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.
How to verify in three steps
- 1
Open the official lookup
Use the West 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.
West Virginia registry at a glance
| Run by | WV OHFLAC |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months (federal baseline) |
| Training required | 120 hours (55 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.
9,390
CNAs working in West Virginia
$36,720
Median pay per year ($17.66/hr)
$42,260
National median
120 hrs
Required training (55 clinical)
CNA median pay in West Virginia, 2015 to 2025
$23,020 in 2015 to $36,720 in 2025 (BLS OES).
Wages and employment: BLS OES, May 2025.
What you need for a lookup
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.
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.
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.
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 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.