CNA Informational Section

Click on the topic name below to view more detailed information.

How to Become a CNA

To become a CNA, you will be required to attend a training program or you can use your education and training as a nursing student or military personnel. 

TO ATTEND A TRAINING PROGRAM: 

A list of approved nurse aid training programs can be found by utilizing the following link:

HSS - Nurse Aide Training Schools | Louisiana Department of Health 

OR 

HOW TO USE YOUR EDUCATION AND TRAINING AS A NURSING STUDENT

OR MILITARY PERSONNEL, please see below. 

RN and LPN students who have completed sufficient course content may be eligible to test for certification, if the application and required documentation is submitted within 3 years of taking relevant nursing courses. 

RNs and LPNs (LVN)s who trained in other countries will be required to test in order to be certified to the Registry. 

Military personnel and RN/LPNs will be required to test in order to be certified to the Registry. Approval requires verification of training as well as other criteria determine eligibility for certification. Documentation may include, but is not limited to:

  • Military Personnel 
    • Military Transcript 
    • DD-214
  • RNs & LPNs
    • Official Transcript
    • Nursing License
    • Consent Order
    • Related Documentation, if applicable

Submission of this information with the application will allow quicker processing. 

Complete the LA Nurse Aide Certification--Approval to Test Application and submit all required documentation noted on the application. If approved, you will receive an approval letter via email that will provide additional instructions for certification testing.  

Please note: 

  • The Nurse Aide Registry does not offer the certification exam. You will be required to schedule the exam with a testing provider: Prometric or LCTCS, and will be responsible for the cost of the exam. 
  • Obsolete application and unofficial transcripts will NOT be accepted. 
  • Information may be submitted by mail or email to [email protected].
  • You will have one (1) opportunity within 12 months of the date of the approval letter to pass both portions of the test.

If additional information is needed, you will be notified once your application has been reviewed. 

Submission of documentation with the application will prevent delays in the approval. 

Reciprocity

Reciprocity allows a nurse aide who is certified in one state to transfer their certification to another state.

To transfer TO Louisiana:

You must have an active certification and be in good standing in all states where you are currently certified.

As of July 1, 2018, Prometric processes all reciprocity applications for Louisiana.

Before applying, please review the "Reciprocity Procedure" document.

When submitting your application to Prometric, you must include:

  • The required application fee
  • A clear, legible copy of your Social Security card
  • A valid Louisiana ID (such as a driver’s license or state ID). A military ID is also accepted.
  • Note: If you live within 30 miles of the Louisiana border, a Louisiana ID is not required.

Mail all required documents to Prometric: 
Prometric
ATTN: LA Nurse Aide Program
6211 Greenleigh Avenue Suite 400
Middle River, MD 21220

To transfer FROM Louisiana to Another State:

If you are certified nurse aide in Louisiana and wish to transfer your certification to another state, you must contact the Nurse Aide Registry in the state where you are applying. Each state has its own process and requirements.

 You can find contact information for all state registries through the Directory of State Registries.

Important Information:

  • The Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry does not complete reciprocity forms for other states. Any forms submitted will be returned to the applicant.
  • Required verification information can be printed directly from the public Registry lookup page.
  • The Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry does not maintain records such as original certificates, training transcripts, exam scores, etc. If you need this information, please contact your training program directly.
Certification Renewal

Nurse aides are automatically recertified at midnight on the date their certification is set to expire, if the required work history has been reported to the Nurse Aide Registry by the provider/facility prior to the end of the certification period.

If the required work history is not reported within the 24-month certification period, the certification will expire, and the nurse aide’s status will be updated to “Not Certified.”

Nurse aides whose certification has lapsed due to unreported work history should contact the provider/facility where the work was performed and request that they submit the work history to the Registry.

If certification is lost despite the nurse aide having the required work history (but it was not reported for any reason), the work history may still be submitted to the Registry by the facility/provider in accordance with the instructions outlined in the Work History Reporting section. Certification status will be updated to “Certified” once all requirements are verified and met.

Nurse aides who are not certified because they do not have the required work history may be eligible to retest for recertification, provided they have not exceeded the retest required by date.

The nurse aide may retest to be certified again (provided there is no other reason which would prohibit recertification). Aides may go to the verification section and verify their status to find out if they are eligible to retest. Retesting instructions are outlined in CNA Recertification section.

CNA Recertification: Retesting and Retraining Requirements

Nurse aides are certified for 2 years, beginning with the certification date.

Nurse aides are required to work at least 8 hours during every 24 month period (2 years) once certified. The 8 hours must include "nursing or nurse related" duties and must be performed in approved licensed settings such as: nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, personal care attendant agencies, assisted living programs, hospice agencies, respite agencies, supervised independent living agencies, adult day health care programs, and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ICF/DD) programs).

Note: Hours worked in settings other than nursing homes are not required to be reported by the provider, but it is recommended to submit to ensure certification renewal.

Regaining Expired Certification

If your CNA certification has expired, it can be regained through retesting or retraining.

Retesting Requirements

  • Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) whose certification has expired and is listed as “Not Certified” on the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry may be eligible to retest.
  • Retesting is allowed within two (2) years from the certification expiration date.

Please ensure you are still within this required timeframe, by reviewing your retest required by date, this information is available on the CNA Registry. To view, scroll up the webpage to the Verification section, then click the 'Verify the Status of CNA' button. 

Please note the following:

  • You will have ONLY one (1) attempt to pass both parts of the test (written/oral and skills exam).
  • If you fail ANY portion of the test, retraining will be required.
  • Additionally, if your certification has been expired for more than two (2) years, retraining is required.

If you wish to retest, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has two approved testing vendors: 

Retraining Requirements

  • You must retrain if:
    • Your certification has been expired for more than two years
    • You unsuccessfully attempted the retest/recertification exam
  • Retraining may involve completing another Nurse Aide Training Program provided there are no other factors prohibiting recertification.
  • CNAs who lost certification due to not having work history may also retest or retrain.
    • To determine eligibility for retesting or retraining, you must verify your certification status on the CNA Registry. To view, scroll up the webpage to the Verification secion, then click the 'Verify the Status of CNA' button. 

For further instructions refer to the following section:  Nurse Aide Certification Status Verification

Registry Record Update(s) for Active CNAs

To request a name change, update, and/or correction(s), to your Registry record, you may submit your request by email to [email protected].

For name changes or record corrections, please include ALL of the following:

  • The CNA’s full name as it currently appears on record
  • The updated full name (if requesting a name change)
  • A brief explanation of the requested change
  • A copy of a valid ID or driver’s license
  • A copy of your Social Security card

For updates to your address, telephone number, and/or email address, please include ALL of the following:

  • The CNA’s full name as it currently appears on record
  • CNA’s certification number or social security number
  • A brief explanation of the requested change, along with the updated information to be reflected in your record
  • A copy of a valid ID or driver’s license

Providing complete and accurate documentation will help ensure your request is processed in a timely manner.

Surgeon General Evelyn Griffin, MD

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

Powered by Cicero Government