Virginia CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
To verify a Virginia certified nurse aide, use the Virginia Board of Nursing's nurse aide registry lookup, linked on this page. The Board of Nursing is the state agency that operates and maintains this registry, tracking each aide's certification status, renewal date, and any findings on record. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check the registry before hiring a nurse aide, so this lookup is not optional for those employers. For questions the online lookup cannot answer, contact the Virginia Board of Nursing directly through its website rather than assuming a status. Keep a record of your search results date for hiring files.
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the Virginia 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.
Virginia registry at a glance
| Run by | Virginia Board of Nursing |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 140 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)
A registry check is not a criminal background check.
40,580
CNAs working in Virginia
$43,200
Median pay per year ($20.77/hr)
$42,260
National median
140 hrs
Required training (40 clinical)
CNA median pay in Virginia, 2015 to 2025
$24,450 in 2015 to $43,200 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
A lookup typically needs the aide's first and last name, and if available a middle initial or certification number to narrow results. A match shows certification status, such as active or expired, and the certification or renewal date on file. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; a person with such a finding on record cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This registry is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Virginia
Under federal rules, a nurse aide certification is valid for 24 months and must show qualifying paid nurse aide work in that window to stay active. Without qualifying paid work in that period, a certification typically lapses, and a lapse usually means retesting through the full competency exam rather than a simple renewal. Aides moving to Virginia from another state go through the registry as a transfer, sometimes called reciprocity or endorsement, so certification can carry over instead of starting over. Because exact renewal timing, documentation, and transfer steps are state-specific, confirm your situation directly with the Virginia Board of Nursing rather than assume a timeline.
CNA work in Virginia, by the numbers
Virginia employs about 40,580 certified nurse aides, according to BLS OES data from May 2025. Their median pay is $43,200 a year, or $20.77 an hour, which runs about $940 above the national median of $42,260. Virginia CNA pay has grown roughly 76.7 percent over the past decade, up from a median of $24,450 in 2015. Virginia also sets one of the strictest training standards in the country: 140 hours of instruction, including 40 hours of direct-care clinical work, well above the federal floor of 75 training hours with 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 196,200 annual CNA job openings through 2035 as the field grows, which points to steady hiring demand for aides who hold current, verifiable certification.
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 Virginia?
Use the Virginia Board of Nursing's nurse aide registry lookup, linked at the top of this page, and search by the aide's name. The result shows certification status and related details on file with the Board. If you manage hiring for a nursing facility or home health agency, federal law requires this check before you bring an aide on staff.
I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
You are added to the registry once your exam results and required paperwork have been processed by the Virginia Board of Nursing. Processing time varies and isn't fixed, so a short gap between testing and appearing in a search isn't unusual. If you don't show up on the registry after a reasonable wait, contact the Virginia Board of Nursing directly to check on your record.
What if I search and can't find someone?
Try searching with name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or a different middle initial, since registry searches usually match on exact name spelling. A search that comes back empty is not proof that someone lacks certification; the name entered may simply not match how it's recorded. Confirm directly with the Virginia Board of Nursing before drawing any conclusion.
How often does a Virginia CNA certification need to be renewed?
Under the federal baseline, a nurse aide certification is valid for 24 months, and it must be supported by qualifying paid nurse aide work during that period to stay active. Virginia administers the specifics of renewal through its registry, so confirm your exact renewal date and requirements with the Virginia Board of Nursing.
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Virginia?
Virginia requires 140 hours of CNA training, including 40 hours of direct-care clinical work, one of the highest totals of any state. That is nearly double the federal minimum of 75 training hours, which includes at least 16 supervised practical hours. The extra hours are set in state regulation for nurse aide education programs.
How do I update my name or address on the registry?
Contact the Virginia Board of Nursing, which holds your certification record, to update your name or address on the registry. Name and address updates are routine, but the exact forms or documentation required, such as proof of a legal name change, are set by the Board rather than a fixed statewide process. Ask the Board directly for its current update procedure.