Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Tennessee
- Training hours
- 75 hrs
- Upfront cost
- —
- Exam
- Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Written (or Oral) component, Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Skills (performance demonstration) component
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (HFC) — Nurse Aide Registry
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. The HFC nurse aide page and Rule 1200-08-06-.15 state no minimum age for certification (the rule notes programs must comply with federal labor laws including minimum-age requirements, but publishes no number) and require no criminal background check for registry placement — the registry itself screens for abuse/neglect/misappropriation findings, and employers conduct their own background screening. Both fields therefore reflect what the state actually publishes rather than assumptions. [2]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 75 hours of training at a state-approved program. Tennessee follows the federal 75-hour minimum: state nursing-home rules (Rule 1200-08-06-.15) require nurse aide training programs to comply with the federal nurse aide training regulations under OBRA '87 / 42 CFR 483.152 and reference 'the seventy-five (75) hour training program', with an instructor present or readily available on-site during all clinical training hours. Training and testing are free for candidates who train in a nursing-home-based program and are employed by a skilled nursing facility. The state publishes no separate clinical-hour minimum beyond the federal 16 supervised hours, so clinicalHours is omitted. [1]
- 3
Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Written (or Oral) component
Pass the Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Written (or Oral) component. Multiple-choice written or oral knowledge test; minimum passing grade 75% per Rule 1200-08-06-.15. Fee is null because Tennessee-specific Credentia exam pricing was not published on the HFC page or a linked candidate handbook at research time — the vendor transition from TMU/Headmaster to Credentia completed June 11, 2026, and testing is free for candidates who train in a nursing-home-based program and are employed by a skilled nursing facility. Candidates who fail any portion three consecutive times must repeat training. Exam must be passed within 24 months of completing training. [2]
- 4
Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Skills (performance demonstration) component
Pass the Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Skills (performance demonstration) component. Performance demonstration of at least five randomly selected skill tasks, at least one from each degree of difficulty (Rule 1200-08-06-.15). Fee is null for the same reason as the written component: no Tennessee-specific Credentia fee schedule was published on official pages at research time. Same 3-attempt limit before retraining. [1]
- 5
Submit your application
Submit your application to Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (HFC) — Nurse Aide Registry. Typical processing time: Reciprocity applications: typically no longer than one week after receipt of all required information. [2]
- 6
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (HFC) — Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Tennessee.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | None specified |
| License fee [2] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [2] | None specified |
| Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Written (or Oral) component [2] | None specified |
| Nurse Aide Competency Examination — Skills (performance demonstration) component [1] | None specified |
| Reciprocity application processing fee [2] | $20 |
Tennessee charges no state application, certification, or renewal fee for nurse aides — certification and renewal are processed through the testing vendor at no stated state charge, and training/testing are free for nursing-home-based candidates employed by a skilled nursing facility. The $20 fee shown is for the out-of-state reciprocity application, as stated on the HFC nurse aide page (stated under the pre-June-2026 vendor process; reciprocity is now handled by Credentia). Exam fees under Credentia were not published at research time, hence nulls.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Certification period is 24 months. Renewal requires verification of a minimum of 8 hours worked during the past 24 months in a licensed or certified healthcare facility (private duty, sitter/companion services, and private physicians' offices are not accepted). Proof may be a pay stub, payroll printout, or notarized attestation form. There is no continuing-education requirement, so ceHours is null. Renewals are processed by the registry vendor (Credentia as of June 2026). Expired certificates require reinstatement with proof of 8 hours worked each year, or retraining and retesting if continuous employment cannot be documented.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs (the Nurse Licensure Compact applies to RN/LPN only). Tennessee accepts reciprocity from all states except Florida — an individual certified in Florida must retrain and retest in Tennessee. The applicant must hold an active certification with no abuse or derogatory findings in the transferring state. Applications are processed by the state testing agency (Credentia as of June 2026) with a $20 processing fee; processing typically takes no longer than one week once all required information is received.
8 state-approved training providers in Tennessee — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get certified on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry?
Complete a state-approved nurse aide training program and pass the state competency examination (written/oral plus skills) within 24 months of finishing the class. Candidates who pass are added to the registry.
Who administers the Tennessee nurse aide exam?
Credentia, effective June 1, 2026 — it replaced D&SDT-Headmaster (TMU) as Tennessee's nurse aide testing and registry vendor. Testing is free for candidates trained in a nursing-home-based program who are employed by a skilled nursing facility.
How often must I renew my Tennessee CNA certification?
Every 2 years, with verification of at least 8 hours worked in a licensed or certified healthcare facility during the past 24 months. Private duty and sitter work do not count.
Does Tennessee accept CNA reciprocity from other states?
Yes, from every state except Florida. You need an active certification with no derogatory findings, a $20 application fee, and processing usually takes under a week.
Sources
- [1] publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/1200/1200-08/1200-08-06.20210818.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] tn.gov/hfc/division-of-licensure-and-regulation/nurse-aide-information.html — accessed 2026-07-10