West Virginia CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
West Virginia's CNA registry is verified through the West Virginia Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC), and the official lookup tool is linked on this page. OHFLAC maintains the state's official record of certified nurse aides, including certification status and any substantiated findings against an aide's name. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide, and to check it again on a regular basis. If a lookup doesn't turn up a match or you need help beyond what the search returns, contact OHFLAC directly through its website rather than guessing at a name match.
Look up a West Virginia nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in West Virginia, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
How to verify a West Virginia CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the West Virginia 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 registry search typically needs the aide's full legal name, and a date of birth or certification number helps narrow results when a name is common. A successful lookup shows certification status and dates. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, and anyone with such a finding on record cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This registry is not a full employment or criminal background check, so it should not be treated as one.
West Virginia registry at a glance
- Run by: WV OHFLAC
- Training: 120 hours, 55 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 West Virginia
Typical annual CNA pay in West Virginia · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in West Virginia by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to West Virginia
Under federal rules, a nurse aide certification is valid for 24 months and lapses if the aide has not performed paid nurse aide work during that window. Once lapsed, the usual path back is retesting rather than a simple renewal. Aides moving into West Virginia from another state also go through the registry, typically through a reciprocity or endorsement process that checks the aide's out-of-state record before adding them here. Exact renewal timing, fees, and reciprocity paperwork are set by OHFLAC, so confirm current specifics directly with the registry rather than assuming they match another state's rules.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in West Virginia, by the numbers
About 9,390 nurse aides work in West Virginia, earning a median wage of $17.66 an hour, or $36,720 a year, according to BLS May 2025 figures. That is roughly $5,540 below the national median CNA salary of $42,260. West Virginia pay has climbed over the past decade, up from a $23,020 median in 2015, a 59.5% increase over ten years. West Virginia also requires more training than the federal minimum: 120 total hours, including 55 clinical hours, well above the federal floor of 75 hours (which includes at least 16 supervised practical hours). Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 196,200 annual CNA job openings, with employment expected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035.
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 West Virginia registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in West Virginia?
- Use the official OHFLAC lookup linked on this page and search by the aide's full legal name. West Virginia's Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification maintains the state registry, and a search returns certification status. If you're checking a name that may have changed, try variants before assuming there's no record.
- 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 OHFLAC, and how long that takes can vary. If a reasonable amount of time has passed since you tested and you still don't appear in a search, don't assume something went wrong on your end. Contact OHFLAC directly to check on your record.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- Try searching name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or a middle initial, since small differences can cause a miss. A search that returns nothing is not proof that someone isn't certified. Confirm directly with OHFLAC before concluding a candidate lacks certification.
- How often does a West Virginia CNA certification need to be renewed?
- A CNA certification is valid for 24 months under federal rules before it needs to be renewed or shown current through qualifying paid work. West Virginia follows this same federal cycle. For exact renewal steps and deadlines, contact OHFLAC directly, since the registry administers the process.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in West Virginia?
- West Virginia requires 120 hours of CNA training, including 55 clinical hours, well above the federal minimum of 75 hours (with at least 16 of those as supervised practical hours). This makes West Virginia's training requirement one of the more hands-on programs in the country.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact OHFLAC, the agency that holds your West Virginia certification record, to update your name or address. This kind of update is routine, but the exact steps, including what documentation is needed, are set by the registry, so check with them directly rather than assuming a generic process applies.