StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Maryland

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
100 hrs
Upfront cost
$150
Exam
Written (or Oral) Examination, Skills Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) — Nursing Assistant Certification Program

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. A proposed COMAR regulation revision reviewed during this research strikes the prior blanket 'applicant shall be 16 years old or older' requirement without a clear, unambiguous replacement figure appearing on MBON's public pages, so minimum age is left null rather than guessed. Background check: a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) — both a Maryland Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository check and an FBI national check — is required for initial certification, and may also be required at renewal if the Board notifies the certificate holder. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 100 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. COMAR 10.39.02.06: a training program must provide a minimum of 100 hours of instruction — at least 60 hours of didactic instruction/classroom lab training (including at least 16 hours before a trainee's direct assignment to residents) and at least 40 hours of supervised clinical training in a clinical facility. At least 16 of the 40 clinical hours must be in long-term care services or care of the elderly/chronically ill, performed under direct supervision. Exceeds the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours. [1]

  3. 3

    Written (or Oral) Examination

    Pass the Written (or Oral) Examination (fee: $45). Multiple-choice knowledge test; an Oral Examination (audio-delivered) is available at the same $45 price for candidates who need it. Part of the Competency Evaluation along with the Skills Examination. Candidates have 4 total attempts within 24 months of completing training to pass both parts. Combined Written/Oral + Skills fee is $130 when scheduled together. [2]

  4. 4

    Skills Examination

    Pass the Skills Examination (fee: $85). Hands-on, proctored demonstration of nurse aide skills. Same 24-month / 4-attempt window as the Written (or Oral) Examination. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) — Nursing Assistant Certification Program with the $20 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Maryland Board of Nursing (MBON) — Nursing Assistant Certification Program issues your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA-I) for Maryland.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $20
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $40
Written (or Oral) Examination [2] $45
Skills Examination [2] $85
CNA-I Endorsement (out-of-state transfer) [3] $20

No separate 'license' fee — the $20 initial-certification fee covers being added to the registry after passing the exam. Credentia's exam fees (Written/Oral $45, Skills $85, or $130 combined) are billed separately by the vendor and are listed under exams, not here.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Maryland does not require continuing-education hours for CNA renewal. Instead, COMAR 10.39.02 requires satisfactory evidence of 16 hours of active, compensated employment as a nursing assistant within the 2-year period immediately preceding the certificate's expiration. If that 16-hour work requirement isn't met, a CNA-I must retake the nursing assistant competency evaluation (or a CNA-II must complete a nursing assistant training program) to renew.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs/nursing assistants (unlike the RN/LPN Nurse Licensure Compact). Maryland instead certifies 'by Endorsement': the applicant must hold an active, good-standing certificate from another state or territory whose certification requirements are essentially similar to Maryland's (Health Occupations Article §8-6A-05), and must have completed a nursing assistant training program that meets MBON's approved standards. The endorsement fee is $20.

1 state-approved training provider in Maryland — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $20
  • $45
  • $85
Total$150

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of CNA training does Maryland require?

100 hours minimum: at least 60 hours of classroom/lab instruction and at least 40 hours of supervised clinical training, of which at least 16 clinical hours must be in long-term care or care of the elderly/chronically ill.

Who administers the Maryland CNA exam?

Credentia, under contract with the Maryland Board of Nursing. The Competency Evaluation has a Written (or Oral) Examination and a Skills Examination.

How much does the Maryland CNA exam cost?

The Written (or Oral) Exam is $45 and the Skills Exam is $85 — $130 combined. Candidates get 4 attempts within 24 months of completing training.

How often do I need to renew my Maryland CNA certification?

Every 2 years. Renewal requires documenting at least 16 hours of paid nursing-assistant work in the preceding 2 years — otherwise you must retest or retrain. The renewal fee is $40.

Can I transfer my CNA certification from another state to Maryland?

Yes, through Certification by Endorsement: you need an active, good-standing certificate from a state with essentially similar requirements plus completion of an approved training program. The endorsement fee is $20.

Sources

  1. [1] health.maryland.gov/regs/SiteAssets/Pages/Emergency-Regs/10.39.01%E2%80%94.03%20Certified%20Nursing%20Assistants%20(Maryland%20Board%20of%20Nursing).pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] credentia.com/storage/handbooks/md-handbook_2024.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] health.maryland.gov/mbon/pages/services-fees.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10