New Hampshire

New Hampshire CNA Registry

Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official New Hampshire Nurse Aide Registry (Licensed Nursing Assistant Registry).

Visit Official Registry

2 years

Renewal Period

At least 200 hours of paid LNA work, OR 24 hours of continuing education, OR completion of a board-approved nursing-assistant education program within the prior 24 months

Work Requirement

Yes

Accepts Reciprocity

Free

Online Lookup

How to Look Up Your New Hampshire CNA License

1

Open the OPLC license verification portal

Navigate to forms.nh.gov/license/ in any web browser. No login or account creation is required for public verifications, and the system can be used 24/7.

2

Select Licensed Nursing Assistant from the profession list

From the profession dropdown, choose Licensed Nursing Assistant (LNA). The system will limit the search to active and inactive LNA records in the New Hampshire registry only.

3

Enter the licensee's name or license number

Type the LNA's full last name plus first name, or the license number if you have it. Partial matches are supported. Click Search to retrieve any matching records.

4

Review status, expiration, and any disciplinary actions

The result displays current status (Active, Inactive, Lapsed, Suspended, or Revoked), original issue date, expiration date, and any board orders. Save or print the page for your personnel file as documentation that you checked the registry.

About the New Hampshire Nurse Aide Registry (Licensed Nursing Assistant Registry)

The New Hampshire Nurse Aide Registry is operated by the Board of Nursing within the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC). Because New Hampshire issues a license (rather than a certification) to its LNAs, the registry doubles as both the federally required CMS nurse-aide registry and the state license-verification database, giving employers a single source of truth for status, expiration, and disciplinary actions.

Verification is handled through the OPLC online licensing portal, where employers, schools, and the public can search by name or license number for any LNA. The portal also lists pending disciplinary actions and any final orders entered against a licensee under NH Admin Code Nur 700, which makes New Hampshire one of the most transparent registry states in New England.

The Board of Nursing maintains tight ties with the state's three approved competency testing vendors-Excel Testing, Pearson VUE, and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts-and receives passing exam results directly from each vendor. This automated reporting shortens the time between exam completion and registry listing to as little as 5-10 business days for complete applications.

Contact Information

Phone Number

(603) 271-2152

Mailing Address

NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification\nBoard of Nursing\n7 Eagle Square\nConcord, NH 03301

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ET

New Hampshire CNA Testing Information

Testing Vendor

New Hampshire uses Excel Testing (primary), Pearson VUE, and American Red Cross of Massachusetts to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.

Visit Excel Testing (primary), Pearson VUE, and American Red Cross of Massachusetts

Training Requirements

New Hampshire requires 100 hours, including 60 hours of supervised clinical practice. Training programs must be approved by the state.

Find New Hampshire CNA Classes

New Hampshire CNA Renewal Requirements

Renewal Period

New Hampshire CNA certification is valid for 2 years from the date of initial certification or last renewal.

Work Requirement

You must perform at least At least 200 hours of paid LNA work, OR 24 hours of continuing education, OR completion of a board-approved nursing-assistant education program within the prior 24 months 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 an LNA's license in New Hampshire?

Use the OPLC online license verification system at forms.nh.gov/license/. Choose Licensed Nursing Assistant from the profession dropdown and enter the licensee's name or license number. The result shows current status, license number, original issue date, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions. Employers should print or save the verification record for their personnel file.

What is the work requirement to renew a New Hampshire LNA license?

Per Nur 401.05, you must affirm one of three options at each biennial renewal: at least 200 hours of paid LNA work in the prior 24 months, 24 contact hours of board-approved continuing education in the same period, or completion of an OPLC-approved LNA training program within the 24 months before the renewal date.

Does the New Hampshire registry accept out-of-state CNAs?

Yes. The OPLC accepts endorsement applications from CNAs in good standing on another state's registry whose training totaled at least 75 hours and included a CMS-compliant competency exam. You apply directly through the OPLC online licensing portal and pay the same $63 license fee as in-state candidates. Processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks once all out-of-state verifications are received.

How long does it take for a new LNA to appear on the registry?

Most candidates appear on the registry within 5-10 business days after passing both portions of the competency exam, provided their application, $63 fee, and background check are already on file. Excel Testing, Pearson VUE, and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts each report passing scores directly to the OPLC, eliminating the need for candidates to forward paper score reports.

What happens if my New Hampshire LNA license lapses?

If your license expires, you may reinstate within 12 months by paying the renewal fee plus a late penalty and meeting one of the standard renewal-affirmation options. If more than 12 months have passed, the OPLC may require you to retake the competency exam through one of the three approved testing vendors before issuing a new license number.

Are abuse and neglect findings public on the New Hampshire LNA registry?

Yes. Final Board of Nursing disciplinary actions and any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property are part of the public licensee record and appear on the OPLC verification result. Findings are also reported to the federal Nurse Aide Registry Identifier system maintained by CMS, which means they follow a former LNA into any other state that checks federally.

New Hampshire CNA Refresher Topics

Whether you are preparing to renew your New Hampshire certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the New Hampshire Nurse Aide Registry (Licensed Nursing Assistant Registry) reinstatement exam, these free guides cover the topics most commonly tested:

Patient Rights & HIPAA

OBRA '87 resident rights, mandatory reporting, advance directives — essential for any New Hampshire CNA returning to active status.

Infection Control

Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for New Hampshire nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.

Safety & Emergencies

Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on New Hampshire CNA reinstatement exams.

Personal Care & Elimination

Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by New Hampshire CNAs in long-term care.

Dementia & Cognitive Care

Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in New Hampshire.

Body Systems & Conditions

Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active New Hampshire CNAs.

Legal & Ethical Issues

Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any New Hampshire CNA renewing certification.

Communication & SBAR

SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for New Hampshire CNAs.

Data Collection & Reporting

Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by New Hampshire CNAs.

End-of-Life Care

Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for New Hampshire CNAs in long-term care settings.

Becoming a CNA in New Hampshire?

See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in New Hampshire, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.