This registry contains information on whether an individual has a current CNA certificate. Employers are required to verify currency of a CNA's certificate at the time of employment and upon renewal.
September 19, 2024 IMPORTANT NOTICE: The CNA registry is currently understaffed.
This will cause a delay in processing times. Please ensure your application is complete and includes all required information. If your certification date is not updated on the registry, your application has not been processed. If your application was incomplete, you will be notified.
RENEWALS: To facilitate CNAs working in Idaho, all CNA renewals with be processed as priority. Application will be processed within 14 - 30 days. If your certification is set to expire at the end of the month, your renewal we be process in the order it is received and your status will be made current at that time.
RECIPROCITIES: Until further notice, reciprocities will be processed within 60 days.
APPROVAL TO TEST: Until further notice, requests to receive an approval to test will be processed within 60 days.
IDAHO HEALTH FACILITY EMPLOYERS (SNF, ICF, ASC, hospitals, RALF, medical offices, etc.): If you have an immediate CNA staff hire needing reciprocity, please email or fax the reciprocity application for the candidate and submit their required documentation. Please put in the subject line: Idaho Health Employer requesting reciprocity. This will enable us to prioritize those applications for the facility hire as quickly as possible.
The CNA forms found on this page require Adobe Acrobat Reader© version 5.0, or newer, to open. Adobe Reader© is available as a free download. These forms may be completed online once downloaded but must then be printed and mailed or faxed to the Idaho CNA Registry section. The forms may also be printed and completed manually, but they must still be returned either by e-mail, mail or fax to the Idaho CNA Registry.
Changes to use of CNA verification activities:
- Social Security numbers are masked upon entry for search
- Date of birth is now required when requesting a search by Social Security number
- Captcha is now required
Online resources for Idaho Nurse Aide
Idaho CNA Training Schools
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When do I renew?
You should renew during the month of your certification expiring. We recommend that you submit your renewal request at the beginning of the month it expires. Submit your renewal form to IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov. Renewals are processed in the order that they are received.
We suggest that you submit forms 30 days prior to expiration. Renewals are processed in a timely manner and generally have a short timeframe for processing. However, during some months of the year we have an unusually high number of requests and processing may take several weeks to complete.
How do I renew?
To request renewal, download the Renewal Form, located above, under CNA Forms - Renewal. Complete all sections and submit the form and documentation to the CNA registry as stated on the form.
Your employer needs to sign the form verifying your work employment dates. You must have worked a minimum of 8 hours as a paid CNA or in nursing-related services. Employment dates need to be prior to your CNA certification lapsing.
Is there a charge to renew my certification?
No, at this time there are no fees to process any forms or certifications with the Idaho Certified Nurse Aide Registry.
What if my previous employer is unable to sign my Renewal From, what should I do?
You must submit a copy of your pay stubs or cancelled checks with your employer's information for the timeframe you are stating you worked as a CNA or performed nurse aide related work.
What if I cannot provide proof that I worked for hours, or more, as apaid CNA within the two years preceding my certification expiring, what can I do to renew my CNA certificate?
You will need to retake the CNA exam, successfully complete both the written and skills tests. Contact the CNA registry at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov and we can provide an approval to test letter.
How do I know if my approval has been processed?
If you submit your renewal by email at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov you will receive an email stating your renewal has been processed.
If you submit your renewal by fax or US mail, you can check your status at the Idaho State CNA registry website: https://registry.prometric.com/publicID
When do I receive my renewal certificate from the Idaho CNA registry?
You do not. The Idaho Nurse Aide Registry no longer issues CNA certificates. You can print our your CNA verification status from the CNA website at https://registry.prometric.com/publicID
Renewals: Why is my new expiration date a different month, or not for a 2-year period?
Expiration dates for CNA certification are calculated 24 months from the date of the last day worked. Federal regulations state CNAs must have performed eight (8) hours of nursing or nursing-related services during a 24 consecutive month period.
For example, if an individual successfully completed their CNA examinations and were placed on the registry in June 2020, their expiration on their certificate states it would lapse, or expire, June 30, 2022. If the CNA's last day worked was in June 2019, their renewal would be good until June 30, 2021, not June 30, 2022.
Expiration dates for CNA certification are calculated 24 months from the date of the last day worked. Federal regulations state CNAs must have performed eight (8) hours of nursing or nursing-related services during a 24 consecutive month period.
For example, if an individual successfully completed their CNA examinations and were placed on the registry in June 2020, their expiration on their certificate states it would lapse, or expire, June 30, 2022. If the CNA's last day worked was in June 2019, their rnewal would be good until June 30, 2021, not June 30, 2022.
To request reciprocity, download the Reciprocity Form, located above under CNA Forms - reciprocity."
Complete all sections and submit the form and documentation to the CNA registry as stated on the form.
Reciprocity is only granted when employment in Idaho has been offered or you are currently living in Idaho. Incomplete, missing, and illegible information/documentation will result in an automatic denial of reciprocity. You must submit the following to receive reciprocity in Idaho.
To receive reciprocity, you must have successfully completed a NATCEP approved course meeting federal requirements or you must have completed a minimum of 1 (one) semester at an accredited nursing school program. You must submit documentation listed below.
a. You must submit your Nurse Assistant course certificate showing that you have successfully completed a NATCEP approved program with the number of federally required hours.
or
b. Nursing students who challenged the CNA NATCEP course need to submit school transcripts showing successful completion of at least one semester of a nursing school program.
To receive reciprocity, you must also submit documentation that verifies you are active and in good standing with no negative findings from your current state's CNA registry.
If your application does not include documentation of NATCEP approved schooling and state verification status, you will not be granted reciprocity.
How do I know my reciprocity has been granted and processed?
If you submit your renewal by email at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov you will receive an email stating your reciprocity has been processed.
If you submit your reciprocity by fax or US mail, you can check your status at the Idaho State CNA registry website: https://registry.prometric.com/publicID
Please complete the form below. There is a $15 processing fee for these actions.
Certified nurse aides are not licensed in Idaho. Therefore, there are no rules governing the scope of practice for CNAs. CNAs are referred to as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in the Board of Nursing administrative rules. CNAs typically work under the direction of a licensed nurse. The Idaho Board of Nursing has rules concerning a licensed nurse delegating nursing functions to the UAP. To view the specific portion of the Board of Nursing rules dealing with UAP, please see pages 40 and 41, IDAPA 23.01.01.490 at IDAPA 23.01.01.490
No, at this time there are no fees to process any forms or certifications with the Idaho Certified Nurse Aide Registry.
Yes. Idaho CNA Registry policy states that criteria for challenging the CNA test includes "Successful completion of one (1) semester of an accredited nursing school program as evidenced by a transcript of required nursing courses (not pre-requisites)."
The transcript must verify that the applicant has successfully completed a basic nursing course, such as Nursing 101. Courses such as English, nutrition, human anatomy and physiology, etc, will not meet the criteria to challenge the CNA exam.
You must provide a copy of your first semester transcripts in a letter to our office requesting approval to test. An “approval to test” letter will then be issued upon successful review of your request allowing you to take the Skills and Written test.
It is 120 hours. This includes 80 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical instruction.
You will need to contact the Nurse Aide Registry of the state you wish to transfer to and they will assist you with their transfer process.
Some states do require a fee for transferring and there are different prerequisites in each state required for completing the transfer process.
The following are some of the more frequent phoned in questions:
- May I challenge the CNA exam?
- Only those who have completed 120 hours of class time are eligible to take the CNA exam.
- What if I was unable to take the CNA exam within the allowed time frame from course completion to testing (one year)?
- You must send a letter to the Long Term Care supervisor requesting the test needed to take and the reasons why you were not able to test in the required time frame. This letter must include the date when the Nurse Aide program course was completed.
- How many times may I retest for the written or skills tests?
- You may retest up to three times for each test.
- How long does it take to receive the CNA Certification in the mail?
- It takes the standard 7-10 business days.
- May my employer fill out the bottom of the reciprocity form?
- No, the employer may not fill out the bottom of the reciprocity form. That portion of the form must be completed by the state's agency responsible for the CNA Registry in that state.
- How do I get the reciprocity form to the Idaho CNA Registry?
- Mail or fax the form; that information is found on the Instructions sheet.
- I need to renew my CNA certificate, what do I need to do?
- To renew for another two-year period, fill out the Renewal Form, found on our website at the upper right. Your employer needs to sign the form authenticating your work history as a paid CNA or nursing/nursing related services (a minimum of eight hours). Employment dates need to be within the two years prior to the CNA certificate lapsing.
- If my previous employer is unable to sign my Renewal Form in order to renew my CNA for another two years, what should I do?
- You may submit a copy of a valid W-2 form, or pay stub with your employers information.
- If I cannot provide proof that I worked for 8 hours, or more, as a paid CNA within the two years preceding my certification expiring, what can I do to renew my CNA certificate?
- This would require completion of both the written and skills tests again. Contact our office in order for us to provide an approval to test letter.
- Where can I get study materials prior to retesting?
- Contact the college of your choice, one offering a nurse aide program, to request copies of the study material.
The CNA course is a NATCEP approved course that is 120 hours. This includes 80 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of clinical hand-on instruction.
To change your address or your legal name, contact the Idaho CNA registry at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov. We can tell you what documentation you need tos submit for your situation and assist you with the change.
Only nursing students can challenge the CNA exam.
Federal regulation and Idaho CNA Registry policy states that criteria for challenging the CNA test includes the successful completion of one (1) semester of an accredited nursing school program as evidenced by a transcript of required nursing courses (not pre-requisites.)
To be approved to challenge the CNA program course, you must submit an accredited nursing school transcript which verifies the applicant has successfully completed a basic nursing course, such as Nursing 101. Courses such as English, nutrition, human anatomy and physiology, etc., will not meet the criteria to challenge the CNA exam.
Submit your challenge request to the Idaho State Registry at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov. With your request, you must submit a copy of your first semester of nursing transcripts, at a minimum. If your request is approved, you will receive an "Approval to Test Letter" which will allow you to take the CNA exam which includes a skills and written test.
No. These training courses do not meet the Omnibus Reconciliation Act (OBRA) criteria in Idaho for what must covered in a CNA class. OBRA, passed by Congress in 1987, outlines the standards and requirements for trained Nurse Aides.
Idaho no longer provides a written verification form.
You can obtain your current status and verification on the Idaho State CNA registry website: https://registry.prometric.com/publicID. Select print certificate to download a PDF copy. You can submit the digital PDF or print out a copy.
Certified nurse aides are not licensed in Idaho. Therefore, there are no rules governing the scope of practice for CNAs. CNAs are referred to as unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in the Board of Nursing administrative rules. CNAs typically work under the direction of a licensed nurse. The Idaho Board of Nursing has rules concerning a licensed nurse delegating nursing functions to the UAP. To view the specific portion of the Board of Nursing rules dealing with UAP, please see pages 40 and 41, IDAPA 23.01.01.490 at IDAPA 23.01.01.490
You can check your status at the Idaho State CNA registry website: https://registry.prometric.com/publicID
Email us at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov
Due to the very high volume of requests every day at the registry, emailing allows us to provide the quickest timeframe to answer your questions and assist you with your renewals and reciprocities.
Contact the CNA registry at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov. In the email you must state the reasons why you were not able to test in the required timeframe. You must also include in the email the date when you completed the Nurse Aide program.
Contact one of the schools who offer NATCEP nurse aide programs. A list of schools is located above in the section names "Where can I take a CNA NATCEP training course?"
You can request a replacement card/certificate from Prometric. There is a $15 fee for this service. We recommend that you keep your card in a secure, accessible location, as many employers require proof that you are current and in good standing before hiring you.
We have a very high volume of requests ever day at the registry. Emailing allows us to answer questions in a very timely manner.
Email us at IDNAP@dhw.idaho.gov
Fax: 208-334-6629
Phone: 1-800-748-2480