California CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a California CNA through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), using the official lookup linked on this page. CDPH operates the state's nurse aide registry, the record of everyone certified to work as a certified nursing assistant in California. Under federal law, nursing facilities and home health agencies are required to check this registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide. If you cannot complete a lookup online, or need to confirm a result, CDPH can be reached by phone at (916) 327-2445.
Official California lookup
Run by California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
(916) 327-2445
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the California lookup linked above. It is free and public.
- 2
Search by name
Enter the aide’s full legal name. If you have it, a certification number narrows the result fastest; some states also ask for city or date of birth.
- 3
Read the status
An active status means the certification is current. Also check for any substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, which bars employment as an aide.
California registry at a glance
| Run by | California Department of Public Health (CDPH) |
| Phone | (916) 327-2445 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 160 hours (100 clinical) |
| Federal minimum | 75 hours (16 clinical) |
What the lookup shows
- ✓Certification status (active, expired, or inactive)
- ✓Certification details on file with the registry
- ✓Any substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation (bars employment as an aide)
California note: CVL search covers CNA/HHA/CHT/NHA cdph.ca.gov blocks datacenter fetches; confirmed current via research.
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
110,060
CNAs working in California
$47,630
Median pay per year ($22.9/hr)
$42,260
National median
160 hrs
Required training (100 clinical)
CNA median pay in California, 2015 to 2025
$29,150 in 2015 to $47,630 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
A search typically needs the CNA's full legal name, and matching results narrow faster with a date of birth or certification number if you have one. A successful lookup shows certification status, such as whether it is active, and identifying details tied to that record. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; anyone with such a finding cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to California
Federal rules set the baseline: a CNA certification runs on a 24-month renewal cycle and lapses if the aide has not performed paid nursing-related work during that period. Once lapsed, the usual path back is retesting rather than a simple renewal. Aides moving into California from another state also go through the registry, typically through a reciprocity or endorsement process that verifies out-of-state certification and checks for disqualifying findings. California's exact renewal timing, fees, and transfer steps are set by CDPH, so confirm specifics using the registry phone number or website on this page.
CNA work in California, by the numbers
California employs about 110,060 certified nursing assistants, according to BLS May 2025 figures. The median CNA in the state earns $47,630 a year, or $22.90 an hour, which runs about $5,370 above the national median annual wage of $42,260. That state pay has climbed sharply over the past decade, up 63.4% from a median of $29,150 in 2015. California also asks more of new CNAs before they can test: state law requires 160 hours of training, including 100 clinical hours, well above the federal floor of 75 hours with at least 16 of those supervised in a clinical setting. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 196,200 CNA job openings a year through 2035.
Verifying an aide certified in a different state? Every state runs its own registry: find the right one in the state directory.
Common questions
How do I look up a CNA license in California?
Use the official CDPH lookup linked on this page and search by the aide's full legal name. CDPH, the California Department of Public Health, operates the state's nurse aide registry and is the authoritative source for certification status. If the online tool does not return a clear result, call CDPH directly at (916) 327-2445 to confirm.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You are added to the registry once your exam results and certification paperwork have been processed by CDPH, not immediately after test day. How long that takes varies, so this page cannot give you a fixed number of days. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still do not appear, call CDPH at (916) 327-2445 to check on your record.
What if I search and can't find someone?
A blank search result is not proof that someone is uncertified. Try variations of the name first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or a different middle initial, since registry records match on exact name entries. If you still find nothing, confirm the person's status directly with CDPH by phone at (916) 327-2445 rather than relying on the online search alone.
How often does a California CNA certification need to be renewed?
Federal law sets a 24-month renewal cycle for CNA certification, and California follows that baseline. A certification lapses if the aide has not done paid nursing-related work during that window. For California's specific renewal process and requirements, contact CDPH using the phone number or website listed on this page.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in California?
California requires 160 hours of CNA training, made up of 60 classroom hours and 100 clinical hours. That is well beyond the federal minimum of 75 hours, which requires at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. The extra clinical hours mean California CNA programs run longer than the federal floor requires.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact CDPH directly to update your name or address on the registry, using the phone number (916) 327-2445 listed on this page. Updates like this are routine, but the exact forms or documentation required are set by CDPH, so confirm the current process with them rather than assuming it matches another state's registry.