Maryland Nurse Aide Registry

Maryland Nurse Aide Registry
Maryland Board of Nursing
4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215
Phone: (410) 585-1900 or (888) 202-9861

As stated by the Maryland Board of Nursing, a nurse aide may not work in a nurse aide position without being certified. While the nurse aide certification is the most basic one, one individual may hold several additional certifications which will be added to the CNA certification card. In addition to a nurse aide certificate you may hold the following certificates: home health aide, geriatric nursing assistant, certified medicine aide, and dialysis technician. As a certified nurse aide in the state of Maryland you will need to renew your certificate every two years. Any additional certifications you may possess will also expire when your nursing assistant certification expires. Upon renewals a nurse aide needs to pay for the basic nursing assistant certification renewal only, without being charged a renewal fee for any of the other credentials. If you wish to work as a nurse aide in Maryland and hold certification in another state, you may qualify for endorsement of transfer of your current, active certification. An out-of-state nurse assistant may endorse a certification directly to Maryland from these states: Delaware, Kansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Maine, New York, Oregon, Idaho, and Illinois.

CNA Registries in the United States

Select an area from the map below to find addresses and phone numbers for Nurse Aide Registries in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia as well as links to online nursing assistant registries if available.

Nursing Assistant Registries

Should you know about your state's nursing assistant registry? Absolutely. A state's nurse aide registry serves important functions for any certified nursing assistant as well as for those looking to become certified. An individual who has finished a nursing assistant training program and has passed the state competency exam becomes listed on the CNA registry. Employers check the registry listings to confirm that a potential employee satisfies the training and testing requirements to obtain a nursing assistant job. To work as a certified nursing assistant, your status on the CNA registry must be active, without any charges of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. It is important to update your name and address on the registry. By doing so, your information is current and you are able to receive important documents sent by the registry.

For example, renewal forms are mailed to the address you have provided to the registry. You will not receive the certification renewal forms unless your address on the registry is accurate. One of the most frequent questions we get is how to get a copy of a CNA certificate. The nurse aide registry is in charge of issuing a duplicate of your nurse aide certificate and to obtain a copy you need to contact them. A nursing assistant certificate is typically reprinted when the original has been lost, accidentally destroyed, stolen, or when the individual has changed their name. The nurse aide registry is also the entity in charge of revoking a nursing assistant's certification in cases of neglect, abuse, or misappropriation of a client's property. In such cases, an individual's name is permanently listed on the registry along with the specific findings.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Lula on August 17, 2013 at 12:41 AM
I took the CNA training in Washington DC. I live in Maryland and I want to take the CNA exam in Maryland. Would you please let me know if I can do that and if so where in Maryland? Thanks!


Admin on August 18, 2013 at 10:44 PM
As far as I know, even though you have completed a CNA training program in Washington DC, you may not challenge the state test in Maryland. To become certified in Maryland you need to obtain CNA certification in Washington DC first, and then apply for endorsement in Maryland. Endorsement applicants from Washington DC must challenge and pass the Maryland CNA exam in order to become certified in this state. You should contact the Maryland nurse aide registry to verify this information and to get answers to any additional questions you may have. Good luck!


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CNA Resources

Being a Successful C.N.A

Besides knowledge and proficiency there are many qualities which define a competent CNA. Our list includes the answers of residents, families, and those of experienced nurse aides who have been in the health care field for an extended period of time. Most of the qualities listed below represent the reasons and motivational factors driving new individuals to become certified nurse aides.


A competent CNA shows support for others, as well as patience, compassion and empathy. To become a good nursing assistant one needs to understand the meaning of being a team player. An effective nursing assistant learns to become a good listener who cares about and understands the needs of the residents, has a helping nature and a positive attitude. Both patients and co-workers appreciate a smile, an upbeat personality, as well as someone who takes pride in their work. A nurse aide job requires good organizational skills, patience, good judgment, and effective communication.

CNA Training Programs

Nurse Aide Registries

Alaska Wyoming Oklahoma Washington DC Delaware Maryland Maryland Delaware New Jersey New Jersey Connecticut Connecticut Rhode Island Rhode Island Massachusetts Massachusetts Vermont New Hampshire Vermont New Hampshire Missouri Indiana Pennsylvania Alabama Maine New York West Virginia Wisconsin Ohio Virginia North Carolina South Carolina Louisiana Mississippi Florida Georgia Tennessee Illinois Michigan Michigan Minnesota Utah Kentucky Kansas South Dakota Arizona Idaho Washington State California Arkansas Texas Nebraska North Dakota Iowa Hawaii Nevada Oregon New Mexico Colorado Montana