Idaho Official Regulatory & Reciprocity Guide

Idaho Nurse Aide Registry: Verification, Renewal & License Transfer

Verify active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credentials online, renew your 24-month Idaho registration, reinstate a lapsed certificate, or apply for out-of-state reciprocity endorsement through the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry.

Idaho Registry & Regulatory Contact Details

State Regulatory Authority Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry

P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720

Official ID Registry Portal ↗
Registry Phone & Testing Vendor (800) 471-2737

Official Exam Vendor: Prometric
Credential Title: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

Training Standard & Median Pay 120 Hours (40 Clinical)

80 classroom + 40 clinical hrs.
Median Wage: $18.58/hr ($38,650/yr).

1. How to Verify or Renew Your Idaho CNA Certification Online

Idaho 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 (Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry Portal ↗): Employers, hospitals, staffing agencies, and nurse aides can verify active Idaho 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 Idaho 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 Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry 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 Idaho

If your Idaho 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:

Idaho Expired License Reinstatement Rule: Candidates whose Idaho certification has lapsed for less than 24 to 60 months are typically eligible to apply for an Expired / Lapsed Retest Authorization—allowing you to re-take the two-part competency evaluation (written + clinical skills exam via Prometric) without repeating the full 120 Hours (40 Clinical) classroom course. If you fail the retest attempt or have been inactive beyond the state's maximum retest window, federal and Idaho regulations require enrolling in one of the 23 state-approved Idaho CNA training programs.

3. How to Transfer Your CNA License to Idaho (Reciprocity / Endorsement)

If you hold an active, unencumbered nurse aide certification in another U.S. state and are moving to Idaho (or accepting a travel CNA assignment), you can apply for Idaho 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 Idaho Out-of-State Reciprocity Application: Access the endorsement portal via the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry 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 Idaho's 120 Hours (40 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 Idaho criminal background fingerprinting.

4. Idaho Regulatory & Credentialing Nuances

In Idaho, prospective nurse aides must complete a state-approved 120 Hours (40 Clinical) NATCEP curriculum (consisting of 80 classroom/skills-lab hours and 40 supervised clinical hours), pass both components of the Prometric competency evaluation, and clear state criminal background screening prior to active placement on the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry.

Looking for approved classes, testing prep, or salary comparisons in Idaho? Browse our Idaho CNA Classes Directory (23 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: Idaho Nurse Aide Registry

How do I check my Idaho CNA license status online?

Visit the official Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry verification portal ↗ or call (800) 471-2737. 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 Idaho?

In Idaho, your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) registration must be renewed every 24 months (2 years). Idaho 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 Idaho from another state?

Submit an Out-of-State Endorsement / Reciprocity application to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry at P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720 (or online via their portal), provide verification of active good standing from your home state registry, and complete Idaho's background check requirements.

What should I do if my Idaho CNA certificate expired?

Contact the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Nurse Aide Registry at (800) 471-2737 or Prometric 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 Idaho CNA training program.