North Dakota CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry.
Visit Official Registry2 years
Renewal Period
At least 8 hours of paid nursing-related services under licensed nurse supervision in the prior 24 months
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your North Dakota CNA License
Open the North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry verification page
Go to services.ndhhs.gov/nurseaide/verify/ in any web browser. No login or paid account is required for public verifications, and the system is available 24/7.
Select the search type
Choose to search by registration number (fastest) or by the CNA's last name and first name. Partial name searches are supported.
Enter the search criteria and submit
Type the registration number or name into the appropriate fields and click Search. The system returns active and inactive matches in the North Dakota registry.
Review the registry record
The result displays the CNA's full name, registration number, registration status, expiration date, and any findings of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation. Save or print the record for your personnel file as documentation of the pre-employment registry check required by federal law.
About the North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry
The North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry is maintained by the Health Facilities Unit within the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS). The Health Facilities Unit is the CMS-designated agency for nurse aide registration and is also the state survey agency for skilled nursing facilities, giving it integrated authority over both CNA credentialing and facility compliance.
Registry verification is delivered through a dedicated online services portal at services.ndhhs.gov/nurseaide, which supports public lookups, new applications, renewals, and interstate endorsement requests. Because NDHHS does not charge any registration or renewal fee, the portal is one of the simplest and most cost-effective CNA registry systems in the country.
D&SDT-Headmaster, based in Helena, Montana, is the state's competency testing contractor and reports passing exam results directly to NDHHS through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform. This integration means new CNAs are typically added to the registry within a few business days after passing both the knowledge and skills components.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://www.hhs.nd.gov/health/regulation-licensure-and-certification/health-facilities-unit/nurse-aide-registryPhone Number
(701) 328-2353Mailing Address
North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services\nHealth Facilities Unit, Nurse Aide Registry\n1720 Burlington Drive, Suite A\nBismarck, ND 58504-7736
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT
North Dakota CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
North Dakota uses D&SDT-Headmaster to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit D&SDT-HeadmasterTraining Requirements
North Dakota requires 75 hours, including 16 hours of pre-clinical instruction before direct resident contact. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find North Dakota CNA ClassesNorth Dakota CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
North Dakota 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 8 hours of paid nursing-related services under licensed nurse supervision in 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 a CNA's North Dakota registry status?
Use the public verification page at services.ndhhs.gov/nurseaide/verify/. You can search by name or registration number to confirm current status, expiration date, and whether any findings of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation of property have been entered. Federal regulations require facilities to check the registry before hiring and at each renewal.
How much does North Dakota charge to be added to the registry?
Nothing. NDHHS does not charge an initial registration fee, and biennial renewal is also free as long as you complete it before your expiration date. The only required testing cost is paid to D&SDT-Headmaster for the competency exam (approximately $125 combined), making North Dakota one of the most affordable registries in the United States.
What hours of work are required to keep a North Dakota CNA registration active?
You must document at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work under the supervision of an RN or LPN in the 24 months preceding your renewal date. This is one of the lowest work-hour thresholds in the country, but it is strictly enforced; falling short means you must retake the Headmaster competency exam before being reinstated to the registry.
Does North Dakota offer CNA reciprocity through the registry?
Yes. Out-of-state CNAs in good standing whose training was at least 75 hours can apply for free interstate endorsement at services.ndhhs.gov/nurseaide/apply/. NDHHS verifies your status with your home-state registry and adds you to the North Dakota registry, typically within 2 to 4 weeks. No retesting is required if you remain in good standing.
How quickly will I appear on the registry after passing the exam?
Headmaster reports passing exam results electronically to NDHHS through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform, so most new CNAs appear on the registry within 3-7 business days of passing both the knowledge and skills components. There is no separate registration form to file after Headmaster submits your scores.
Are abuse and neglect findings public on the North Dakota registry?
Yes. Substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation of resident property are part of the public registry record and appear in the verification result. North Dakota also reports these findings to the federal Nurse Aide Registry Identifier system maintained by CMS, so they follow a former CNA into any other state that checks the federal data.
North Dakota CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your North Dakota certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the North Dakota Nurse Aide 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 North Dakota CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for North Dakota nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on North Dakota CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by North Dakota CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in North Dakota.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active North Dakota CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any North Dakota CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for North Dakota CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by North Dakota CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for North Dakota CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in North Dakota?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in North Dakota, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.