South Carolina CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry.
Visit Official Registry2 years
Renewal Period
At least 8 hours of paid, supervised nursing-related work during the prior 24 months
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your South Carolina CNA License
Open the CNA365 South Carolina registry search
Go to cna365.examroom.ai/registry/?StateCode=SC in any browser. This is the official public search for the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry, operated by Credentia on behalf of SCDHHS. It is free and available 24/7.
Enter the CNA's identifying information
Provide the aide's first name, last name, city, and date of birth - or the South Carolina nurse aide registration number. The combination of name plus date of birth (or registration number) is required to prevent false matches when there are CNAs with similar names.
Review status, registration number, and expiration
The result page shows the aide's name, current registry status (active, expired, lapsed, or with findings), South Carolina registration number, original certification date, and expiration date. Any substantiated abuse, neglect, or misappropriation finding posted by SCDHHS is also visible.
Contact Credentia or SCDHHS for additional verification
For phone verification or employer pre-hire confirmation, call Credentia at (888) 204-6249. For SCDHHS policy or reciprocity questions, call (803) 898-2500 or email [email protected] between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
About the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry
The South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry is the official record of certified nurse aides eligible to work in licensed facilities throughout South Carolina. It is maintained by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) - not the Department of Health or the Board of Nursing - making South Carolina one of the few states where Medicaid's state agency administers the CNA registry directly.
Services that feed the registry are provided through CNA365, operated by Credentia. CNA365 handles exam scheduling, NNAAP testing, registry placement (automatic upon passing the exam), renewal, verification, and reciprocity. Public verification is available 24/7 at the CNA365 registry search at cna365.examroom.ai/registry, where employers and the public can confirm a CNA's status, certificate number, and expiration date.
SCDHHS staff handle registry policy, reciprocity decisions, and disciplinary findings Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time at (803) 898-2500 or [email protected]. Mail correspondence and renewal forms go to PO Box 8206, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29202. The renewal fee is $35 every 24 months, paid online through CNA365.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://www.scdhhs.gov/resources/programs-and-initiatives/long-term-living/nursing-facilities/nurse-aidePhone Number
(803) 898-2500Mailing Address
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services\nNurse Aide Registry\nPO Box 8206\n1801 Main Street\nColumbia, SC 29202
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
South Carolina CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
South Carolina uses Credentia to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit CredentiaTraining Requirements
South Carolina requires 100 hours, including 40 hours of supervised clinical experience. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find South Carolina CNA ClassesSouth Carolina CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
South Carolina 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, supervised nursing-related work during 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 look up a South Carolina CNA?
Use the Credentia CNA365 Nurse Aide Registry Search at cna365.examroom.ai/registry/?StateCode=SC. You will need the aide's name, city, and date of birth, or the South Carolina registration number. The search returns current registry status, certificate number, and expiration date. There is no fee. Phone verification is also available by calling Credentia at (888) 204-6249.
Why is the SC CNA Registry administered by SCDHHS instead of DHEC or the Board of Nursing?
South Carolina assigned CNA Registry oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) because SCDHHS is the state Medicaid agency, and the CNA Registry is required under federal Medicaid OBRA rules for any facility receiving Medicaid funding. SCDHHS contracts with Credentia (via CNA365) to handle exam administration, registry placement, renewal, and reciprocity processing on a day-to-day basis.
How often must South Carolina CNAs renew, and what does it cost?
Renewal is every 24 months. The renewal fee is $35, paid online through CNA365. To renew, you must verify at least 8 hours of paid, supervised nursing-related work during the prior 24 months. Renewals filed late or without sufficient work hours may require the CNA to retake the NNAAP exam to be reinstated on the SCDHHS Nurse Aide Registry.
Does South Carolina accept out-of-state CNA reciprocity?
Yes. CNAs in good standing on another state's nurse aide registry can apply for South Carolina reciprocity through CNA365. Required documents include verification of active out-of-state certification, proof of at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work in the past 24 months, and a SLED background check. Credentia forwards approved reciprocity applications to SCDHHS, which posts the CNA to the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry.
How does my name get added to the SC Nurse Aide Registry?
Automatically and at no extra cost. When you pass both the knowledge and skills portions of the NNAAP exam through CNA365, Credentia reports your results directly to SCDHHS, which adds your name to the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry within a few business days. There is no separate state application form, additional fee, or waiting period beyond Credentia's processing time.
How do I contact the South Carolina Nurse Aide Registry?
SCDHHS Nurse Aide Registry: (803) 898-2500 or [email protected], Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Mail: PO Box 8206, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29202. For exam scheduling, renewals, and CNA365-related questions, contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249 (test takers) or (888) 549-0820 (registry services).
South Carolina CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your South Carolina certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the South Carolina 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 South Carolina CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for South Carolina nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on South Carolina CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by South Carolina CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in South Carolina.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active South Carolina CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any South Carolina CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for South Carolina CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by South Carolina CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for South Carolina CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in South Carolina?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in South Carolina, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.