Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Oklahoma
- Training hours
- 75 hrs
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- Nurse Aide Competency Examination (Written/Oral + Clinical Skills)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Oklahoma State Department of Health — Nurse Aide and Nontechnical Services Worker Registry
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. A criminal background check is required; Oklahoma disqualifies applicants for certain 'Barrier Offenses' under its National Background Check Program. No state-published minimum age was found on OSDH's own Nurse Aide Registry page. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 75 hours of training (including 16 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. Oklahoma's Long Term Care Aide credential (its CNA equivalent) requires at least 75 total training hours, matching the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor, including a minimum of 16 hours covering five mandated areas (communication/interpersonal skills, infection control, safety/emergency procedures including the Heimlich maneuver, promoting resident independence, and resident rights) completed before any direct resident contact, per Title 310, Chapter 675/677 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code. Oklahoma separately certifies Home Health Aides and ICF/IID Care Aides (also 75+ hours) and Adult Day Care Aides / Residential Care Aides (45+ hours). [1]
- 3
Nurse Aide Competency Examination (Written/Oral + Clinical Skills)
Pass the Nurse Aide Competency Examination (Written/Oral + Clinical Skills). Written (or Oral) knowledge test plus a Clinical Skills Test; both must be passed within the same 2-year eligibility period following training completion. Up to 3 attempts allowed for each part. Prometric's Oklahoma Candidate Information Bulletin does not publish a specific dollar fee; it states candidates employed by, or with a promise of employment from, a Medicaid-certified nursing home are eligible to have their exam fees paid by that employer, consistent with the federal rule (42 CFR 483.152(c)) barring nurse aides from being charged for training or testing when working for a Medicaid facility. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Oklahoma State Department of Health — Nurse Aide and Nontechnical Services Worker Registry. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Oklahoma State Department of Health — Nurse Aide and Nontechnical Services Worker Registry issues your Long Term Care Aide for Oklahoma.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | None specified |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | None specified |
| Nurse Aide Competency Examination (Written/Oral + Clinical Skills) [2] | None specified |
| Long Term Care Aide Reciprocity [3] | $0 |
| Home Health Aide Reciprocity [3] | $15 |
| Renewal (Home Health Aide / ICF-IID / Residential Care / Adult Day Care / Feeding Assistant) [3] | $10 |
No individual application or license fee for the Long Term Care Aide (Oklahoma's primary CNA-equivalent) route was found on OSDH's official forms; a $100 non-refundable fee referenced in some secondary sources actually applies to Activities/Social Services Director COURSE approval applications, not individual nurse aide applications, and should not be treated as an individual applicant fee. Long Term Care Aide renewal itself has no fee (per ODH Form 717.301); other aide types (Home Health Aide, ICF/IID, Residential Care, Adult Day Care, Feeding Assistant) pay $10 to renew.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Renewal requires proof of at least 8 hours of paid work in nursing or nursing-related services during the 24-month period (Long Term Care Aide renewal is free; other credential types pay a $10 fee). Certified Medication Aides must additionally document 8 hours of continuing education per 12 months, but this CE requirement is specific to that separate CMA credential, not the base Long Term Care Aide/CNA credential.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Oklahoma grants reciprocity via ODH Form 735: applicants list every state where they have ever been certified, disclose any documented abuse/neglect/misappropriation findings and criminal convictions, and (for Long Term Care Aides) pay no fee, or (for Home Health Aides) pay a $15 non-refundable fee. All applicants must also complete an Affidavit of Lawful Presence (ODH Form 301); non-U.S. citizens must provide supporting documentation of qualified alien status.
26 state-approved training providers in Oklahoma — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of CNA training does Oklahoma require?
At least 75 hours for the Long Term Care Aide credential (Oklahoma's CNA equivalent), including 16 hours covering communication, infection control, safety, resident independence, and resident rights before any direct resident contact.
Who administers the Oklahoma nurse aide competency exam?
OSDH approves three testing options: Prometric, Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies), and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education Health Certification Project. Candidates employed by (or offered employment at) a Medicaid-certified nursing home can have their exam fees covered by that employer.
How often do I need to renew my Oklahoma Long Term Care Aide certification?
Every 24 months, by documenting at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work. There is no fee to renew a Long Term Care Aide credential; other aide types pay $10.
Is there a fee to transfer an out-of-state CNA certification to Oklahoma?
Long Term Care Aide reciprocity has no fee. Home Health Aide reciprocity requires a $15 non-refundable fee. Both use ODH Form 735.
Sources
- [1] oklahoma.gov/health/services/licensing-inspections/health-resources-development-service/nurse-aide-registry.html — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] prometric.com/files/Nurse-Aide/OK_CNA_CIB.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/protective-health/long-term-care-services/forms/current/renewal/ODH%20717.301%20Renewal%20App%2006.24.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [4] oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/health/health2/aem-documents/protective-health/long-term-care-services/forms/current/reciprocity/ODH%20735%20Reciprocity%20App.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10