Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in North Carolina
- Training hours
- 75 hrs
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- Nurse Aide I Competency Exam (NNAAP)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation — Health Care Personnel Education and Credentialing Section, N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. Listing requires no substantiated findings of resident abuse, neglect, exploitation, or misappropriation of resident property; nursing homes may not hire nurse aides with such findings. No state-published minimum age was found on the registry's own page. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 75 hours of training (including 16 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. A minimum of 75 total hours, matching the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training before any direct resident contact, at a DHSR-approved Nurse Aide I Training Program (community colleges, health care facilities, or private companies). State and federal regulatory basis: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131E-255; 42 CFR 483, Subpart D 483.150-158. [1]
- 3
Nurse Aide I Competency Exam (NNAAP)
Pass the Nurse Aide I Competency Exam (NNAAP). Written/oral knowledge test plus a hands-on skills evaluation. The registry's own page does not publish a current exam fee; candidates should contact Credentia (1-888-204-6249 or 1-888-723-6773) or consult the current Nurse Aide I Candidate Handbook for pricing. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation — Health Care Personnel Education and Credentialing Section, N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation — Health Care Personnel Education and Credentialing Section, N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry issues your Nurse Aide I for North Carolina.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | None specified |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | None specified |
| Nurse Aide I Competency Exam (NNAAP) [1] | None specified |
No separate N.C. registry application, listing, or renewal fee was found; candidates pay Credentia's exam fees directly, and renewal is achieved through documented qualified work hours rather than a monetary payment to the state.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Renewal is achieved through qualified work experience: at least 8 hours of paid, RN-supervised nurse aide work during the 24-month listing period, reported on a scannable renewal form (mailed 3 months before the listing expires) and signed by both the aide and a supervising RN. No continuing-education hour requirement. The renewal extends the listing 24 months from the last qualifying work date.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Out-of-state nurse aides may be listed via a Training Waiver (completed a state-approved program in another state within the last 24 months, currently listed there in unexpired, good standing) or a Reciprocity Application (completed training and competency testing, listed elsewhere in unexpired good standing with no pending/substantiated abuse-neglect-exploitation findings, and at least 8 hours of RN-supervised paid nurse aide work in the previous 24 consecutive months). Private-duty and volunteer work do not qualify for reciprocity. An additional streamlined pathway exists for candidates from South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia.
12 state-approved training providers in North Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of CNA training does North Carolina require?
A minimum of 75 total hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical training before direct resident contact, at a DHSR-approved Nurse Aide I Training Program.
Who administers the North Carolina Nurse Aide I exam?
Credentia, the state-contracted testing vendor, administers the NNAAP competency exam (written/oral knowledge test plus a hands-on skills evaluation).
How often do I need to renew my North Carolina Nurse Aide I listing?
Every 24 months, by documenting at least 8 hours of paid, RN-supervised nurse aide work during that period — there is no separate renewal fee.
Can an out-of-state CNA transfer to North Carolina's registry?
Yes, via a Training Waiver or Reciprocity Application, provided your out-of-state listing is active and in good standing and (for reciprocity) you document at least 8 hours of RN-supervised paid work in the prior 24 months. Private-duty work does not qualify.
Sources
- [1] ncnar.ncdhhs.gov/ncna.html — accessed 2026-07-10