Washington Nurse Aide Registry

Washington State Nursing Assistant Registry
PO Box 45600, Olympia, WA 98504-5600
Phone: (360) 725-2597

For OBRA registry purposes (your running work history) you have to show that you’ve worked a minimum eight (8) hour shift every two (2) years. If you meet this requirement, they add two (2) years to your expiration date. You would have to retrain and retest all over again if you let your certification expire because you do not meet the work requirement. For OBRA registry purposes only paid work counts. The Washington Department of Health is where you obtain your license and you renew your NAC license annually. Your NAC license expires every year on your birthday and you have to pay a fee to renew it. The Washington State Department of Health only requires the certified nursing assistants to pay an annual renewal fee by their expiration date which is the licensee’s birth date, however, the OBRA registry (national nursing assistant registry) requires that you submit continuing education and/or employment hours to maintain your status on the registry. The Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) ensures that certified nursing assistants meet federal requirements to work in a nursing home while the Department of Health (DOH) assures that each nursing assistant applying for a nursing assistant certification meets minimum requirements to work in any setting as a nursing assistant.

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

Federal regulations state that if a certified nursing assistant has not provided nursing or nursing-related services for monetary compensation within the past twenty-four (24) months and the CNA desires to work in a nursing home, they must retrain and retest. Certified Nursing Assistants have passed all the requirements set forth in the federal regulations in order to work in a nursing home while Registered Nursing Assistants are not allowed to work in a nursing home past their four month window for training and testing. If a nursing assistant certification is not renewed with the Washington State Department of Health within three (3) years, you must retrain and retest regardless of where you want to work as a CNA.

A student or graduate nurse who has successfully completed the comprehensive portion of the nursing assistant curriculum in a state-approved RN or LPN nursing program may be allowed to take the CNA tests without additional training. To do this you must submit to the Washington State Department of Health an official school transcript or an original letter on the school’s letterhead supporting successful completion of the state-approved nursing assistant curriculum. You will receive an email to complete registration if you are approved to test.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Bree on August 06, 2016 at 02:41 PM
Can you please give me a list of places where I can take the CNA exam in Washington State?


Admin on August 07, 2016 at 10:33 PM
A list of locations for taking the Washington State CNA exam is available here: Washington NNAAP Regional Test Sites and Test Schedules.


How do I transfer my CNA license from Indiana to Washington State?

Are there any nursing assistant classes you can take for free or get financial aid in Pierce County, Washington State?

Is it possible to enroll in a CNA class without a high school diploma or GED?

How long do CNA classes take and what exactly do you have to do?

After becoming a CNA how much more experience, training or school has to be done to become a registered nurse?

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

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