Missouri CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a Missouri certified nurse aide through the state registry run by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, hosted by Headmaster/TMU; the official lookup tool is linked on this page. The registry confirms whether a person is certified, active, and clear to work as a CNA in Missouri. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring any nurse aide. Employers, CNAs confirming their own standing, and aides transferring in from another state all use the same lookup. For questions the search tool can't answer, call the registry directly at (573) 526-5686.
Official Missouri lookup
Run by Missouri DHSS (registry hosted by Headmaster/TMU).
(573) 526-5686
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the Missouri 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.
Missouri registry at a glance
| Run by | Missouri DHSS (registry hosted by Headmaster/TMU) |
| Phone | (573) 526-5686 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 175 hours (100 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)
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
34,050
CNAs working in Missouri
$37,680
Median pay per year ($18.11/hr)
$42,260
National median
175 hrs
Required training (100 clinical)
CNA median pay in Missouri, 2015 to 2025
$23,000 in 2015 to $37,680 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
A lookup usually needs the aide's full legal name, and a date of birth or certification number helps narrow results when a name is common. A successful search shows certification status, effective dates, and whether the record is active, inactive, or expired. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property; 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 Missouri
Missouri CNA certification follows the federal 24-month renewal cycle: aides must remain active and show some paid nurse aide work during that period, or the certification lapses. A lapse generally means retesting rather than a simple renewal, since federal rules don't allow nurse aide work beyond the lapse without recertifying. Aides moving to Missouri from another state also go through the registry, typically through reciprocity or endorsement of an out-of-state certification. Because exact renewal and transfer steps vary, confirm your situation with the registry directly at (573) 526-5686.
CNA work in Missouri, by the numbers
Missouri employs about 34,050 nurse aides, according to BLS May 2025 figures, which put the median pay at $37,680 a year, or $18.11 an hour. That's about $4,580 below the national median of $42,260, though Missouri pay has grown substantially over the past decade, up 63.8% from a $23,000 median in 2015. Training in Missouri runs longer than the federal minimum: the state requires 175 total hours, including 100 hours of clinical, on-the-job training, well beyond the federal floor of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the CNA field is projected to add about 196,200 annual openings through 2035, a modest 2.6% change in employment over that decade, reflecting steady turnover in a role that stays in demand even as growth levels off.
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 Missouri?
Use the official Missouri CNA registry lookup, linked on this page, which is run by the state's registry contractor for the Department of Health and Senior Services. Search by the aide's full name, and add a date of birth if you get multiple matches. The result shows certification status and dates. If the online tool doesn't resolve your search, call the registry at (573) 526-5686.
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 have been processed, but this page can't tell you an exact number of days since that varies by application. If you've waited what feels like a reasonable amount of time and still don't see your name, contact the registry directly at (573) 526-5686 rather than guessing.
What if I search and can't find someone?
A missing result isn't proof someone is uncertified. Try searching name variants first, including maiden names, hyphenated last names, or a different middle initial, since a mismatch can hide a real record. If you still can't find the person after trying variants, call the registry at (573) 526-5686 to confirm status directly rather than relying on the search tool alone.
How often does a Missouri CNA certification need to be renewed?
Every 24 months, under the federal baseline that applies to nurse aide certification nationwide. Missouri administers this through the same registry that tracks status and paid work history. For the specific renewal steps that apply to your certification, contact the registry at (573) 526-5686 or check the registry landing page.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Missouri?
Missouri requires 175 total training hours, made up of 75 classroom hours and 100 hours of clinical, on-the-job training. That's more than double the federal minimum of 75 hours, which itself requires at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. Approved programs are listed through the state health department.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact the registry that holds your Missouri certification at (573) 526-5686 to update your name or address. This kind of update is routine, but the registry sets the exact process and any documentation it requires, such as proof of a legal name change, so check with them directly rather than assuming a form.