Once you pass your CNA exam and officially become a Certified Nursing Assistant, it will be important to routinely check your licensure status to make sure it stays current. You will also be responsible for providing potential employers with proof of your license, such as your certificate or your certificate number. This will be important as you are applying for CNA jobs. It is also critical that your CNA license stay current with your state’s CNA registry.
Reasons to Lookup Your CNA License to Confirm It Is Active
There are various reasons to confirm a CNA License. The first reason is to verify that your license is currently active. This is important because if you find that your license is no longer active, you will not be eligible to pursue work as a CNA. Most states require by law or regulation that your license stays active and gets renewed over time.
The next reason to look up your CNA license is to check that your license is in good standing. If you think that you may have been reported for a negative charge such as abuse or neglect, it is important to keep an eye on your current status. In the event that you do find a negative report on your license, you should get in touch with the regulatory agency in your state that managed CNA, such as a state board of nursing. A serious, confirmed accusation could result in a license suspension or revocation. It may also prevent you for gaining employment.
Another reason to verify your CNA license is to confirm your renewal date. Don’t wait until you are past this date. Reinstating a lapsed license is much more complicated than renewing a current one. Depending on the state, the process of renewing a CNA license if it has expired can be cumbersome and time-consuming. The guide for renewing your CNA license can be found here. If you don’t know your date, perform a CNA license lookup to make sure you stay ahead of when the expiration date is pending so you can give yourself ample time to renew.
Finally, you may need to look up your certificate to find your license number. You will need your certificate number and status when applying for CNA jobs. If you don’t have it stored with you, you will need to do a CNA license lookup.
How to Lookup your CNA License
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to verify your CNA status is to look it up online. To do this, you will first go to the CNA online registry for your state. At this site, you will be able to do a CNA license look up. You will simply enter your first and last name. Finally, you will receive your certificate number and current CNA status.
CNA License Lookup By State
Looking for your state’s website for checking CNA licenses? All 50 states are listed here below:
For checking on this license in a traditional fashion, upon successful completion of your certified nursing assistant exam, most states will send a hard copy of your paper certificate and license number. Unfortunately, these copies can sometimes become misplaced. If this happens, there are several options available to you to look up and verify your CNA license. You can use the online option, which most CNAs are now doing. Another way to find your certification number is to contact the regulatory agency in your state. Each state has a Board of Nursing, Health Department or Labor extension that manages the process of Certified Nurse Aides going through classes, administering the CNA exam and maintaining the state’s CNA registry. Depending on the rules and regulations of that particular office, there are several ways they can give you the requested information. They may give it over the phone, assist you in the steps to find information online, or send a copy of your certificate in the mail.
Looking up a CNA license number and status is not usually a complicated task. By following the above steps, you can simplify an uncomplicated process even more, while staying in compliance with your state’s regulations and making sure your license is verified and without any complaints.