If you are thinking about becoming a CNA, you should know that you will need to regularly renew your certification, usually once every 24 months. A CNA license is valid for two years from its issue date. The requirements to renew your certification will usually include working for an employer in the nursing field for a specific amount of time and completing your continuing education courses.
Getting your Certified Nurse Aide certification is a way to gain a secure, satisfying career in the medical field. Since individual states set the requirements for testing for and maintaining the CNA, it is easy to let your certification lapse or become invalid. To find out if a nursing assistant certification is active or expired you need to access your state's CNA registry online and then go to the certification verification page. Enter the required information and select the submit button. The result should be displayed, showing your license number, full name and the status of your certification.
These requirements from renewing your CNA certification will vary from one state to the next, so if you have recently moved to another state and what to restart your CNA career, you will need to learn more about the renewal requirements for your current state of residence.
In some states, you may renew your CNA certification if you have not worked at all throughout the 2-year period, but the process of renewing will often be more of a challenge. Since the requirements are not standard throughout the country, it is best to always get in touch with your state board for clarification if you are unsure about what you need to do to reinstate your CNA license.
What You Need to Do to Renew Your CNA Certification
Here are the basics on what you need to do to successfully renew your CNA Certification.
The first thing that you will need to be check the expiration date on your CNA license, and the date of the last time you were employed as a CNA. Your CNA license is valid for two years. In some states, the license should be renewable if the CNA has worked for a minimum of eight hours during these two years. If it turns out you are eligible for a renewal, all you need to do is complete a renewal form, and then submit it with the necessary fee to the state board. Some state boards will even allow you to renew your CNA certification online.
If you did not work throughout those two years, you will need to take the competency evaluation test if this option is available in your state, and if your license has not been expired for over two years. Once you pass the evaluation test, the state board will renew your CNA certification.
If you are unable to renew your expired CNA license, then you will need to retrain and pass another certification exam once again. Once you pass the exam, you will be able to apply for a brand-new CNA license.
How to Go Back to Your Job as a CNA After a Long Hiatus
There are several reasons why a CNA may need to renew their license. They may have wanted to review their other choices for employment in the medical industry. They may have quit their job to take care of an ailing family member, or they may have decided to stop working while they worked on starting a family.
No matter what your reason may be for originally leaving your job as a certified nursing assistant, it can be difficult going back to work after a long hiatus. Whether you were able to easily renew your license or if you needed to go back and start over to get your certification once again, here are a few things that you can do to make your return to the work force much easier.
Take Care of Your Lapsed CNA Certification
The sooner that you can take care of your expired CNA certification, the better off you will be. If you know that your license is about to expire, you should do what you can to reinstate it, even if you aren’t sure about returning to work just yet.
If you have been on an extended hiatus it is possible that your CNA license has expired without you realizing it. It is common for CNAs to forget to renew their license the first time, so it really isn’t a big deal if you take care of it as soon as you can.
CNAs who are on an extended break and do not expect to return to work after 2 years have passed may not bother to renew their license on time. Many times, it is because they aren’t sure if they want to return to the same profession, and therefore they feel that they shouldn’t bother with paying for a renewal fee.
So, the first step in returning to your old job as a CNA is to get your lapsed license renewed.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you want to renew your lapsed CNA Certificate.
The requirements to renew your CNA license will be different for each state. However, in most states, CNAs who would like to reinstate or renew their certificate will need to show that they have completed a minimum of 150 hours of work in the field within a 2-year period.
The 2-year period doesn’t always have to be the two years immediately before renewing your license. In some locations, you only must show that you have that the last tie you worked as a CNA, you worked for a minimum of at least 150 hours within that time.
CNAs who are going back into their old profession are usually very surprised to find out that they need to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship to receive their new license. Obviously, this isn’t a major issue for most people who have proof readily available to show. But if you aren’t a U.S. citizen, you will need to prove that you are first, eligible to work in the United States, If there is any reason why getting your CNA certification renewed would be a problem for you, it would be in your best interest to speak to an attorney or another individual who could help you get your paperwork ready.
It is very likely that whenever you go to apply for a new CNA job, your new employer will perform a background check on you. However, CNAs are also required to have a new background check any time that they renew or reinstate their CNA Certification. They are also responsible for paying for any fees that are associated with this check.
Sometimes you will be required to provide fingerprints during this background check, while other times it will be performed by using some of your personal information such as your address or social security number. Regardless, it is unlikely that you be able to get your certification back if you refuse to have the background check performed. If there is something that could cause an issue your background check, it would be best to get in touch with your state board to find out what you can do.
To renew your CNA license, you will have to pay a fee or two. There will always be renewal fees that you must pay whether your license has lapsed before the expiration date or if you are renewing it o time. The fee will vary from one state to another but is usually costs between $25 and $50. Some states may charge you an additional fee if you allowed your CNA certificate to lapse. So, you may end up paying more than your standard fee.
If you are eligible to renew your CNA license, you shouldn’t have to pay any additional fees aside from those mentioned. If you must retrain to get your license back, or if you need to retake the exam, you will have to pay for tuition and exam fees once again as well.
If for any reason you are unable to renew your CNA license, you will need to be retrained. This means that you will also have to take the CNA licensing exam once again. It can be very frustrating to redo everything you have already accomplished, but this is a process that you will have to follow if you are certain you want to return to the everyday duties of a certified nursing assistant.
Update Your Resume and Begin to Apply for a New CNA Job
Once you have your CNA license again, you will need to update your resume and start applying for jobs. This is the last step that you will need to overcome. Make sure that all your information on your CNA license is accurate, update all your work history and add in any new skills you have acquired during your hiatus.
It can be a complex ordeal to have your CNA certification renewed after you have taken a long hiatus from work. But for most people, returning to work as a certified nursing assistant is a simple task that doesn’t require much to restart your career. Usually, CNAs must renew their license, update their resume, and then start applying for jobs in their area. Even if you must take a few additional steps such as training again or taking your exam all over again, it still shouldn’t take you very long to get back to be a certified CNA.
Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Renewal Requirements, Process, Fees and In-Service Training Requirements for a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) are renewed by the department in two groups:
Group 1 – current license will expire at midnight, Eastern Standard Time, May 31, 2021. Licenses that expired May 31, 2019 will go null and void on June 01, 2021 if not renewed.
Group 2 – current licenses will expire at midnight, Eastern Standard Time, May 31, 2020. Licenses that expired May 31, 2018 will go null and void on June 01, 2020 if not renewed.
Important message regarding license expiration dates: As part of the response efforts to the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID- 19), State Surgeon General Dr. Scott A. Rivkees issued Emergency Order DOH No. 20-008 extending the licensure renewal expiration date until August 31, 2020 for any health care practitioner with licensure renewal deadlines between May 31, 2020 and July 31, 2020. The license expiration date for Certified Nursing Assistants expiring on May 31, 2020 is extended to August 31, 2020.
In order to renew the CNA license at the end of the two year renewal cycle, CNAs are required to perform nursing-related services for monetary compensation within the last 24 consecutive months in order to remain on the registry.
Licensees who fail to meet these requirements must reapply for licensure and comply with current laws and rules. Licensees who have become Null and Void or elected to Voluntarily Relinquish their CNA license must reapply for licensure and meet current requirements.
Note: CNAs who administer medication to patients of a home health agency should also be aware of the requirements of s. 464.2035, F.S.
Options:
Expired Cna License Texas
- Delinquent & Null/Void – Take no action. The license will go delinquent after the expiration date and Null/Void 2 years after the expiration date. Once Null/Void, the license cannot be reactivated.
- Voluntarily Relinquish – Submit a formal request in writing to the Board for relinquishment of the license, the license number is discontinued and cannot be reactivated
Renewal Instructions:
- Go to www.flhealthsource.gov and click the “Renew A License” button.
- Enter your Personal Identifying Information (PII), then click the Login button.
- Confirm or update your MQA Services Account email address, then click the “Continue” button.
- You are now in the Dashboard. During renewals, a “Renew My License” option will populate no later than 90 days prior to your license expiration date. (Note: If you do not see the “Renew My License” option, please check back at a later time.)
Cna License Kansas Registry
*** If the “PII Failed” screen displays, click the “Other Login Option” button and enter your existing User ID and password to access your account.***
Additional Information: Western black rhino is extinctjosh's pancake made.
- You may renew online if you have a credit or debit card to complete the transaction. Please note that you can now renew online, print a copy of your application summary and mail it with your cashier’s check or money order to:
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
P.O. Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320 - If you are renewing your license after the expiration date and your status still indicates Clear/Active, you will be assessed a delinquency fee. The delinquency fee will be in addition to your renewal fees.
- If your license was Delinquent/Active before the renewal deadline, it will be moved to Null and Void status after the renewal deadline. You should contact your board office for further instruction.
- The process of renewing a license and receiving a printed license in the mail may take 7-10 business days. Initiating contact to confirm the receipt of fees or the status of your license prior to this time will not expedite the renewal process.
- Note: Do not submit certificates of completion of in-service hours to the Florida Board of Nursing.
If you are renewing online and need to change your name, please follow these instructions prior to renewing your license:
Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. Please log into your MQA Online Services Portal account to submit your request and enter your full name as it appears on your legal documentation. If you are submitting your request online, please attach/upload supporting documents, which must be one of the following:
- A copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court
- A divorce decree showing the name change
- A court order showing the name change (Adoption, legal name change, federal identity change)
- A copy of a certificate of naturalization or H1B Employment Visa (Note: Foreign applicants and/or licensees may not have state issued documents)
Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document.
NOTE: Please allow 5-7 business days for your request to be processed. If you are requesting a name change outside of renewal and wish to receive a new license reflecting the name change, you must request a duplicate license and pay the $25.00 fee.
If renewing BEFORE your license expires, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $55.00* |
If renewing AFTER your license expires, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $105.00* |
If renewing 120 day Notified Delinquent, your fees will be:
| Active to Active | $160.00* |
*Pursuant to s. 456.065(3), Florida Statutes, a $5 fee to fund efforts to combat unlicensed activity will be assessed of each licensee upon initial licensure and at each renewal. This fee is included in the renewal fee.
To locate board approved In-Service Courses for this profession, please click here
All CNAs must complete a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training each biennium. In-service training hours shall include, but are not limited to, the following areas:
- Bloodborne Pathogens, Infection Control
- Domestic Violence
- Medical Record Documentation and Legal Aspects Appropriate to Nursing Assistants
- Resident Rights
- Communication with cognitively impaired clients
- CPR skills
- Medical Error Prevention and Safety
Note: CNAs who administer medication to patients of a home health agency should also be aware of the requirements of s. 464.2035, F.S.
Florida Statutes
Section 464.2035: Administration of medication
Florida Administrative Code
Section 64B9-15.011: In-Service Training Requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants