North Dakota CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
North Dakota HHS runs the state's nurse aide registry, and the official lookup is linked on this page at hhs.nd.gov/nurse-aide-registry. This is the single record of who is certified to work as a nursing assistant in the state, including certification status and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check the registry before hiring anyone into a nurse aide role, so employers cannot skip this step. North Dakota HHS does not list a phone number here; use the registry site to find current contact details or submit a lookup request directly.
Look up a North Dakota nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in North Dakota, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
How to verify a North Dakota CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the North Dakota 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 typically need the person's full legal name, and having a date of birth or certification number on hand helps narrow the results if the name is common. A successful search returns certification status, such as whether the person is currently listed as a certified nurse aide in North Dakota. 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. It is not a full employment or criminal background check.
North Dakota registry at a glance
- Run by: North Dakota HHS
- Training: 75 hours, 16 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 North Dakota
Typical annual CNA pay in North Dakota · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in North Dakota by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to North Dakota
Under federal rules, a nurse aide certification runs on a 24-month renewal cycle, and it lapses if the aide has not performed paid nursing-related work during that period. A lapsed certification generally means the person has to retest and requalify rather than simply renew. Aides moving into North Dakota from another state go through the registry for reciprocity or endorsement instead of starting training over, but the exact paperwork and any state-specific conditions are set by North Dakota HHS. For renewal deadlines, lapse rules, or transfer requirements specific to your situation, contact the registry directly through hhs.nd.gov/nurse-aide-registry.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in North Dakota, by the numbers
North Dakota had about 6,840 nursing assistants working in the state as of BLS May 2025 figures, earning a median of $45,820 a year, or $22.03 an hour. That is about $3,560 above the national median of $42,260. Pay has grown substantially over the past decade, up 57.6% from a $29,070 median in 2015. On training, North Dakota sets its nurse aide program at 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, matching the federal floor exactly rather than exceeding it. New hires generally have four months from their first day of employment to complete the program. Nationally, the nurse aide occupation is projected to add 196,200 annual openings through 2035, with 2.6% employment growth over that period, pointing to steady demand for aides in North Dakota as well.
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 North Dakota registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in North Dakota?
- Use the official North Dakota HHS nurse aide registry lookup, linked on this page at hhs.nd.gov/nurse-aide-registry. Search by the aide's full legal name; adding a date of birth or certification number helps if the name is common. The result shows current certification status and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property on file.
- 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 by North Dakota HHS, and how long that takes varies. If a reasonable amount of time has passed since you tested and you still don't see your name, don't assume something is wrong on your end. Contact North Dakota HHS directly through the registry site to check on your status.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- A blank search result is not proof that someone isn't certified. Try variations of the name, including a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or middle initial, since registry records are only as accurate as what was submitted. If you still can't find a match, confirm the person's status directly with North Dakota HHS through the registry site rather than assuming they aren't certified.
- How often does a North Dakota CNA certification need to be renewed?
- Federal rules set a baseline 24-month renewal cycle for nurse aide certification, and North Dakota follows this timeline. A certification lapses if the aide goes without qualifying paid nursing-related work during that window. For the specifics of your renewal date or documentation needed, check with North Dakota HHS through the registry.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in North Dakota?
- North Dakota requires 75 hours of training to become a certified nurse aide, including 16 hours of supervised practical, or clinical, work. That matches the federal minimum exactly, and new employees generally have four months from their first day on the job to finish the program.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact North Dakota HHS, the agency that holds your certification, to update your name or address on the registry. This kind of update is routine, but the exact process, such as what documentation is required, is set by the registry itself. Check hhs.nd.gov/nurse-aide-registry for how to submit the request.