Kentucky CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a Kentucky nurse aide through the Kentucky Board of Nursing's State Registered Nurse Aide (SRNA) registry, using the official lookup linked on this page. The Board of Nursing operates and maintains this registry, which tracks certification status for every nurse aide in Kentucky. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check the registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide, so this lookup is not optional for those employers. If the online tool doesn't answer your question, call the Board of Nursing directly at (502) 429-3300. The registry confirms certification status; it does not replace a full background check.
Official Kentucky lookup
Run by Kentucky Board of Nursing (SRNA registry).
(502) 429-3300
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the Kentucky 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.
Kentucky registry at a glance
| Run by | Kentucky Board of Nursing (SRNA registry) |
| Phone | (502) 429-3300 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 75 hours (16 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)
Kentucky note: Select SRNA Certification in the portal dropdown
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
23,410
CNAs working in Kentucky
$38,370
Median pay per year ($18.45/hr)
$42,260
National median
75 hrs
Required training (16 clinical)
CNA median pay in Kentucky, 2015 to 2025
$23,980 in 2015 to $38,370 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 full legal name; a certification number speeds up the search if you have it. The result shows certification status and SRNA credential details. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, and anyone with such a finding cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Kentucky
Nurse aide certifications generally run on a 24-month cycle under federal rules, and Kentucky's SRNA credential follows that baseline. Certification lapses if an aide goes without qualifying paid nurse aide work during that period, and a lapsed certification usually means retesting rather than a simple renewal. Aides moving to Kentucky from another state go through the SRNA registry for reciprocity or endorsement rather than starting training over, but exact paperwork and timelines are set by the Board of Nursing. For renewal deadlines, lapse rules, or transfer questions specific to you, contact the Board at (502) 429-3300 or use the registry portal linked above.
CNA work in Kentucky, by the numbers
Kentucky has about 23,410 nurse aides working across the state, according to BLS May 2025 figures. The median pay is $38,370 a year, or $18.45 an hour, which runs $3,890 below the national median of $42,260. Kentucky pay has grown a lot over the past decade: the state median was $23,980 in 2015, a roughly 60 percent increase to today's figure. Kentucky trains nurse aides to the federal floor rather than beyond it: state rule requires 75 hours of training with 16 of those hours as supervised clinical practice, matching the minimum set by federal law. Nationally, the nurse aide field is projected to add about 196,200 annual job openings through 2035, so demand for certified aides is expected to stay steady even as growth slows to 2.6 percent over the decade.
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 Kentucky?
Use the official lookup on the Kentucky Board of Nursing's SRNA verification portal, linked at the top of this page. Select SRNA Certification from the dropdown menu, then search by the aide's name. The result shows certification status. If you run into trouble with the online tool, call the Board of Nursing at (502) 429-3300.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You're added to the registry once your exam results and paperwork are fully processed by the Board of Nursing, and how long that takes can vary. If you've completed testing and still don't see your name after what feels like a reasonable wait, don't assume something is wrong; call the Board of Nursing at (502) 429-3300 to check on your status directly.
What if I search and can't find someone?
Try searching with name variants first, including a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or different middle initial, since the registry matches on the name exactly as filed. A search that turns up nothing is not proof that someone isn't certified; records can be filed under a different name or entered with a typo. Call the Board of Nursing at (502) 429-3300 to confirm before drawing conclusions.
How often does a Kentucky CNA certification need to be renewed?
Kentucky follows the federal baseline of a 24-month renewal cycle for nurse aide certification. Working a qualifying number of paid hours as a nurse aide within that window keeps the certification active; going without that work can cause it to lapse. For exact renewal steps or to check your own renewal date, contact the Board of Nursing at (502) 429-3300.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, which is exactly the federal minimum. Aides who are working also complete 12 hours of in-service training each year to keep their skills current. Programs must be approved under Kentucky's nurse aide training regulation, 907 KAR 1:450.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact the Kentucky Board of Nursing directly at (502) 429-3300 to update your name or address on the SRNA registry. This kind of update is routine, but the Board sets the exact process and any documentation it requires, such as proof of a legal name change. Ask what's needed for your situation when you call.