South Carolina CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Verify a South Carolina certified nurse aide through the state's nurse aide registry, run by SC DHHS via the Credentia CNA365 system, using the official lookup linked on this page. A search shows whether someone holds active CNA certification in South Carolina. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide, and to check it periodically during employment as well. If an online search does not turn up an answer or you need help reading a result, call the registry directly at (888) 549-0820. Employers, CNAs checking their own record, new graduates waiting to be listed, and aides transferring in from another state all use this same lookup.
Official South Carolina lookup
Run by SC DHHS (registry via Credentia CNA365).
(888) 549-0820
Official link checked 2026-09-01
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the South Carolina 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.
South Carolina registry at a glance
| Run by | SC DHHS (registry via Credentia CNA365) |
| Phone | (888) 549-0820 |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 100 hours (40 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)
South Carolina note: Search needs name + city + DOB, or SC registration number
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
21,760
CNAs working in South Carolina
$37,220
Median pay per year ($17.9/hr)
$42,260
National median
100 hrs
Required training (40 clinical)
CNA median pay in South Carolina, 2015 to 2025
$22,670 in 2015 to $37,220 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
A search needs the aide's full name, city, and date of birth, or their South Carolina registration number if you have it. A match returns certification status and basic registration 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 in South Carolina. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check, so treat it as one step in hiring, not the whole process.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to South Carolina
South Carolina CNA certification follows the federal renewal cycle of 24 months. Under federal rules, certification lapses if an aide has not performed paid nurse aide work during that period, and once it lapses the usual path back is retesting rather than a simple renewal. Aides moving into South Carolina from another state also go through the registry, since incoming certifications are processed through reciprocity or endorsement rather than an automatic transfer. Exact renewal timing, required documentation, and transfer steps depend on individual circumstances, so call the registry at (888) 549-0820 or check the SC DHHS nurse aide page for your case.
CNA work in South Carolina, by the numbers
South Carolina employed about 21,760 CNAs as of BLS May 2025 figures, with a median wage of $37,220 a year, or $17.90 an hour. That is $5,040 below the national CNA median of $42,260, though South Carolina pay has climbed a lot over the past decade: the state's median was $22,670 in 2015, a 64.2 percent increase. South Carolina also trains aides beyond the federal minimum. The state's program runs 100 hours total, including 40 classroom hours, 20 skills lab hours, and 40 clinical hours in a nursing home, well above the federal floor of 75 hours (which includes at least 16 supervised practical hours). Nationally, the field is projected to add 196,200 annual openings through 2035, a sign that demand for trained aides is expected to stay strong even as South Carolina's own workforce keeps growing.
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 South Carolina?
Use the official South Carolina CNA registry lookup, run through Credentia CNA365, and search by the aide's name, city, and date of birth, or by their South Carolina registration number. The result shows current certification status. If the online search does not work or you need to confirm a result, call the registry directly at (888) 549-0820.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You are added to the registry once your exam results and certification paperwork are processed, not on the day you test. Processing time varies, so this page can't give you an exact number of days. If you still don't appear after a reasonable wait, call the registry at (888) 549-0820 to check your status.
What if I search and can't find someone?
Try searching again with name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or middle initial, since the registry matches on exact name details. Not finding a result does not prove someone is uncertified; it may just mean the search terms do not match how the name is on file. Call the registry at (888) 549-0820 to confirm directly.
How often does a South Carolina CNA certification need to be renewed?
South Carolina CNA certification follows the federal 24-month renewal cycle. For the exact requirements that apply to your situation, including how to renew or what to do if your certification has lapsed, contact the registry at (888) 549-0820.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in South Carolina?
A South Carolina CNA training program runs 100 hours total: 40 classroom hours, 20 skills lab hours, and 40 hours of clinical practice in a nursing home. That is above the federal minimum of 75 hours, which includes at least 16 supervised practical hours.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact the registry that holds your South Carolina certification at (888) 549-0820 to update your name or address. Updating this information is a routine request, but the registry sets the exact process and any documentation you need, such as proof of a legal name change.