StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Texas

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
100 hrs
Upfront cost
$120
Exam
Written Competency Exam, Clinical Skills Exam
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Nurse Aide Registry

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. HHSC does not publish a state-mandated minimum age for CNA training or certification; individual NATCEPs set their own admission policy (commonly 16-18, sometimes with parental consent below 18) — not independently verified against a primary source, so left as null rather than guessed. Background check requirement is confirmed: a Texas DPS criminal history check (covering all legal names used) and an Employee Misconduct Registry check are required under every eligibility route (Texas Health and Safety Code 250.006). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 100 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 100 total clock hours: 60 classroom + 40 clinical, at a state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP). The 60 classroom hours can be completed for free through HHSC's own Computer-Based Training (CBT) course; the 40 clinical hours must still be completed in person with an approved NATCEP. Texas's 100-hour minimum exceeds the federal OBRA/42 CFR 483.152 floor of 75 hours. [1]

  3. 3

    Written Competency Exam

    Pass the Written Competency Exam (fee: $31). Multiple-choice, written at or below a 6th-grade reading level; also offered in Spanish. An Oral Exam (audio-delivered, English only) plus a required Reading Comprehension exam is available as an alternative for $41. Must be passed, along with the Clinical Skills Exam, within 24 months of completing NATCEP training. Candidates get 3 attempts at each exam component before re-training is required. Fees are per the Prometric Candidate Information Bulletin dated 12/16/2024 and may have changed since; verify current pricing in TULIP before publishing a verified page. [2]

  4. 4

    Clinical Skills Exam

    Pass the Clinical Skills Exam (fee: $89). Hands-on, proctored demonstration of nurse aide skills (e.g. handwashing, vital signs, transfers, feeding); English only. Same 24-month / 3-attempt window as the Written Exam. Total for Written + Skills is $120; Oral + Skills is $130. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Nurse Aide Registry. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Texas.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
Written Competency Exam [2] $31
Clinical Skills Exam [2] $89
Written Competency Exam (Prometric) [2] $31
Clinical Skills Exam (Prometric) [2] $89
Oral Exam + Reading Comprehension, alternative to Written (Prometric) [2] $41

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Certificate/registry listing expires 24 months after issuance (or 24 months after last verified nurse aide employment, whichever is earlier). To renew, a nurse aide must complete at least 24 hours of in-service education every 2 years (must include geriatrics and dementia/Alzheimer's care), OR document at least 8 paid hours worked as a nurse aide in the prior 24 months (Form 5506-NAR), submitted via TULIP. Renewal opens 3 months before expiration. If the certificate has already lapsed with no qualifying work history, the nurse aide must retest (with or without retraining) instead. No separate HHSC renewal fee was found on the official renewal page.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides (unlike the RN/LPN Nurse Licensure Compact). Texas instead runs its own Reciprocity route: a nurse aide with an active certification in another state completes a DPS criminal history check and a Request for Entry on the Texas Nurse Aide Registry through Reciprocity application in TULIP. A separate Military Spouse Stationed in Texas Waiver issues a 3-year Texas certificate to qualifying military spouses who hold an active out-of-state certification, without retesting.

15 state-approved training providers in Texas — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $31
  • $89
Total$120

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of CNA training does Texas require?

100 clock hours total: 60 classroom hours (which can be completed free online through HHSC's Computer-Based Training) plus 40 clinical hours in person at a state-approved NATCEP.

Who administers the Texas CNA exam?

Prometric, under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The exam has a Written (or Oral) component and a hands-on Clinical Skills component.

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

Every 24 months. You can renew by documenting at least 8 paid hours of nurse aide work plus 24 hours of in-service education in that period, or by retesting if your certificate has already lapsed.

Sources

  1. [1] hhs.texas.gov/business/licensing-credentialing-regulation/long-term-care-credentialing/nurse-aide-registry/become-a-certified-nurse-aide-texas — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] prometric.com/files/2023-03/TXCNA-CIB-12.16.2024.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] hhs.texas.gov/business/licensing-credentialing-regulation/long-term-care-credentialing/nurse-aide-registry/renew-or-make-changes-a-nurse-aide-certificate-texas — accessed 2026-07-10