Nursing Assistant Questions and Answers

I let my CNA license expire last year. To obtain a new one do I have to retake the class hours and redo my clinicals? Or can I just re-take all the certification tests in order to obtain a license?
Even though your certificate has lapsed, I believe you only need to re-take the Indiana nursing assistant exam in order to re-certify. Call the registry or the Ivy Tech Community College to verify this information. The Ivy Tech Community College is the entity responsible for administering the CNA state test in Indiana.

I moved to TN a month ago, and when I called my home state which is Indiana they told me that I had to ask for the reciprocity form, so I am completely confused. I just want to work at my chosen profession which is as a CNA. Any help would be appreciated.
An updated version of this answer is available.
You have to print and fill out a form called the Verification of Out-Of-State Nurse Aide Registration Application. This form has two parts which must be completed in full before submission. The first part must be completed by you, the nurse aide, while the second part is completed by the Nurse Aide Registry of Indiana. Once you complete the first part of the application you need to mail it to the Nurse Aide Registry of the state where you are registered as a nursing assistant, in your case Indiana. After the Indiana NAR completes their part of the application, the form is sent to the new state, Tennessee. Make sure all the information is clear, accurate, and complete. You also need to submit copies of the following documents: social security card and a form of identification such as a driver's license. The state of Tennessee does not charge a fee associated with the process of reciprocity, but you must ask the NAR for the state of Indiana if they require any fees.

Read Answers to Related Questions

I just moved to Washington State and I am trying to get my nurse aide license switched from Indiana to Washington but I am have trouble finding out how to go about it. Any suggestions?

How do I transfer my nursing assistant certification from Indiana to Nevada?

I received my CNA certification on 08/25/09. I tried several websites but was unable to locate the search form. My test was from Ivy Tech Community College. How do I find my name and license number on the Indiana Nurse Aide Registry?

I am a CNA and I am on the North Carolina CNA registry. I am moving to Indiana from Charlotte, North Carolina. How would I go about getting a form or testing information to become a certified nursing assistant in Indiana?

I am interested in registering for the CNA course but I would like to know who at your college teaches CNA classes and if you are you accredited by the state?

I want to start taking CNA classes as soon as possible but I do not have my GED. Will I still be able to become a CNA?

I am a bachelor of science in nursing degree holder from the Philippines and I want to take the CNA test before challenging the NCLEX exam to be an RN. Where can I find the requirements for the CNA exam?

Are accelerated CNA courses as good as traditional training classes?

Where can I get a copy of my CNA certification?

Can a person with a misdemeanor become a CNA?

How do I check to see if my CNA license is expired or inactive?

What are the training requirements for certified nursing assistants planning to work in assisted living facilities?

Will a flag on the CNA Registry prevent me from attending nursing school?

My certification expires at the end of this month but I worked as an CNA last year in September. How do I keep my certification active?

I had just received my CNA license about two months ago and was wondering if I could get another one. I had lost it and am unable to find it. I haven't even registered yet.

Is it true that the CNA test is given using a computer?

How do I find schools in my area that offer CNA classes?

How can I get the nursing assistant training videos so that I can use them to teach classes at a small nurse agency?

How long do I have to wait after taking the certified nursing assistant state exam to get the results?

I would like to know if I can recertify my CNA license. I would like to know the costs in doing this. I am interested in recertifying, so I can begin working as a CNA again.

I am curious to when and where I can take the CNA exam?

I am 52 years old female. Am I too old to be accepted for nursing assistant training? Can I take the CNA test?

I worked as a CNA from 1999 to 2008 and I am wondering if I would be able to challenge the exam or if I would have to take the class over again?

How can I get free CNA training videos and CNA practice exams?

My nursing assistant certification expired. Do I have to retake the CNA course all over again or do I just take the CNA exam?

How do I check the status of my nursing assistant certification?

When do CNA licenses expire and how do I keep my nursing assistant certification active?

Can I be registered as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in more than one state at the same time?

I lost my nursing assistant license and I am wondering if it possible to get my CNA license number online?

My CNA license is about to expire. How do I renew it?

Is it possible to renew my nursing assistant license online and how?

Is it typical to use a staffing agency to get job placement after becoming a CNA?

Can I join a CNA training course as a J-2 visa holder? Am I allowed to work as a certified nursing assistant after I finish the training and pass the certification exam?

Could you give some examples of questions I might be asked at a CNA job interview?

Is there an example of the CNA test online I can take?

My girlfriend is already a caregiver who has worked at a facility for over two years, is it possible for her to take the test instead of enrolling in a CNA class or must she enroll beforehand?

What are the requirements for online CNA classes?

Why is it so hard to find a job as a CNA?

How can nursing assistants become registered or practical nurses?

Can a foreign certified nursing assistant challenge the CNA exam without additional training?

CNA Resources

What is a Nursing Assistant?

A CNA is an entry level, certified healthcare worker. To obtain CNA certification, a nursing assistant trainee must complete a series of courses which teach the student basic skills needed to assist with patient care. A nurse aide is knowledgeable about client safety and transportation, assisting with activities of daily living, communicating with clients and nursing staff, performing basic procedures such as taking vital signs and weighing, and recording intake and output. A certified nursing assistant spends the majority of their working time at the patient's bedside, providing comfort, hygiene, and support.


State approved CNA training programs teach nurse aide trainees how to become competent care givers. The theoretical section of a nursing assistant program is augmented by the clinical portion, by reinforcing and practicing the knowledge gained in the classroom. The length of a nurse aide course depends on the facility providing the training. Some programs may require as little as three weeks to complete, while others may take two to three months. Fast paced courses are not for everyone, and students have the option to enroll in lengthier programs such as those offered by community colleges. A nurse aide trainee who completes the training is eligible to take the CNA exam. Passing this important examination results in certification and listing on the state nurse aide registry.


Employment opportunities for certified nursing assistants are numerous. The skills of a CNA are needed especially in hospitals, long term care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Other nursing assistant job opportunities exist in the community, such as Home Health Aide. Hospitals may offer educational opportunities and financial incentives to nursing assistants who wish to continue their education and become licensed vocational nurses, or registered nurses.

CNA Training Programs

Nurse Aide Registries