Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Louisiana
- Training hours
- 80 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $125
- Exam
- Nurse Aide State Exam (Written/Oral Knowledge + Clinical Skills)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Health Standards Section, Nurse Aide Registry
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 16 years old, pass a criminal background check. Each nurse aide trainee must be at least 16 years old. A facility or training school may not accept a trainee into a program until it conducts a statewide criminal history background check, including a check of the national sex offender public registry. [4]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 80 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. Each Louisiana Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP) must include at least 80 hours of core-curriculum instruction, with a minimum of 40 hours of supervised clinical practice. A separate 4-hour clinical-site orientation is required for all trainees and is not counted toward the 80 core hours. Programs must be approved by LDH as meeting 42 CFR 483.151-483.154 (LDH does not charge training programs/schools a fee for program approval). [1]
- 3
Nurse Aide State Exam (Written/Oral Knowledge + Clinical Skills)
Pass the Nurse Aide State Exam (Written/Oral Knowledge + Clinical Skills) (fee: $125). Two sections: a Written (or Oral) Knowledge portion and a Clinical Skills portion; both must be passed to be listed on the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry. Combined fee for both sections is $125. A $25 reschedule fee applies. Aides must schedule and pay for their own recertification test if they fail to meet the 24-month work requirement (see renewal). [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Health Standards Section, Nurse Aide Registry. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) — Health Standards Section, Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Louisiana.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | None specified |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | None specified |
| Nurse Aide State Exam (Written/Oral Knowledge + Clinical Skills) [2] | $125 |
| Nurse Aide State Exam (Written/Oral + Skills) [3] | $125 |
| Reschedule fee [3] | $25 |
LDH does not charge fees for nurse aide training program approval, and no separate LDH application/registry/renewal fee beyond the Prometric exam fee was found. Aides who need to recertify by retesting are responsible for scheduling and paying for that test themselves.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
A CNA must work at least 8 hours in an approved, nursing-related setting during every 24-month period after becoming certified (private sitting/staffing agency work does not qualify). Per the Nurse Aide Training Rule (published May 20, 2012), a CNA without proof of at least 8 qualifying hours may retest once, within the 2 years immediately following certification expiration, to recertify — with only one retest opportunity; missing that window or failing either exam part requires retraining. No continuing-education hour requirement was found.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Louisiana offers a standard Nurse Aide (CNA) Reciprocity application process for aides certified in another state. Separately, during a declared emergency, an aide certified in good standing in their home state may work in Louisiana for up to 30 days using their home-state verification (via the Directory of State Registries) before needing to apply for standard reciprocity.
15 state-approved training providers in Louisiana — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $125
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of CNA training does Louisiana require?
80 core hours, including at least 40 hours of supervised clinical practice, plus a separate 4-hour clinical-site orientation not counted toward the 80 hours.
Who administers the Louisiana CNA exam?
Prometric, under contract with the Louisiana Department of Health. The combined Written/Oral Knowledge + Clinical Skills exam fee is $125.
How often do I need to renew my Louisiana CNA certification?
You must work at least 8 hours in an approved nursing-related setting every 24 months. If you fall short, you get one retest opportunity within the following 2 years before you must retrain.
Can I transfer my CNA certification from another state to Louisiana?
Yes, through Louisiana's Nurse Aide (CNA) Reciprocity application. During a declared emergency, an aide certified in another state may also work in Louisiana for up to 30 days before needing to apply for reciprocity.
Sources
- [1] ldh.la.gov/assets/medicaid/hss/NurseAide/NATP_regs_as_of_3-14-22.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] prometric.com/files/2020-02/LA%20CNA%20CIB.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] ldh.la.gov/page/nurse-aide-cna-training-and-certification — accessed 2026-07-10
- [4] ldh.la.gov/health-standards-section/criminal-background-check-information — accessed 2026-07-10