Colorado Nurse Aide Registry: Verification, Renewal & License Transfer
Verify active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credentials online, renew your 24-month Colorado registration, reinstate a lapsed certificate, or apply for out-of-state reciprocity endorsement through the Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations.
Colorado Registry & Regulatory Contact Details
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202
Official CO Registry Portal ↗Official Exam Vendor: Credentia (NNAAP)
Credential Title: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
59 classroom + 16 clinical hrs.
Median Wage: $22.78/hr ($47,380/yr).
1. How to Verify or Renew Your Colorado CNA Certification Online
Colorado follows the federal OBRA-87 renewal baseline: you must document at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services performed under licensed nurse (RN or LPN) supervision every 24 consecutive months, while Medicare/Medicaid nursing home employers provide 12 hours of annual in-service education.
- Online Public Registry Lookup (Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations Portal ↗): Employers, hospitals, staffing agencies, and nurse aides can verify active Colorado certification numbers, original issue dates, 24-month expiration dates, and good-standing status online 24/7 by searching a candidate's legal name or certificate number.
- Submitting 24-Month Employment Renewal Proof: Submit your renewal verification form (signed by your facility Director of Nursing or HR department, or accompanied by W-2/pay stub proof of supervised nursing services) 30 to 60 days before your certificate expiration date.
- Private-Duty & Unsupervised Care Exclusion: Private-duty sitting paid directly in cash by a family or uncompensated family caregiving does not satisfy the supervised nursing employment requirement on the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry. Qualifying hours must be performed in a licensed healthcare facility, nursing home, hospital, or RN-supervised home health/hospice agency.
- Updating Your Name or Address: Keep your mailing and email address current with the Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations so renewal notices arrive on time. Legal name changes require submitting a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order.
2. Reinstating a Lapsed or Expired CNA License in Colorado
If your Colorado Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) registration has expired because you did not complete the required paid nursing assistant work (or required continuing education hours) within a 24-month cycle, you must complete the state reinstatement pathway before working as a certified aide:
3. How to Transfer Your CNA License to Colorado (Reciprocity / Endorsement)
If you hold an active, unencumbered nurse aide certification in another U.S. state and are moving to Colorado (or accepting a travel CNA assignment), you can apply for Colorado Certification by Endorsement / Reciprocity:
- Step 1 — Confirm Active Good Standing in Your Home State: Your current out-of-state CNA registration must be active with zero substantiated findings of patient abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property.
- Step 2 — Submit the Colorado Out-of-State Reciprocity Application: Access the endorsement portal via the Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations website ↗. Complete Part I (applicant information) and either attach your home state's online registry verification printout or route Part II to your original state's Nurse Aide Registry for official verification.
- Step 3 — Meet Colorado's 75 Hours (16 Clinical) Training or Work-Equivalence Standard: Provide copies of your government-issued photo ID, Social Security card, NATCEP training certificate (or proof of qualifying paid CNA employment if transferring from a 75-hour state), and complete Colorado criminal background fingerprinting.
4. Colorado Regulatory & Credentialing Nuances
In Colorado, prospective nurse aides must complete a state-approved 75 Hours (16 Clinical) NATCEP curriculum (consisting of 59 classroom/skills-lab hours and 16 supervised clinical hours), pass both components of the Credentia (NNAAP) competency evaluation, and clear state criminal background screening prior to active placement on the Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations.
Looking for approved classes, testing prep, or salary comparisons in Colorado? Browse our Colorado CNA Classes Directory (99 Approved Schools), practice with our 25-Question Interactive CNA Practice Exam, or compare state pay tiers in our CNA Wages by State Directory.
5. Frequently Asked Questions: Colorado Nurse Aide Registry
How do I check my Colorado CNA license status online?
Visit the official Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations verification portal ↗ or call (303) 894-7800. You can look up your credential status, certification number, and expiration date using your first and last name or certificate number.
How often do I need to renew my CNA certification in Colorado?
In Colorado, your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) registration must be renewed every 24 months (2 years). Colorado follows the federal OBRA-87 renewal baseline: you must document at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services performed under licensed nurse (RN or LPN) supervision every 24 consecutive months, while Medicare/Medicaid nursing home employers provide 12 hours of annual in-service education.
How do I transfer my CNA license to Colorado from another state?
Submit an Out-of-State Endorsement / Reciprocity application to the Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations at 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350, Denver, CO 80202 (or online via their portal), provide verification of active good standing from your home state registry, and complete Colorado's background check requirements.
What should I do if my Colorado CNA certificate expired?
Contact the Colorado Board of Nursing - Division of Professions and Occupations at (303) 894-7800 or Credentia (NNAAP) to check if you are within the state's retest eligibility window to re-take the written and clinical skills exam, or enroll in an approved Colorado CNA training program.