Keep your certification
CNA Renewal Requirements in Every State
How often you renew, how many hours you need to work, continuing education, and what it costs, for all 50 states and DC.
By the CaregiverCert team · Updated October 24, 2026 · 8 min read
Passing the exam gets your name on your state’s nurse aide registry. Keeping it there takes two things in almost every state: working as a CNA for pay, and renewing on time. Miss either and you may have to retrain and retest. Here is what each state requires.
The federal 24-month rule
Every state follows one federal baseline. If you go 24 months in a row without doing paid nursing or nursing-related work, you lose your active status and must complete a new training program, a new competency evaluation, or both before working in a nursing home again (42 CFR 483.35(d)(6)).
Most states turn that into a simple rule: work at least 8 paid hours as a CNA in every 2-year period, and have your employer verify it. Some states ask for much more. Vermont requires 400 hours, and Utah and New Hampshire require 200.
Volunteer work and caring for a family member usually don’t count. Many states also exclude private duty jobs. The work generally has to be paid and supervised by a licensed nurse.
Continuing education and in-service training
Federal rules require nursing homes to give every nurse aide at least 12 hours of in-service training a year (42 CFR 483.95(g)). If you work in a nursing home, you get these hours on the job.
Some states add their own continuing education for renewal. California requires 48 hours every 2 years, with at least 12 each year. Michigan now requires 12 hours a year, and Texas requires 24 hours every 2 years plus a yearly infection control course.
Renewal rules by state
| State | How often | Work needed | Continuing education | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No renewal form | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Alaska | Every 2 years | 160 paid hours in 2 years | 24 hours per 2 years | $100 |
| Arizona | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years (LNAs: 160) | None | Free |
| Arkansas | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| California | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | 48 hours per 2 years (12 a year) | Not published |
| Colorado | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Connecticut | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Delaware | Every 2 years | 64 paid hours in 2 years | 24 hours per 2 years | $25 |
| Florida | Every 2 years | Paid work within 24 months | 24 hours per 2 years | $55 |
| Georgia | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Hawaii | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Ask Prometric |
| Idaho | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Illinois | No renewal form | 8 paid hours in every 24 months | None | Not published |
| Indiana | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Iowa | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | 12 hours a year (long-term care) | Not published |
| Kansas | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years, or a skills check or refresher | None | Not published |
| Kentucky | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Louisiana | Every 2 years (automatic) | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Maine | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | 12 hours a year | Free |
| Maryland | Every 2 years | Paid work in 2 years (16 hours for CNA-IIs) | Implicit bias and structural racism courses | $40 |
| Massachusetts | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Michigan | Every 2 years | 40 paid hours in 2 years | 12 hours a year | $40 |
| Minnesota | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Mississippi | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Missouri | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | $20 |
| Montana | Not published | Paid work within 24 months | None | Not published |
| Nebraska | No renewal form | Paid work within 24 months | None | Not published |
| Nevada | Every 2 years | 40 hours in 2 years | 24 hours per 2 years | $50 |
| New Hampshire | Every 2 years | 200 hours in 2 years, or pass tests | 24 hours per 2 years, or pass tests | About $63 to $66 |
| New Jersey | Every 2 years | 7 paid hours in 2 years | None | $36 |
| New Mexico | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | $25 |
| New York | Every 2 years | 7 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| North Carolina | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| North Dakota | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Ohio | No renewal form | 7.5 paid hours in each 24 months | None | Not published |
| Oklahoma | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Oregon | Every 2 years | None | 2 hours every 4 years | $60 |
| Pennsylvania | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Rhode Island | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | 12 hours a year | $35 |
| South Carolina | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | $35 |
| South Dakota | Every 2 years | 12 paid hours in 2 years | 12 hours a year | Free |
| Tennessee | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Texas | Every 2 years | Paid work, reported by employer | 24 hours per 2 years, plus a yearly infection control course | Free |
| Utah | Every 2 years | 200 paid hours in 2 years | None | Free |
| Vermont | Every 2 years | 400 paid hours in 2 years | None | $45 to $65 (sources differ) |
| Virginia | Every year | Paid work in the last 2 years | None | $30 |
| Washington | Every year | None | None | $95 |
| Washington, DC | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | 24 hours per 2 years | Free |
| West Virginia | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Wisconsin | Every 2 years | 8 paid hours in 2 years | None | Not published |
| Wyoming | Every 2 years | 400 hours in 2 years, or 200 hours plus CE, or CE | Part of the work options | $50 (waived for 2026) |
From each state’s nurse aide registry, board of nursing, or regulations, checked October 2026. “None” for continuing education means no state requirement beyond the in-service hours your employer must provide. Rules change, so confirm with your registry before your renewal date.
What happens if your certification lapses
If you miss the work requirement or the renewal deadline, your status becomes inactive or expired. What you need to do depends on how long it has been:
- Under 24 months without paid work: in many states you can simply renew late, sometimes with a late fee.
- 24 months or more without paid work: under federal rules you must retest, retrain, or both. Many states let you retake just the exam; others require a full new course.
Your state page lists the registry contact so you can check your status before your deadline.
Tips to never lapse
- Look up your expiration date on your state registry today and put it in your calendar.
- Keep pay stubs that show your CNA work, in case your employer doesn’t report it.
- Keep copies of your in-service and continuing education certificates.
- If you move, update your address with the registry so you get renewal notices.
- Planning a break from work? Pick up at least one paid shift before 24 months pass.
Use our nurse aide registry lookup to find your state’s registry and check your status.
Frequently asked questions
How often do CNAs renew?
In most states, every 2 years. Virginia and Washington renew every year, and a few states, such as Illinois and Ohio, keep you active as long as your employer reports your work.
How many hours do I need to work to renew my CNA?
Most states require at least 8 paid hours of nursing-related work in each 2-year period. Some require more: Michigan 40, Utah and New Hampshire 200, and Vermont 400.
Can I renew my CNA if I haven't worked?
Usually not without extra steps. Under federal rules, 24 months in a row without paid nursing-related work means you must retest or retrain. A few states, like Kansas and New Hampshire, offer a skills check or competency test instead.
Does caring for a family member count toward renewal?
Usually no. Most states require paid work supervised by a licensed nurse, and many exclude private duty and family care.