Iowa CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify an Iowa certified nursing assistant through the Direct Care Worker Registry, operated by the Iowa DIA Health Facilities Division; the official lookup is linked on this page. The registry is the state's authoritative source for whether a person is currently certified to work as a nurse aide in Iowa. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check the registry before hiring anyone into a nurse aide position, and many other employers rely on it as standard practice. This page does not list a separate phone line for the registry; use the contact information posted directly on the DIA Health Facilities Division's registry page for questions beyond the online lookup.
Look up a Iowa nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in Iowa, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
How to verify a Iowa CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the Iowa 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
A registry search needs the aide's full legal name; a date of birth or certification number helps narrow results when a name is common. A successful search shows whether the person is currently certified as a nurse aide in Iowa, along with certification status and relevant dates. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, and anyone with such a finding on file cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Iowa registry at a glance
- Run by: Iowa DIA Health Facilities Division
- Training: 75 hours, 30 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 Iowa
Typical annual CNA pay in Iowa · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in Iowa by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Iowa
Nurse aide certification follows a 24-month renewal cycle under federal rules, and Iowa's registry tracks this cycle for every certified aide. Certification lapses if an aide goes 24 months without performing paid nurse aide work, and once lapsed, the usual path back is retesting rather than a simple renewal. Aides moving to Iowa from another state go through the registry to have their out-of-state certification recognized, typically through reciprocity or endorsement rather than starting training over. Because exact renewal windows, lapse handling, and transfer requirements can vary by individual case, contact the DIA Health Facilities Division through the registry page for specifics.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in Iowa, by the numbers
About 22,670 certified nursing assistants work in Iowa, earning a median wage of $39,350 a year, or $18.92 an hour, according to BLS May 2025 figures. That's roughly $2,910 below the national median of $42,260, though pay has climbed sharply over the past decade, up 56.8% from a $25,100 median in 2015. Iowa's training rule matches the federal floor on total hours, requiring 75 hours of instruction, but goes further on hands-on practice: 30 clinical hours, close to double the federal minimum of 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the occupation is projected to grow 2.6% through 2035, adding about 196,200 annual openings as CNAs remain in steady demand across nursing homes and home health settings.
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 Iowa registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in Iowa?
- Use the Direct Care Worker Registry maintained by the Iowa DIA Health Facilities Division, linked at the top of this page. Enter the aide's full legal name; adding a date of birth or certification number helps if the name is common. The result shows whether that person is currently certified to work as a nurse aide in Iowa.
- I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
- You're added to the registry after your exam results and paperwork are fully processed by the state, not immediately after your test date. Processing time varies from one applicant to the next. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and your name still isn't listed, contact the DIA Health Facilities Division directly through the registry page to check on your record.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- A no-result search doesn't prove someone isn't certified. Try variations of the name first, including maiden names, hyphenated last names, or a middle initial, since a small mismatch can hide a real record. If you still can't find the person, contact the DIA Health Facilities Division directly to confirm their status rather than assuming they're uncertified.
- How often does a Iowa CNA certification need to be renewed?
- Nurse aide certification follows a 24-month renewal cycle under federal rules, and Iowa's registry applies this same baseline. Certification can lapse without qualifying paid nurse aide work during that window. For the specific renewal date tied to an individual certification, check the registry lookup or contact the DIA Health Facilities Division directly.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in Iowa?
- Iowa requires 75 hours of training, matching the federal minimum, but with more hands-on practice than the federal floor requires: 30 clinical hours, close to double the federal minimum of 16 supervised practical hours. Training must be completed through a state-approved program before a candidate can test for certification.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact the DIA Health Facilities Division directly to update a name or address on the registry rather than trying to edit it online. Updates like these are routine, but the exact steps and documentation needed are set by the registry, so check the registry page for current instructions.