Washington CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
Washington CNAs are verified through the Washington State Department of Health, which runs the state's official nurse aide registry via its provider credential search tool, linked on this page. This is the same registry that federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check before hiring any nurse aide. A search takes just a few details and returns the aide's certification status. If you need help beyond what the online tool shows, contact the Washington State Department of Health directly, since a dedicated registry phone line is not listed on the search page itself.
Look up a Washington nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in Washington, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public. You can also search the state's published records on this page.
Search Washington nurse aide records
Washington publishes its credential records as open data. Search them here by name or certification number; each result links to the official record to confirm before hiring.
Washington records
How to verify a Washington CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the Washington 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
A lookup needs at least the aide's full name; adding extra identifying details the search tool asks for can help narrow results when a name is common. The search returns the person's certification status and basic credential details. It also shows whether the state has recorded a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property against that person, which by law bars them from working as a nurse aide. This registry check is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Washington registry at a glance
- Run by: Washington State Department of Health
- Training: 108 hours, 40 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 Washington
Typical annual CNA pay in Washington · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in Washington by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Washington
Under federal rules, CNA certification runs on a 24-month cycle and must be renewed by working a minimum amount of paid nurse aide work during that window. If a certification lapses without qualifying paid work, the aide usually has to retest to become certified again. Aides moving to Washington from another state go through the Washington State Department of Health's registry to transfer their certification, a process generally handled through reciprocity or endorsement rather than starting training over. Washington sets its own specific renewal timelines, fees, and transfer requirements, so contact the Washington State Department of Health, or use its online credential search tool, to confirm details for your situation.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in Washington, by the numbers
About 30,270 CNAs work in Washington, according to BLS May 2025 figures, earning a median $49,180 a year, or $23.65 an hour. That is $6,920 above the national median CNA salary of $42,260. Washington pay has climbed sharply over the past decade, up about 72.8 percent from a 2015 median of $28,460. Training requirements here also exceed the federal floor: Washington requires 108 hours of training, including 40 clinical hours, well above the federal minimum of 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the CNA occupation is projected to add 196,200 annual job openings through 2035, with total U.S. employment for the role projected to grow 2.6 percent over that period, reflecting steady demand for aides in nursing homes, hospitals, and home care.
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 Washington registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in Washington?
- Use the Washington State Department of Health's provider credential search tool, linked on this page, and search by the aide's name. The tool returns current certification status and basic credential information. No login or account is required to search. If you get stuck or need to confirm a result, contact the Washington State Department of Health directly rather than relying on a search alone.
- I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
- You are added to the registry after your exam results and paperwork are processed by the Washington State Department of Health; there is no fixed number of days that applies to every applicant. Processing time varies. If a reasonable amount of time passes and you still do not appear in a search, contact the Washington State Department of Health to check your status.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- A missing result is not proof that someone is not certified. Try searching name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or different middle initial, since search results can depend on how the name was entered. If you still cannot find a match, contact the Washington State Department of Health directly to confirm certification status rather than assuming the person is uncertified.
- How often does a Washington CNA certification need to be renewed?
- Under federal rules, certification runs on a 24-month renewal cycle, and staying certified requires a minimum amount of paid nurse aide work within that window. Washington's exact renewal process and any state-specific requirements are set by the Washington State Department of Health, so check with the department directly or use its online credential search tool for your specific renewal date.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in Washington?
- Washington requires 108 hours of CNA training, including 40 clinical hours, under WAC 246-841A-440. That is well above the federal minimum of 75 hours, which includes at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. CPR and HIV/AIDS training are required separately, on top of the 108 program hours.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact the Washington State Department of Health, since it holds your certification record and controls how updates are made. Routine changes like a name or address update are commonly handled through the department, but the exact forms and process are set by the state, so confirm current steps with the department.