Wisconsin CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry (maintained by the Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality).
Visit Official Registry2 years (24 months)
Renewal Period
At least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services under the supervision of an RN or LPN every 24 months
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Wisconsin CNA License
Open the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry search page
Navigate to dhs.wisconsin.gov/caregiver/nurse-aide and click Nurse Aide Registry Search. The page is maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Office of Caregiver Quality and is free to use for the public, employers, and license holders themselves.
Enter the nurse aide's identifying information
Search by first and last name (partial matches accepted), date of birth, or Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry number. Employers should always cross-check both name and date of birth to avoid common-name false positives, especially in larger Wisconsin healthcare systems.
Review status, expiration, and findings
Results display current status (Active, Inactive, or Findings Pending), the most recent certification action date, the next 24-month renewal due date, and any substantiated abuse, neglect, or misappropriation findings under Wisconsin Statute 146.40. Print or save the verification page for HR or compliance files.
Confirm by phone or email when in doubt
If the online record is unclear - especially for pending findings or pre-2015 transfer records - call the DHS Office of Caregiver Quality at (608) 261-8319 or email [email protected]. Wisconsin staff typically reply within two business days and can issue a written letter of good standing for out-of-state reciprocity applications.
About the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry (maintained by the Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality)
The Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry is operated by the Office of Caregiver Quality within the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and is the official record of every individual legally authorized to work as a nurse aide in a Wisconsin skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, hospital, hospice, or home health agency. The registry tracks active status, expiration dates, training completion, substantiated misconduct findings, and dual listings for CNAs who also hold Wisconsin Medication Aide or Resident Care Assistant credentials.
Wisconsin's registry is unusual in that exam delivery (handled by D&SDT-Headmaster through the TestMaster Universe portal at wi.tmuniverse.com) is separated from registry maintenance (handled by the DHS Office of Caregiver Quality), and historically Pearson VUE has also supported registry technology. Public verification is free and available through the DHS Nurse Aide Registry online search, by phone at (608) 261-8319, or by email at [email protected].
Wisconsin places caregivers on the registry only after they pass both the Knowledge Exam and the Skills Test administered by Headmaster and clear a Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check. Registry status remains active as long as the nurse aide completes 8 hours of paid nursing-related work every 24 months - one of the most permissive maintenance rules in the country - and renewals are processed through the DHS without an additional fee.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/caregiver/nurse-aide/index.htmPhone Number
(608) 261-8319Mailing Address
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Office of Caregiver Quality - Nurse Aide Registry P.O. Box 2969 Madison, WI 53701-2969
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central Time
Wisconsin CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Wisconsin uses D&SDT-Headmaster (Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Testing) with Pearson VUE historically supporting registry services to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit D&SDT-Headmaster (Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Testing) with Pearson VUE historically supporting registry servicesTraining Requirements
Wisconsin requires Federal minimum of 75 hours including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training; most Wisconsin Technical College System programs deliver 120 hours. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Wisconsin CNA ClassesWisconsin CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Wisconsin 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 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services under the supervision of an RN or LPN every 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 check if someone is on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry?
Use the free online search at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Nurse Aide Registry page (dhs.wisconsin.gov/caregiver/nurse-aide/nar-search.htm). You can search by name, by date of birth, or by registry number. The results display active or inactive status, certification expiration date, and any substantiated misconduct findings. Employers can also verify status by phone at (608) 261-8319 or by emailing [email protected].
How long does a Wisconsin CNA certification stay active?
Wisconsin CNA certification remains active as long as the nurse aide completes at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work under the supervision of an RN or LPN within each rolling 24-month cycle. If the work requirement is met, certification renews automatically with no action and no fee. CNAs who fail the work requirement move to inactive status and must retest or document 2,088 hours of qualifying work in the prior two years for reinstatement.
Is there a fee to be listed on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry?
There is no fee to be added to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry after passing both portions of the Headmaster competency exam, and there is no fee to maintain active status as long as the 8-hour work requirement is met every 24 months. The only mandatory expenses are the $137.75 exam fee (or $142.95 for the audio version) and the Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, which is typically around $38 for fingerprinting.
Does Wisconsin accept CNA reciprocity from other states?
Yes. Wisconsin accepts reciprocity for nurse aides who hold an active, in-good-standing certification in another state and have no substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on any state's registry. Applicants complete the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry application and a Caregiver Background Check; out-of-state license verification is requested directly from the original state. There is no reciprocity fee, and decisions are typically issued within 30 days.
Where do I report changes to my Wisconsin registry record?
Changes to your name, address, or employment status are submitted to the Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality by completing a Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry Renewal Form (F-03211), available on the DHS website. The form can be returned by fax to (608) 226-5524 or by email to [email protected]. Employers in Wisconsin also have a separate obligation to report nurse aide employment via the providers page on the DHS site.
What disqualifies someone from the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry?
Wisconsin permanently bars individuals with substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property from the registry under Wis. Stat. 146.40. Certain criminal offenses identified in DHS 12 - including felonies involving violence, sexual assault, theft from a vulnerable adult, or controlled substance trafficking - also result in denial through the Caregiver Background Check, although a rehabilitation review process is available for some offenses.
Wisconsin CNA Refresher Topics
Whether you are preparing to renew your Wisconsin certification, brushing up before returning to work, or studying for the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry (maintained by the Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality) 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 Wisconsin CNA returning to active status.
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE protocols, and transmission-based precautions for Wisconsin nurse aides working with vulnerable residents.
Safety & Emergencies
Fall prevention, RACE/PASS fire response, choking, and CPR — heavily tested on Wisconsin CNA reinstatement exams.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, toileting, and incontinence management procedures used daily by Wisconsin CNAs in long-term care.
Dementia & Cognitive Care
Validation therapy, sundowning, and de-escalation techniques for working with cognitively impaired residents in Wisconsin.
Body Systems & Conditions
Recognizing strokes (FAST), hypoglycemia, pressure injuries, and CHF — essential clinical knowledge for active Wisconsin CNAs.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, negligence, mandatory reporting, and professional boundaries — review essentials for any Wisconsin CNA renewing certification.
Communication & SBAR
SBAR handoff, therapeutic responses, and adaptations for hearing- or vision-impaired residents — practical refreshers for Wisconsin CNAs.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective documentation, pain scales, and what to report immediately — refresh the rules used daily by Wisconsin CNAs.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, recognizing signs of approaching death, and postmortem care — for Wisconsin CNAs in long-term care settings.
Becoming a CNA in Wisconsin?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Wisconsin, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.