StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Virginia

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
140 hrs
Upfront cost
$140
Exam
NNAAP Written Examination, NNAAP Skills Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Virginia Board of Nursing (Department of Health Professions) — Nurse Aide Registry

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, pass a criminal background check. Per the Credentia Virginia Nurse Aide handbook (the Board's contracted vendor), applicants must be sixteen (16) years of age or older to work as a nurse aide in Virginia, must complete a criminal background check, must have no disqualifying convictions, and must have no adverse findings on any other state's nurse aide registry or from a licensing board. Most applicants must have completed a Virginia-approved nurse aide education program within the 24 months before applying. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 140 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. Per Board of Nursing regulation 18VAC90-26: by May 12, 2023 nurse aide education programs must be at least 140 clock hours, with at least 20 hours specifically designated for skills acquisition in the laboratory setting, at least 24 hours of instruction before direct client contact, and at least 40 hours of clinical training providing direct client care (observation hours do not count toward the 40). Virginia's 140-hour requirement is among the highest in the country and well above the 75-hour federal floor. [1]

  3. 3

    NNAAP Written Examination

    Pass the NNAAP Written Examination (fee: $45). Multiple-choice written exam; an Oral Examination alternative is available for the same $45 fee. Fees are non-refundable; payment by credit/debit card, single-use card, or electronic voucher. Nursing homes are required to pay NNAAP fees for their nurse aide employees, including retests. [2]

  4. 4

    NNAAP Skills Examination

    Pass the NNAAP Skills Examination (fee: $95). Hands-on demonstration of randomly selected nurse aide skills. Both the Written (or Oral) and Skills examinations must be passed for placement on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Virginia Board of Nursing (Department of Health Professions) — Nurse Aide Registry with the $0 application fee. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Virginia Board of Nursing (Department of Health Professions) — Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Virginia.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $0
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $30
NNAAP Written Examination [2] $45
NNAAP Skills Examination [2] $95
NNAAP Written or Oral Examination (Credentia) [3] $45
NNAAP Skills Examination (Credentia) [3] $95
Reinstatement of lapsed certification [3] $30

Per the Board of Nursing fee schedule, the Certified Nurse Aide application fee is $0 (candidates pay only Credentia's exam fees), renewal is $30, and reinstatement is $30. There is no separate initial certificate issuance fee, so license is null.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Initial nurse aide certification is valid for two years. To renew, the aide must personally attest to having been employed for pay performing nursing-related activities within the previous two years; the renewal fee is $30. There is no continuing-education hour requirement, so ceHours is null. Registry status, employment eligibility, and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation are recorded on the Virginia Nurse Aide Registry maintained by the Board.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs (the Nurse Licensure Compact applies to RN/LPN only). Nurse aides certified in other states may obtain Virginia certification without retesting through CNA by Endorsement, submitted online through the Virginia Board of Nursing's website. Approval depends on the original state verifying the certification and confirming the applicant meets requirements comparable to Virginia's initial certification requirements; processing time varies with how quickly the other state responds.

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

Cost calculator

  • $0
  • $45
  • $95
Total$140

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Virginia require to become a CNA?

At least 140 clock hours in a Board-approved program — including at least 20 lab skills hours and 40 hours of hands-on clinical training with direct client care. This is one of the highest requirements in the country.

Who administers the Virginia nurse aide exam and what does it cost?

Credentia administers the NNAAP exam for the Virginia Board of Nursing: $45 for the Written (or Oral) Examination and $95 for the Skills Examination. The Board itself charges no application fee.

How old do I have to be to become a nurse aide in Virginia?

At least 16 years old.

How do I renew my Virginia CNA certification?

Renew every two years for $30, attesting that you were employed for pay performing nursing-related activities within the previous two years. No continuing education is required.

Can I transfer my out-of-state CNA certification to Virginia?

Yes — apply for CNA by Endorsement online through the Board of Nursing. No retesting is needed if your original state verifies your certification and it meets Virginia's requirements.

Sources

  1. [1] dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/nursing/leg/18VAC90-26-10.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] kb-va.credentia.com/en/article/exam-fees — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/ApplicantResources/Fees/ — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] kb-va.credentia.com/en/article/the-registry — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] kb-va.credentia.com/en/article/eligibility-criteria — accessed 2026-07-10