New Hampshire CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a New Hampshire nursing assistant through the license lookup run by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) and the Board of Nursing, linked at the top of this page. New Hampshire licenses nursing assistants as LNAs (Licensed Nursing Assistants) rather than maintaining a separate 'CNA registry,' but the lookup serves the same purpose: confirming someone is currently certified to work as an aide. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this before hiring anyone into an aide role. For anything the online lookup doesn't answer, call OPLC directly at (603) 271-2152.
Official New Hampshire lookup
Run by NH OPLC / Board of Nursing (LNA licensure, not a registry).
(603) 271-2152
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire registry at a glance
| Run by | NH OPLC / Board of Nursing (LNA licensure, not a registry) |
| Phone | (603) 271-2152 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 100 hours (60 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)
New Hampshire note: NH licenses nursing assistants (LNA)
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
7,810
CNAs working in New Hampshire
$47,870
Median pay per year ($23.02/hr)
$42,260
National median
100 hrs
Required training (60 clinical)
CNA median pay in New Hampshire, 2015 to 2025
$29,030 in 2015 to $47,870 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
A search typically needs the aide's full legal name, and a date of birth or license number narrows results when names are common. A match shows license status (active, expired, or lapsed) and certification type. The record also flags any substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; a person with such a finding cannot be employed as a nurse aide anywhere in the country. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check, and employers still need to run those separately.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to New Hampshire
Nursing assistant certification runs on a 24-month cycle under federal rules, the same baseline used nationwide. Certification lapses if an aide goes without qualifying paid nursing assistant work for 24 consecutive months, and once lapsed, the aide usually has to retest rather than simply renew. Aides moving into New Hampshire from another state transfer their certification through the registry process, sometimes called reciprocity or endorsement, rather than starting training over. Because exact renewal steps, documentation, and timing are set by OPLC, aides who need specifics should contact the registry directly at (603) 271-2152 or through the OPLC website.
CNA work in New Hampshire, by the numbers
About 7,810 nursing assistants work in New Hampshire, according to BLS May 2025 figures, earning a median wage of $47,870 a year, or $23.02 an hour. That's $5,610 above the national median of $42,260. Pay in the state has climbed from a $29,030 median a decade earlier, a 64.9 percent increase over ten years. New Hampshire also trains its aides beyond the federal minimum: state rules call for 100 hours of instruction, including 60 clinical hours, compared with the federal floor of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 196,200 annual openings for nursing assistants through 2035, with employment expected to grow 2.6 percent over that 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 New Hampshire?
Use the license lookup on the OPLC website, linked at the top of this page. New Hampshire licenses nursing assistants as LNAs through its Board of Nursing, and the search returns license status and certification type once you enter the aide's name. If the online tool doesn't resolve a search, call OPLC at (603) 271-2152 for help.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You're added once your exam results and paperwork are fully processed by OPLC. Exact timing varies and depends on when the testing vendor reports scores and when your application is complete. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still don't appear, call the registry directly at (603) 271-2152 to check on your status.
What if I search and can't find someone?
Try the search again with name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or middle initial, since a mismatch is the most common reason a real license doesn't turn up. A non-result on the lookup is not proof that someone isn't certified. Confirm directly with OPLC at (603) 271-2152 before assuming an aide lacks certification.
How often does a New Hampshire CNA certification need to be renewed?
Certification is on a 24-month renewal cycle under the federal baseline that applies nationwide, including in New Hampshire. It lapses without qualifying paid nursing assistant work during that period. For the state's specific renewal steps and documentation, contact OPLC at (603) 271-2152 or check the Board of Nursing site.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire requires 100 hours of training to become an LNA, including 60 clinical hours, which is above the federal minimum of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. Programs are approved by the Board of Nursing under state rule.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact OPLC directly at (603) 271-2152, since it holds your certification record and handles updates. Name and address changes are routine, but the exact process, such as required documentation, is set by the registry rather than posted as a single universal procedure.