Maryland CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a Maryland CNA through the Maryland Board of Nursing, which operates the state's nurse aide registry; the official lookup is linked on this page. The Board maintains the registry and updates it daily, showing each aide's current certification status. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide, and periodically afterward. Other employers often check it too, since it's the most direct way to confirm someone holds an active Maryland CNA certification. For anything the lookup doesn't answer, call the Maryland Board of Nursing directly at (410) 767-6500.
Look up a Maryland nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in Maryland, 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 Maryland CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the Maryland 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 search typically needs the CNA's full legal name, and results are more reliable with a date of birth or certification number if you have one. The lookup returns certification status, such as active, expired, or lapsed, along with basic certification details. 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. It is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Maryland note: CHART lookup, updated daily
Maryland registry at a glance
- Run by: Maryland Board of Nursing
- Phone: (410) 767-6500
- Training: 100 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 Maryland
Typical annual CNA pay in Maryland · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in Maryland by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Maryland
Maryland CNA certification follows the federal baseline: it must be renewed every 24 months. Under federal rules, certification lapses if an aide goes 24 months without paid nursing-related work, and a lapsed certification usually means retesting to get certified again. Maryland's registry records renewal and reinstatement, so the status shown in the lookup reflects an aide's current standing. Aides certified elsewhere and moving to Maryland go through the registry's reciprocity or endorsement process rather than starting training over. Exact renewal deadlines and reciprocity requirements are set by the Board of Nursing, so call (410) 767-6500 or check the registry page for specifics.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in Maryland, by the numbers
Maryland employed about 27,720 nursing assistants as of BLS May 2025 figures, earning a median of $43,240 a year, or $20.79 an hour. That's roughly $980 above the national median CNA salary of $42,260. Maryland pay has climbed sharply over the past decade, up about 54.4% from a median of $28,010 in 2015. Maryland also trains its aides beyond the federal floor: the state requires 100 hours of instruction, including 40 clinical hours, compared with the federal minimum of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 196,200 annual CNA job openings through 2035, with modest overall employment growth of 2.6%, so the demand for certified aides remains steady in Maryland and elsewhere.
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.
| State | Training hours | Phone | Official lookup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 100 | (410) 767-6500 | Lookup |
| Delaware | 91 | (302) 421-7403 | Lookup |
| Pennsylvania | 75 | (888) 204-6249 | Lookup |
| Virginia | 140 | Lookup | |
| West Virginia | 120 | Lookup |
State nurse aide registries and training rules, curated 2026-09-01
Questions about the Maryland registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in Maryland?
- Use the Maryland Board of Nursing's CHART lookup, linked on this page, which is updated daily. Enter the CNA's name and, if you have it, a certification number or date of birth to narrow the results. The lookup shows current certification status. If you run into trouble or need to confirm a result, call the Board of Nursing at (410) 767-6500.
- 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 Maryland Board of Nursing, and how long that takes can vary. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still don't see your name, don't assume something is wrong; call the Board directly at (410) 767-6500 to check on your status.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- A missing result isn't proof someone lacks certification, so try searching name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or a different middle initial. Spelling differences and name changes are common reasons a search comes up empty. If you still can't find the person after trying variants, call the Board of Nursing at (410) 767-6500 to confirm their status directly.
- How often does a Maryland CNA certification need to be renewed?
- Every 24 months, which is the federal renewal cycle that applies to nurse aide certification nationwide, including Maryland. Certification can lapse if an aide goes that long without qualifying paid nursing-related work. For Maryland's specific renewal process and deadlines, contact the Board of Nursing at (410) 767-6500 or check the registry page.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in Maryland?
- Maryland requires 100 hours of CNA training, including 40 clinical hours, which is well above the federal minimum of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. This training must be completed through a Board-approved nurse aide training program before a candidate can sit for the certification exam.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact the Maryland Board of Nursing directly at (410) 767-6500 to update your name or address on the registry. This is a routine request, but the exact steps and any documentation required, such as proof of a legal name change, are set by the Board, not by this page.