District of Columbia CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a District of Columbia CNA through DC Health's nurse aide registry, operated on DC Health's behalf by Credentia (CNA365); the official lookup tool is linked on this page. DC Health maintains the official list of certified nurse aides in the District, along with any substantiated findings against them. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide, so employers in those settings cannot skip this step. If the online lookup does not resolve what you need, call the registry directly at (877) 672-2174 for confirmation.
Official District of Columbia lookup
Run by DC Health (registry via Credentia CNA365).
(877) 672-2174
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the District of Columbia 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.
District of Columbia registry at a glance
| Run by | DC Health (registry via Credentia CNA365) |
| Phone | (877) 672-2174 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 125 hours (40 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)
District of Columbia note: Search needs name+city+DOB or registration number
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
3,490
CNAs working in District of Columbia
$47,700
Median pay per year ($22.93/hr)
$42,260
National median
125 hrs
Required training (40 clinical)
CNA median pay in District of Columbia, 2015 to 2025
$31,980 in 2015 to $47,700 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
To run a lookup you need the aide's name, city, and date of birth, or their registration number if you have it. A match shows certification status and basic registration details. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; a person with such a finding on record cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check, so it should not replace standard hiring screening.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to District of Columbia
CNA certifications generally run on a 24-month renewal cycle set by federal rule, and a certification lapses if the aide has not performed paid nurse aide work within that period. Once lapsed, most aides have to retest rather than simply renew, though the exact rule for the District of Columbia is set by the registry. Aides moving into DC from another state go through the registry as well, typically by reciprocity or endorsement rather than starting training over, but the paperwork and any state-specific requirements should be confirmed directly with DC Health. For renewal deadlines, lapse status, or transfer steps, call (877) 672-2174 or use the registry lookup.
CNA work in District of Columbia, by the numbers
About 3,490 nurse aides work in the District, according to BLS May 2025 figures. The median pay is $47,700 a year, or $22.93 an hour, which runs about $5,440 above the national median of $42,260. That DC median has climbed from $31,980 in 2015, a roughly 49.2 percent increase over the decade. Training runs longer here than the federal minimum: DC requires 125 hours of instruction, including 40 clinical hours, compared with the federal floor of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 196,200 nurse aide job openings each year through 2035, so demand for certified aides is not slowing down.
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 District of Columbia?
Use the DC Health nurse aide registry lookup linked on this page, which is run through Credentia's CNA365 system. Search by the aide's name, city, and date of birth, or by their registration number if known. The result shows current certification status. If the online tool does not turn up a clear answer, call the registry at (877) 672-2174.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You are added to the registry after your exam results and required paperwork are processed by DC Health and Credentia. There is no fixed number of days for this to happen, since it depends on when results and documentation reach the registry. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still do not appear, call (877) 672-2174 to check on your status directly.
What if I search and can't find someone?
A missing result is not proof that someone lacks certification. Try searching with name variants, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or including a middle initial, since small differences can prevent a match. If you still cannot find the person after trying variants, call the registry at (877) 672-2174 to confirm their status directly.
How often does a District of Columbia CNA certification need to be renewed?
CNA certifications follow a 24-month renewal cycle under federal rule, meaning DC certifications are generally valid for two years at a time. Renewal typically requires having worked as a paid nurse aide during that period. For the exact renewal process and requirements in DC, contact the registry at (877) 672-2174.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in District of Columbia?
DC requires 125 hours of training, made up of 65 classroom hours, 20 lab hours, and 40 clinical hours, according to the DC Health board curriculum. That is well above the federal floor of 75 hours, which includes at least 16 hours of supervised practical training.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact DC Health's nurse aide registry directly at (877) 672-2174 to update your name or address. Updates like this are routine, but the registry that holds your certification sets the exact process and any documentation you need to provide, such as proof of a legal name change.