West Virginia

West Virginia CNA Registry

Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry (maintained by the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification).

Visit Official Registry

2 years (24 months)

Renewal Period

At least 8 paid hours of nursing-related work in a state-approved healthcare setting within every 24-month renewal cycle

Work Requirement

Yes

Accepts Reciprocity

Free

Online Lookup

How to Look Up Your West Virginia CNA License

1

Open the OHFLAC Nurse Aide Verification tool

Navigate to ohflac.wvdhhr.org/Apps/Lookup/NALookup. The verification page is operated by the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification and is free to use for employers, family members, and the public, with no account required.

2

Search by name or registry number

Enter the nurse aide's first and last name (partial matches accepted) or the West Virginia state-assigned registration number. Employers should always cross-check name and another identifier when possible to avoid mismatches in common-name cases or to differentiate between CNA and AMAP listings.

3

Review status, expiration, and findings

Results show current status (Active, Inactive, or Findings), certification effective and expiration dates, the issuing program, and any substantiated abuse, neglect, or misappropriation findings under 64 CSR 100. Print or save the verification page for HR compliance records, especially if the nurse aide is being hired into a federally certified facility.

4

Confirm by phone if the record is unclear

If the online record looks ambiguous - for example, a pending status, a recent transfer, or AMAP overlap - call OHFLAC at (304) 558-0050 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET) or email [email protected]. OHFLAC can issue formal letters of good standing for reciprocity applications to other states.

About the West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry (maintained by the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification)

The West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry is maintained by the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) within the West Virginia Department of Health and is the legal source of truth for verifying that an individual has completed an approved 120-hour training program, passed the Professional Healthcare Development competency exam, and cleared a West Virginia Cares background check. OHFLAC also maintains the parallel Approved Medication Assistive Personnel (AMAP) registry for nurse aides who have completed additional training.

OHFLAC operates the public Nurse Aide Verification tool at ohflac.wvdhhr.org/Apps/Lookup/NALookup, which lets employers and the public search by name or registry number free of charge. The registry returns active or inactive status, certificate expiration date, and any substantiated findings. The OHFLAC office in Charleston is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, and the program team can be reached at (304) 558-0050 or [email protected].

West Virginia's registry is closely integrated with PHD, which posts competency exam results electronically and triggers placement on the registry once OHFLAC reviews and approves the candidate's training documentation and background check. There is no registry application fee, and the standard renewal cycle is straightforward: maintain at least 8 paid hours of nursing-related work every 24 months and submit a renewal form to OHFLAC before expiration.

Contact Information

Phone Number

(304) 558-0050

Mailing Address

Office of Health Facility Licensure & Certification Nurse Aide/AMAP Programs 408 Leon Sullivan Way Charleston, WV 25301

Hours of Operation

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

West Virginia CNA Testing Information

Testing Vendor

West Virginia uses Professional Healthcare Development, LLC (PHD) under contract with OHFLAC to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.

Visit Professional Healthcare Development, LLC (PHD) under contract with OHFLAC

Training Requirements

West Virginia requires 120 hours minimum, including 55 hours of supervised clinical practice in an OHFLAC-approved nursing facility. Training programs must be approved by the state.

Find West Virginia CNA Classes

West Virginia CNA Renewal Requirements

Renewal Period

West Virginia 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 At least 8 paid hours of nursing-related work in a state-approved healthcare setting within every 24-month renewal cycle 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 West Virginia nurse aide certification?

Use OHFLAC's free Nurse Aide Verification tool at ohflac.wvdhhr.org/Apps/Lookup/NALookup. You can search by name or state-assigned registration number to confirm certification status, expiration date, and any substantiated abuse or neglect findings. For phone confirmation, call OHFLAC at (304) 558-0050 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday.

What is OHFLAC and how does it differ from the West Virginia Board of Nursing?

The Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) is the state agency that licenses nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, behavioral health facilities, and home health agencies in West Virginia and maintains the state's Nurse Aide Registry. The West Virginia Board of Nursing handles licensing of RNs, LPNs, and APRNs, but does not regulate CNAs. All West Virginia CNA matters go through OHFLAC at 408 Leon Sullivan Way in Charleston.

How often does a West Virginia CNA have to renew?

Every 24 months. Renewal requires at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work in a state-approved healthcare setting during the prior 2-year cycle. Renewal applications can be submitted to OHFLAC up to 60 days before the certification expires, and West Virginia does not charge a fee for renewing an active certificate. CNAs whose certification has lapsed must complete an OHFLAC-approved refresher or repeat the full 120-hour training and PHD competency exam.

Is West Virginia CNA reciprocity available?

Yes. CNAs with an active, in-good-standing certification from another state and no substantiated findings on the other state's abuse registry may apply for West Virginia reciprocity through OHFLAC. Applicants submit a reciprocity packet, evidence of out-of-state certification, and complete a West Virginia Cares background check. There is no reciprocity fee, and most applications are processed within 2-4 weeks.

What does the West Virginia Cares background check cover?

The West Virginia Cares program combines a West Virginia State Police criminal history check, an FBI national fingerprint-based check, and an Office of Inspector General federal exclusion search into one workflow tied to the candidate's CNA application. The check screens for disqualifying offenses listed in 64 CSR 100, including violent crimes, sexual offenses, theft from a vulnerable adult, and Medicare/Medicaid fraud convictions.

How do I report a name or address change to OHFLAC?

Submit a written request - signed and dated - that includes your full legal name, registry number, old address, new address, and a photocopy of your government-issued ID. Mail it to OHFLAC at 408 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301, fax (304) 558-2515, or email [email protected]. Updates typically appear in the registry within 5-10 business days.

West Virginia CNA Refresher Topics

Whether you are preparing to renew your West Virginia certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry (maintained by the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification) 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 West Virginia CNA returning to active status.

Infection Control

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

Safety & Emergencies

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

Personal Care & Elimination

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

Dementia & Cognitive Care

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

Body Systems & Conditions

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

Legal & Ethical Issues

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

Communication & SBAR

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

Data Collection & Reporting

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

End-of-Life Care

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

Becoming a CNA in West Virginia?

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