Texas Nurse Aide Registry

Texas Nurse Aide Registry
Texas Dept. of Aging & Disability Services - Licensing & Credentialing Regulatory Services
701 W. 51st St., Austin, Texas 78751
Phone: (512) 438-2050

How can I become a certified nurse aide (CNA) in Texas? If you wish to work as a nursing assistant in Texas you have three ways to become certified: complete a Texas-approved nurse aide course and pass the state exam; challenge the CNA exam and obtain a pass score; apply for reciprocity if you are already certified as a nurse aide in another state. Those who want to skip the nurse aide training program and challenge the state CNA examination may do so only if they previously completed a nurse aide course but have not taken the state exam, or if they are enrolled in an LPN or RN nursing program. The state of Texas does not require individuals to have a high school diploma or GED in order to enroll in a nurse aide class and become certified nurse aides. Nurse aides renewing their certification after September 1, 2013, are required to complete 24 hours of in-service education every two years. All approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs are eligible to offer in-service education. This ensures that a nurse aide's name remains listed as active on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry.

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.

Should you know about your state's nursing assistant registry? Absolutely. A state's nurse aide registry serves important functions for any certified nursing assistant as well as for those looking to become certified. An individual who has finished a nursing assistant training program and has passed the state competency exam becomes listed on the CNA registry. Employers check the registry listings to confirm that a potential employee satisfies the training and testing requirements to obtain a nursing assistant job. To work as a certified nursing assistant, your status on the CNA registry must be active, without any charges of resident abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. It is important to update your name and address on the registry. By doing so, your information is current and you are able to receive important documents sent by the registry.

For example, renewal forms are mailed to the address you have provided to the registry. You will not receive the certification renewal forms unless your address on the registry is accurate. One of the most frequent questions we get is how to get a copy of a CNA certificate. The nurse aide registry is in charge of issuing a duplicate of your nurse aide certificate and to obtain a copy you need to contact them. A nursing assistant certificate is typically reprinted when the original has been lost, accidentally destroyed, stolen, or when the individual has changed their name. The nurse aide registry is also the entity in charge of revoking a nursing assistant's certification in cases of neglect, abuse, or misappropriation of a client's property. In such cases, an individual's name is permanently listed on the registry along with the specific findings.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

Tabitha on August 12, 2015 at 02:34 PM
I got my CNA certification here in Texas years ago. Do I have to retake the class and test to work as a CNA again? I have not worked in years and would like to now. Can I just retake the test?

Admin on August 13, 2015 at 06:14 PM
If your Texas nurse aide certification is expired and you wish to return to work as a nursing assistant, you have to request to test for recertification. Two steps are necessary: completing an application to retest and submitting to a criminal history check. You need to have a clean background record, without any offenses which may prevent you from being eligible to challenge the Texas CNA exam and becoming recertified. Follow all the instructions for submitting the required paperwork. I encourage you to call the Texas nurse aide registry to verify this information and get answers to any other questions you may have. The request to retest application for a nursing assistant in expired status may be found here: Request to Retest for Nurse Aides in Expired Status. Good luck!

I had a CNA certification in Texas but it expired. I want to pursue an LPN degree, however the school requires a CNA license from Kansas for admission. Is it possible having already been a CNA to just be able to take the CNA test in Kansas?

How can I transfer my Louisiana CNA license to the state of Texas?

How do I transfer my CNA certification from Nevada to Texas?

I have a CNA certificate for Florida but I am moving to Texas. What do I have to do to transfer my CNA certification from Florida to Texas?

How do I renew my CNA license in the State of Texas?

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.

Nurse Aide Registries