LDH Health Standards Section tool used to verify Louisiana nurse aide certification status, expiration date, and certification number.
Open the Louisiana CNA/DSW SearchEnter the nurse aide's identifying information
Search by full name, Social Security number (entered with dashes), certification number, or any combination of these fields. Using SSN typically returns the most precise single match.
Review the certification record
Scroll to the bottom of the results page to see the nurse aide's original certification date, current status, expiration date, and certification number. Confirm the record matches the applicant and that the status is active and unexpired.
Also screen the Direct Service Worker (DSW) Registry
Louisiana-licensed providers are expected to check the separate DSW Adverse Actions Registry for any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation before hiring. If a status question cannot be resolved online, contact the LDH Nurse Aide Registry at 225-342-0138.
Search the Louisiana DSW Adverse Actions RegistryAbout the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry
The Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry is maintained by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) through its Health Standards Section (HSS), which is responsible for approving Nurse Aide Training Programs (NATPs) and Competency Evaluation Programs (CEPs) statewide. The registry exists to satisfy the federal CMS requirement that every state track the current certification status of certified nursing assistants and document any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property. Long-term care facilities licensed in Louisiana must verify each nurse aide's registry status before allowing them to work.
To be placed on the Louisiana registry, candidates must complete an LDH-HSS approved nurse aide training program of at least 80 hours, broken down into 40 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours, and then pass the state's two-part competency evaluation (a written or oral knowledge test and a clinical skills demonstration) administered by Prometric, Louisiana's contracted testing vendor. Both parts of the exam must be taken on the same day for first-time testers, and all testing must be completed within 12 months of finishing the approved training program.
Louisiana is unusual in that the Health Standards Section operates two separate registries that healthcare employers are expected to check: the Nurse Aide (CNA) Registry at tlc.dhh.la.gov and the Direct Service Worker (DSW) Registry hosted at adverseactions.ldh.la.gov. Most LDH-licensed providers must screen prospective employees against both lists. Out-of-state CNAs who hold an active certification on another state's registry may join Louisiana's registry through a Prometric-managed reciprocity (Route 8) application rather than by retraining or retesting.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://ldh.la.gov/health-standards-section/cna-registryPhone Number
225-342-0138Mailing Address
Louisiana Nurse Aide/Direct Service Worker Registry Louisiana Department of Health - Health Standards Section P.O. Box 3767 Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Louisiana CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Louisiana uses Prometric to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit PrometricTraining Requirements
Louisiana requires Minimum 80 hours (40 classroom + 40 supervised clinical), with 16 classroom hours completed before any clinical work. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Louisiana CNA ClassesLouisiana CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Louisiana CNA certification is valid for 2 years (24 months) from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing duties in an LDH-licensed facility per 24-month period during your certification period to be eligible for renewal.
Employer Verification
Your employer verifies your work hours directly through the registry system. Keep your contact information current with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a CNA's certification on the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry?
Use the free online search tool at https://tlc.dhh.la.gov/. You can look up a nurse aide by name, Social Security number (entered with dashes), certification number, or any combination. The system returns the original certification date, current status, expiration date, and certification number. The Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry no longer accepts written verification requests, so the online lookup is the official method. For status questions you can also contact LDH at 225-342-0138.
How often must a Louisiana CNA renew, and what counts as the work requirement?
Louisiana certifications are valid for 2 years (24 months) from the original certification date. To stay active, the nurse aide must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nurse-related duties during each 24-month period in an LDH-licensed setting such as a nursing home, hospital, home health agency, hospice, assisted living program, adult day health care program, or ICF/DD. Renewal is processed based on employer-reported work history; private duty work and most staffing-agency assignments outside a licensed facility do not qualify.
How does a CNA from another state transfer to Louisiana's registry?
Out-of-state CNAs apply through Route 8 - Reciprocity by submitting the Louisiana CNA Application (selecting Route 8) along with a $35 application fee, a copy of their Social Security card, and a Louisiana government-issued ID or military ID to Prometric - LA Nurse Aide Program, 7941 Corporate Drive, Nottingham, MD 21236, or online through the Prometric portal. Applicants who live within 30 miles of the Louisiana border are not required to obtain a Louisiana ID. Once verified, Prometric forwards the file to LDH for final approval and placement on the registry.
What does it cost to test and apply for Louisiana CNA certification?
Prometric charges a $35 application fee in addition to a $125 fee to take both portions of the Louisiana CNA competency evaluation (the written/oral knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation). Candidates who need to reschedule a scheduled exam pay a $25 reschedule fee. First-time candidates must complete both exam parts on the same day and must finish testing within 12 months of completing their LDH-approved training program.
How do I update my name or address on the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry?
Contact the Louisiana Department of Health Health Standards Section at 225-342-0138 to update your name, address, or other personal information on the Nurse Aide Registry. Name changes require legal documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. You may also email LDH or submit a written request to the registry address in Baton Rouge. Keep your information current with both LDH and the separate DSW Adverse Actions Registry.
What is the Direct Service Worker (DSW) Registry and is it the same as the CNA Registry?
No. The DSW Registry is a separate Louisiana registry, also operated by LDH's Health Standards Section, that tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation against Direct Service Workers. Since October 1, 2018 it is hosted on the Louisiana Adverse Actions site at adverseactions.ldh.la.gov/SelSearch. Most LDH-licensed providers are required to screen prospective employees against BOTH the Nurse Aide Registry (tlc.dhh.la.gov) and the DSW Registry. DSW Registry questions go to 225-342-3240.
Becoming a CNA in Louisiana?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Louisiana, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.