Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) · rules checked October 22, 2026
Certificate expires every 2 years on your birthday. To renew (CDPH 283C) you must self-report paid nursing or nursing-related services in a facility, for pay, under the supervision of a licensed health professional during the certification period (at least 8 hours documented on the renewal), maintain criminal record clearance, and complete 48 hours of CDPH-approved in-service training / CE - at least 12 hours in each year, up to 24 of the 48 may be online. No CDPH renewal fee.
If you have never worked for pay since certifying, use your certification date.
| Credential | Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) |
|---|---|
| Registry | California Nurse Assistant Registry (California Department of Public Health, CDPH) · (916) 327-2445 |
| Training required | 160 hours |
| Exam | Headmaster — $140 (written $40 · skills $100) |
| How renewal works | A calendar renewal and a paid-work rule both apply. Renewal fee: $0. |
| Keep-active work rule | Certificate expires every 2 years on your birthday. To renew (CDPH 283C) you must self-report paid nursing or nursing-related services in a facility, for pay, under the supervision of a licensed health professional during the certification period (at least 8 hours documented on the renewal), maintain criminal record clearance, and complete 48 hours of CDPH-approved in-service training / CE - at least 12 hours in each year, up to 24 of the 48 may be online. No CDPH renewal fee. |
| Continuing education | 48 hours of in-service training/CE per 2 years, at least 12 hours each year, max 24 hours online, documented on CDPH 283A. Highest CE burden in this batch. |
| Who reports your work | You do — nobody files it for you |
Changing soon: Exam vendor/pricing changed March 1, 2026 (Headmaster $140) and CDPH opened digital renewal/reactivation submission June 29, 2026 (AFL-26-21) - recheck vendor fees quarterly.
Portal, forms, the steps in order, the exact fee, and the trap that lapses California aides — our guide How to renew your CNA license in California walks the renewal end to end.
Expired 2 years or less (or you know before expiry you will miss the work or CE requirements): reactivation on CDPH 283C - check the reactivation section, get CDPH approval, then take and pass the full Competency Evaluation (written + skills) within 2 years of the expiration date. You may start reactivation up to 6 months before expiry.
Expired more than 2 years: you must complete a CDPH-approved nurse assistant training program again (CDPH AFL guidance describes a 75-hour approved competency-evaluation training program route in some expired-certificate guidance - confirm current program length with CDPH) and pass the Competency Evaluation and obtain criminal background clearance.
160 hours is the highest training requirement in the U.S. (60 theory + 100 clinical). Missing ANY one of work, 48h CE, or clearance blocks normal renewal and forces the reactivation exam - even if you worked full-time but are short on CE. Headmaster fee $140 effective March 1, 2026 ($40 knowledge / $100 skills; audio knowledge $45). Credentia/Regional Testing Center route has been listed at $120 in some fee tables - vendor and site decide the price you pay.
Application fee: $0. Reciprocity via CDPH 283E: submit a copy of your active out-of-state certificate (or registry screenshot), complete California Live Scan fingerprints (in-state) or two FD-258 cards plus a $32 Department of Justice check/money order if outside California, and maintain clear criminal record. No CDPH application fee - only fingerprint/DOJ costs. Work-history requirement: Proof of paid nursing or nursing-related services in the past 2 years under a licensed health professional (pay stub or W-2; if paid by a staffing agency, a letter from the facility - agencies themselves do not qualify). SKIPPED if your out-of-state certificate was issued within the last 2 years.. Equivalency (RN/LVN students, military, foreign-trained nurses) uses the same CDPH 283E form but is a different route from reciprocity and may qualify you to test without retraining.
The table below is computed for an active aide in good standing, trained to the origin state's standard hours. Your own hours or status can change your row — run the transfer checker with your real facts.
| Certified in | Verdict for California | Fee | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Alaska | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 140-hour program leaves a 20-hour gap. |
| Arizona | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| Arkansas | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 91-hour program leaves a 69-hour gap. |
| California | Same state — no transfer needed | ||
| Colorado | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Connecticut | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| Delaware | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 91-hour program leaves a 69-hour gap. |
| District of Columbia | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 125-hour program leaves a 35-hour gap. |
| Florida | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| Georgia | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 85-hour program leaves a 75-hour gap. |
| Hawaii | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| Idaho | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| Illinois | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| Indiana | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Iowa | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Kansas | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 90-hour program leaves a 70-hour gap. |
| Kentucky | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Louisiana | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 80-hour program leaves a 80-hour gap. |
| Maine | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 130-hour program leaves a 30-hour gap. |
| Maryland | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| Massachusetts | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Michigan | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Minnesota | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Mississippi | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Missouri | Accepted — with conditions | $0 | California accepts active certifications with a work-history requirement. |
| Montana | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Nebraska | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 76-hour program leaves a 84-hour gap. |
| Nevada | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| New Hampshire | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| New Jersey | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 90-hour program leaves a 70-hour gap. |
| New Mexico | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| New York | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| North Carolina | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| North Dakota | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Ohio | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Oklahoma | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Oregon | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 155-hour program leaves a 5-hour gap. |
| Pennsylvania | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 80-hour program leaves a 80-hour gap. |
| Rhode Island | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| South Carolina | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| South Dakota | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Tennessee | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Texas | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| Utah | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 100-hour program leaves a 60-hour gap. |
| Vermont | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
| Virginia | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 140-hour program leaves a 20-hour gap. |
| Washington | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 138-hour program leaves a 22-hour gap. |
| West Virginia | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| Wisconsin | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 120-hour program leaves a 40-hour gap. |
| Wyoming | Training-hour gap | $0 | California holds incoming aides to its 160-hour training standard. A 75-hour program leaves a 85-hour gap. |
The kit carries California's full recovery path — the forms, the order to file them, the phone scripts — plus transfer checklists for every destination. See the kit →
