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.
Look up a District of Columbia nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in District of Columbia, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify a District of Columbia CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the District of Columbia lookup above. It is free and public.
Search by full legal name
A certification number narrows the result fastest. Try former or hyphenated last names if nothing comes up.
Read the status and findings
Active means the listing is current. A substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation bars work as a nurse aide.
What the lookup shows
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.
District of Columbia note: Search needs name+city+DOB or registration number
District of Columbia registry at a glance
- Run by: DC Health (registry via Credentia CNA365)
- Phone: (877) 672-2174
- Training: 125 hours, 40 of them clinical
- Federal floor: 75 hours, 16 supervised practical
- Lapse rule: a listing lapses after 24 consecutive months without paid nursing work
- Not included: a registry check is not a criminal background check
What CNAs earn in District of Columbia
Typical annual CNA pay in District of Columbia · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in District of Columbia by city →
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.
Keep your certification active
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.
Registries in nearby states
Each state runs its own registry. An aide who worked in another state may be listed there too, and employers must check every state where they believe the aide has worked.
Questions about the District of Columbia registry
- 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.