Washington CNA Registry: How to Apply, Check Your NA-C Status, and Renew

Washington does not maintain a separate "CNA registry" website the way some states do. The nursing assistant registry is the Department of Health's credential database, searchable through the public Provider Credential Search, and it lists every Nursing Assistant-Certified (NA-C) and Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) in the state along with status, expiration date, and any disciplinary history. Getting onto it requires a DOH application after you pass the exam; staying on it requires a renewal every year on your birthday.

This guide walks through each interaction you will have with the registry: applying, checking status, renewing, fixing a lapse, and updating your record.

What the registry is and who runs it

Two bodies share nursing assistant oversight in Washington. The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON, formerly NCQAC) sets training and exam standards. The Department of Health issues and renews credentials and maintains the database. When employers say they "checked the registry," they mean they looked you up on the DOH's Provider Credential Search, which is public and free.

The database also serves the federal nurse aide registry requirement, so out-of-state employers and boards can confirm a Washington credential the same way.

Step 1: Apply after passing both exam parts

Once your training program has recorded your skills test pass and Credentia has transmitted your knowledge test pass, you apply for the NA-C credential through the DOH's online licensing portal. The application asks for:

• Legal name, date of birth, contact information, and Social Security number (or the alternative the DOH accepts).
• Your eligibility route (for example, Washington traditional program graduate or alternative-program graduate for HCA bridge students).
• Answers to personal history questions about criminal convictions, disciplinary actions, and health conditions that could affect safe practice.
• The application fee listed on the current DOH nursing assistant fee schedule.

Your training program reports completion directly, and exam results arrive electronically, so in most cases you do not mail transcripts or score reports.

Background check

The DOH runs a name-based check through Washington's statewide criminal history system. Applicants who have lived outside Washington recently may be asked to complete a fingerprint-based check, which adds a few weeks. Answer the personal history questions truthfully; an undisclosed conviction is treated far more seriously than a disclosed one.

Processing time

Complete applications with clean checks are commonly processed within two to six weeks. The most frequent delays are unanswered questions, unpaid fees, and missing eligibility documentation for non-standard routes. You can watch for your name to appear on the Provider Credential Search rather than waiting for mail.

Step 2: Check your status (and how employers do it)

On the Provider Credential Search, enter your name or credential number. The record shows:

• Credential type: Nursing Assistant Certified or Nursing Assistant Registered.
• Status: Active, Expired, Pending, Suspended, or similar.
• Issue and expiration dates.
• Disciplinary actions, if any, with links to public documents.

Employers verify this before making an offer and often re-verify at renewal time. If you are job hunting while your application processes, tell employers your application date and ask whether they will hire you as a NAR in the meantime.

The NAR: a registry entry before you are certified

Nursing Assistant-Registered is a separate credential that lets a facility employ you while you complete training and testing. It requires its own DOH application and fee, and it does not require an exam. A NAR employed by a nursing home has four months from hire to finish training and pass the exam. NARs appear on the registry just like NA-Cs, with their own status and expiration.

Step 3: Renew every year on your birthday

A Washington NA-C expires on your birthday each year. The DOH sends a reminder to the address on file, but the responsibility is yours regardless of whether you receive it.

• How: Log in to the DOH online portal, confirm your demographic information, and pay the renewal fee.
• Continuing education: None is required for a standard NA-C. If you hold the medication assistant endorsement, you must document eight hours of medication-related continuing education and 250 hours of employment as a medication assistant per cycle.
• When: You can renew up to 90 days before expiration. Renewing early does not shorten the next cycle.

Update your mailing address and email whenever they change so reminders reach you.

If your credential lapses

Working as a nursing assistant with an expired credential is a violation for both you and your employer, so act quickly.

If you let it lapse while employed, notify your employer immediately; facilities must remove you from direct-care assignments until the credential is active.

Updating your record

• Name change: Submit the DOH name change form with legal documentation. Do this before renewal so your record matches your identification.
• Address change: Update online at any time; there is no fee.
• Duplicate certificate: Request a replacement through the portal for a small fee if you need a paper copy.
• Endorsements: The medication assistant endorsement is added to your NA-C record after completing the approved medication assistant program.

Moving to or from Washington

Coming to Washington with an active certification from another state: apply for the NA-C by endorsement. The DOH verifies your out-of-state credential through that state's registry; you may be asked to demonstrate that your training met Washington's standard or to take the Washington exam if it did not.

Leaving Washington: Keep your Washington NA-C active while you apply elsewhere. Other states verify through the Provider Credential Search and will not accept an expired credential for endorsement.

Common registry problems and fixes

• "I passed the exam months ago and I am not on the registry." You may not have submitted the DOH application; passing the exam does not automatically create a credential.
• "My name is spelled differently on the registry and my ID." File a name correction with the DOH before an employer flags it.
• "An old disciplinary action shows up." Public records remain visible. Be prepared to explain it in interviews; many employers hire candidates with resolved actions.
• "My renewal reminder never came." Renewal is still due on your birthday. Set your own reminder each year.

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up a CNA license in Washington? Use the Department of Health's Provider Credential Search. Enter the person's name or credential number to see status, expiration, and any discipline.

Is the Washington CNA registry the same as the DOH license lookup? Yes. Washington uses the DOH credential database as its nursing assistant registry.

How often do Washington CNAs renew? Every year, on the credential holder's birthday, with no continuing education required for a standard NA-C.

How long does it take to get on the registry after the exam? Typically two to six weeks after a complete application, depending on background check volume.

Can I work while my application is pending? Only if a facility employs you as a Nursing Assistant-Registered, which has its own application and a four-month completion deadline.

To get to the point where you can apply, see Washington State CNA Requirements, the Washington NAC exam guide, and current class dates for the CNA Traditional and HCA–CNA Bridge programs.