Who maintains the CNA registry in Tennessee?
Department of Health
Office of Health Care Facilities
665 Main Stream Drive
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615.532.7841
Nurse Aide Registry: 800.778.4504
Fax: 615.248.3601
Attn: Wanda J. King, Program Manager, Nurse
Aide Programs
Email: CNA.Health@tn.gov or Wanda.King@tn.gov
Who investigates complaints in your state?
Office of Health Care Facilities
Central Intake Unit
Phone: 877.287.0010
Office of Health Care Facilities
Phone: 615.741.7670
The Tennessee Department of Health is responsible for maintaining the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry. The registry lists all CNAs in the state and includes their certification information, including expiration dates. The TDH also oversees the training and testing requirements for CNAs in Tennessee.
CNA License Requirements in Tennessee
In order to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in the state of Tennessee, you must complete an approved CNA training program and pass the competency exam. Approved programs can be found at many vocational schools and community colleges throughout the state. The competency exam is administered by the Headmaster and consists of a written portion and a practical skills evaluation. Once you have passed both portions of the exam, you will be given a CNA certification and listed on the registry.
How to Verify CNA License in Tennessee?
The The Tennessee Department of Health offers an online verification system for nurse aides that allows the public to view a nurse aide’s name, certification number, expiration date, and municipality of employment. In order to use the online verification system, you must first create an account. Once you have created an account, you can search for a specific nurse aide by name or certification number.
Tennessee online verification portal
If you are unable to find the information you need on the online verification system, you can contact the TDH Licensing Unit at (615) 532-5166. The Licensing Unit can help you verify a CNA’s license and provide additional information about their certification status.
How to Renew CNA License In Tennessee?
Your Tennessee CNA license will expire every 2 years. To renew it, you will need to complete at least 8 hours of paid work in a nursing home or other healthcare facility. You can find more renewal information on the Tennessee Board of Nursing website.
| Renewal Requirements | Worked 8 hours as a paid professional within 24 months. |
| Validation | 24 Months |
| Time Required | Two to Three Weeks |
Reinstatement CNA License in Tennessee
In order to reinstate a lapsed CNA license in Tennessee, the individual must retake the CNA program and pass the competency exam again. The CNA program must be offered through an accredited school and must be approved by the Tennessee Department of Health. The competency exam is administered by Headmaster and covers both written and practical components. For more information visit this page.
Transferring a Out of State CNA License to Tennessee
If you are a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and are currently licensed in another state, you may be able to transfer your license to Tennessee. In order to do so, your license must be active and in good standing. You can apply online for a Tennessee CNA license for a $20 transfer processing fee. Your application will be processed within one week.
For more information visit the Tennessee nurse aide registry.