California Department of Public Health (2024)

Attention certificate holders! We are happy to announce the launch of ournew electronic application submission portal. You can apply for a new or renew your Certified Nurse Assistant certificate by uploading your application along with any attachment(s) by visiting our online submission page.Effective March 23, 2023, fax submission method will no longer be available. You may submit your application via our new online submission portal or via regular mail.

For more information about navigating back into the workforce, please visit ourBeyond the Pandemic webpage.

The Healthcare Workforce Branch (HWB), Healthcare Professional Certification and Training Section (HPCTS)is primarily responsible for the certification of nurse assistants by ensuring applicants adhere to the California Health and Safety Code, Section 1337-1338.5.

How to Verify the Status of your Certificate

Verification of a Certified Nurse Assistant Certificate Link
Please see COVID-19 Update Information

How to Apply or Renew a Certified Nurse Assistant Certificate

How to Complete Your Renewal Application
How to Complete Your Initial Application
How to Complete Your Reciprocity Application Package
How to Complete Your Equivalency Application Package

How to Find a Training Program or Provider to Become a Certified Nurse Assistant

Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Training Programs
Facility Based Nurse Assistant Training Programs
Online Training Providers

How to Complete Your Renewal Application

Submit a completed Renewal Application (CDPH 283C) (PDF) along with documentation (CDPH 283A) (PDF) showing your completion of forty-eight (48) hours of In-Service Training/Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within your two (2) year certification period. A minimum of twelve (12) of the forty-eight (48) hours shall be completed in each year of the two (2) year certification period. A maximum of twenty-four (24) of the forty-eight (48) hours may be obtained only through a CDPH-approved online computer training program. You may submit the application by mail or by faxing it to our department.

How to Complete Your Initial Application

An applicant for certification as a CNA shall comply with each of the following:

Be at least sixteen (16) years of age.
Have successfully completed a training program approved by the department in California, which includes an examination to test the applicant’s knowledge and skills related to basic patient care services.
Obtain a criminal record clearance.

You must complete and submit the following to CDPH:

An Initial Application (CDPH 283B) (PDF), upon enrollment in the training program.
A copy of the Request for Live Scan Service (BCIA 8016) (PDF)form. Please also download the Request for Live Scan Service Sample (BCIA 8016 Sample) (PDF), which will show you how to correctly complete the BCIA 8016 form.

Once you have completed the CDPH-approved training program, you will need to successfully pass the Competency Evaluation Examination. If you successfully pass the Competency Examination, you must allow at least thirty (30) days for CDPH to receive your examination results from the testing vendor.

How to Complete Your Reciprocity Application Package

In order to transfer your out-of-state certificate to California, you must complete and submit the following to CDPH:

Certified Nurse Assistant Equivalency/Reciprocity Application (CDPH 283E (PDF))
Obtain your fingerprints either one of the two methods below:

Electronic Fingerprints

Obtain your fingerprints in California utilizing a Live Scan Agency and submit a copy of the completed Request for Live Scan Service (BCIA 8016) (PDF). Please also download the Request for Live Scan Service Sample (BCIA 8016 Sample) (PDF), which will show you how to correctly complete the BCIA 8016 form.

Fingerprint Cards

Applicants residing out of state may complete the fingerprint card (FD-258) and submit two completed cards to the department. Fingerprint cards (FD-258) must be accompanied by a $32.00 check or money order made payable to "The Department of Justice". Please refer to theDOJ's website(PDF) for instructions on how to correctly complete the fingerprint card (FD-258).

A copy of your out-of-state CNA certificate.
Proof of work showing that you provided nursing or nursing-related services in a facility to residents for compensation under the supervision of a licensed health professional within the last two (2) years. Acceptable forms of proof of work are a copy of a paystub or W2. If you have received your initial out-of-state CNA certificate within the last two (2) years, you do not need to submit proof of work.Staffing agencies are not an acceptable work setting to qualify for reciprocity to California. You must submit proof of work from a skilled nursing facility in which you worked. If you work in a facility but are paid through a staffing agency you may submit a letter from the facility stating that you have worked there under the supervision of a licensed health professional.
The Verification of Current Nurse Assistant Certification (CDPH 931) (PDF). Part I of the CDPH 931 is to be completed by the applicant and Part II is to be completed by the endorsing state agency (the state you are coming from).

How to Complete Your Equivalency Application Package

If you are presently enrolled in (or completed) a Registered Nurse, Licensed Vocational Nurse, or Licensed Psychiatric Technician program, have received medical training in military services, or have received the above license(s) from a foreign country or U.S. state, you may not have to take further training and may qualify to take the Competency Evaluation. You must complete and submit the following to CDPH:

Certified Nurse Assistant Equivalency/Reciprocity Application (CDPH 283E (PDF))
Obtain your fingerprints in California utilizing a Live Scan Agency and submit a copy of the completedRequest for Live Scan Service (BCIA 8016) (PDF). Please also download theRequest for Live Scan Service Sample (BCIA 8016 Sample) (PDF), which will show you how to correctly complete the BCIA 8016 form.
An official, sealed transcript of training (students may substitute the official transcript with a sealed official school letter, listing equivalent training and the completion of at least the "Fundamentals of Nursing" course). The letter must include the completion date(s) of the training/courses and hours/units completed. If discharged from the military, a copy of the DD-214 can substitute for an official transcript.
Proof of work (paystub or W2) showing the applicant has provided nursing or nursing-related services in a facility to residents for compensation under the supervision of a licensed health professional within the last two (2) years. Proof of work is not required for current nursing students or if the college degree was obtained within the last two (2) years.Staffing agencies are not an acceptable work setting to qualify for equivalency in California. You must submit proof of work from a skilled nursing facility in which you worked. If you work in a facility but are paid through a staffing agency you may submit a letter from the facility stating that you have worked there under the supervision of a licensed health professional.

Upon completion of the above requirements, the applicant will be sent information regarding the Competency Evaluation examination. You must allow a minimum of thirty (30) days for CDPH to receive your examination results from the testing vendor. Once you have successfully passed the examination, maintained criminal record clearance, and the results from the testing vendor have been received, CDPH will issue a current CNA certificate.

State and Federal Requirements

Certified Nurse Assistant Forms

BCIA 8016 (PDF)Request for Live Scan Service
BCIA 8016 SAMPLE (PDF) Sample Request for Live Scan Service form for Certified Nurse Assistants
CDPH 283A (PDF) Certified Nurse Assistant In-Service Training/Continuing Education
CDPH 283B (PDF) Certified Nurse Assistant Initial Application
CDPH 283C (PDF) Certified Nurse Assistant Renewal Application
CDPH 283E (PDF) Certified Nurse Assistant Equivalency/Reciprocity Application
CDPH 929 (PDF) Request for Name/Address Change and/or Duplicate for CNA Certificate
CDPH 931 (PDF) Verification of Current Nurse Assistant Certification
CDPH 318 (PDF) Report of Misconduct