West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry: Verification, Renewal & License Transfer
Verify active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credentials online, renew your 24-month West Virginia registration, reinstate a lapsed certificate, or apply for out-of-state reciprocity endorsement through the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - Nurse Aide Registry.
West Virginia Registry & Regulatory Contact Details
408 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301
Official WV Registry Portal ↗Official Exam Vendor: OHFLAC / Professional
Credential Title: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
65 classroom + 55 clinical hrs.
Median Wage: $17.65/hr ($36,720/yr).
1. How to Verify or Renew Your West Virginia CNA Certification Online
West Virginia 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 (West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - Nurse Aide Registry Portal ↗): Employers, hospitals, staffing agencies, and nurse aides can verify active West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - 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 West Virginia
If your West Virginia 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 West Virginia (Reciprocity / Endorsement)
If you hold an active, unencumbered nurse aide certification in another U.S. state and are moving to West Virginia (or accepting a travel CNA assignment), you can apply for West Virginia 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 West Virginia Out-of-State Reciprocity Application: Access the endorsement portal via the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - 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 West Virginia's 120 Hours (55 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 West Virginia criminal background fingerprinting.
4. West Virginia Regulatory & Credentialing Nuances
In West Virginia, prospective nurse aides must complete a state-approved 120 Hours (55 Clinical) NATCEP curriculum (consisting of 65 classroom/skills-lab hours and 55 supervised clinical hours), pass both components of the OHFLAC / Professional competency evaluation, and clear state criminal background screening prior to active placement on the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - Nurse Aide Registry.
Looking for approved classes, testing prep, or salary comparisons in West Virginia? Browse our West Virginia CNA Classes Directory (112 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: West Virginia Nurse Aide Registry
How do I check my West Virginia CNA license status online?
Visit the official West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - Nurse Aide Registry verification portal ↗ or call (304) 558-0050. 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 West Virginia?
In West Virginia, your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) registration must be renewed every 24 months (2 years). West Virginia 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 West Virginia from another state?
Submit an Out-of-State Endorsement / Reciprocity application to the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - Nurse Aide Registry at 408 Leon Sullivan Way, Charleston, WV 25301 (or online via their portal), provide verification of active good standing from your home state registry, and complete West Virginia's background check requirements.
What should I do if my West Virginia CNA certificate expired?
Contact the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification - Nurse Aide Registry at (304) 558-0050 or OHFLAC / Professional 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 West Virginia CNA training program.