North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry: Verification, Renewal & License Transfer
Verify active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credentials online, renew your 24-month North Carolina registration, reinstate a lapsed certificate, or apply for out-of-state reciprocity endorsement through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel Registry.
North Carolina Registry & Regulatory Contact Details
2709 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699
Official NC Registry Portal ↗Official Exam Vendor: Credentia (NNAAP)
Credential Title: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
59 classroom + 16 clinical hrs.
Median Wage: $18.49/hr ($38,460/yr).
1. How to Verify or Renew Your North Carolina CNA Certification Online
North Carolina 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 (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel Registry Portal ↗): Employers, hospitals, staffing agencies, and nurse aides can verify active North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel 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 North Carolina
If your North Carolina 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 North Carolina (Reciprocity / Endorsement)
If you hold an active, unencumbered nurse aide certification in another U.S. state and are moving to North Carolina (or accepting a travel CNA assignment), you can apply for North Carolina 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 North Carolina Out-of-State Reciprocity Application: Access the endorsement portal via the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel 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 North Carolina'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 North Carolina criminal background fingerprinting.
4. North Carolina Regulatory & Credentialing Nuances
North Carolina divides nursing assistant credentialing into Nurse Aide I (regulated by the NCDHHS Health Care Personnel Registry via Credentia NNAAP) and Nurse Aide II (an advanced acute-care credential regulated by the North Carolina Board of Nursing).
Looking for approved classes, testing prep, or salary comparisons in North Carolina? Browse our North Carolina CNA Classes Directory (141 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: North Carolina Nurse Aide Registry
How do I check my North Carolina CNA license status online?
Visit the official North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel Registry verification portal ↗ or call (919) 855-3969. 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 North Carolina?
In North Carolina, your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) registration must be renewed every 24 months (2 years). North Carolina 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 North Carolina from another state?
Submit an Out-of-State Endorsement / Reciprocity application to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel Registry at 2709 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699 (or online via their portal), provide verification of active good standing from your home state registry, and complete North Carolina's background check requirements.
What should I do if my North Carolina CNA certificate expired?
Contact the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services - Health Care Personnel Registry at (919) 855-3969 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 North Carolina CNA training program.