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    CNA Registry

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    CNA Registry

    What is a CNA?

    Certified nurse assistants (CNAs) provide vital support to both patients and nurses. CNAs can work in both long-term care facilities and in acute and outpatient facilities, such as hospitals, hospitals, home health care and office-based surgery centers to name a few examples.

    CNAs assist with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding patients. They also record vital signs, move patients, and report changes in a patient’s condition. To work in a Medicare-certified skilled nursing facility, CNAs must complete a state-approved training program and pass a certification exam.

    The Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ) is responsible for the training and testing program for CNAs to practice in the State of Delaware. DHCQ also maintains the state’s CNA Registry.

    Delaware CNA Registry

    To verify if someone is a CNA in good standing in the State of Delaware, check the Delaware CNA Registry, or call the CNA Registry at 421-7400 extension 4.

    How to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

    If you work in a federally certified nursing facility providing nurse aide care to residents, federal and state laws/regulations require that you must meet specific training and testing requirements to become a certified nurse aide. You must take the CNA Competency Exam, which includes both a skills and written section. Once you pass the CNA Competency Exam, your name will appear on the Delaware CNA Registry where potential employers know you are qualified for hire.

    CNA Training Programs

    The Division of Health Care Quality is responsible for the training and testing program for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and for the CNA Registry.

    CNA training programs apply for and obtain a certificate of approval as a private business and trade school from the State of Delaware Department of Education (DOE). Please call the DOE at (302) 857-3313 for information. ALL CNA training programs in Delaware must be approved by the Division of Health Care Quality before they begin providing training.

    • Training programs must provide a basic level of both knowledge and demonstrable skills for each individual completing the program.
    • The training program shall be a minimum of ninety-one (91) clock hours in length, meaning 75 clock hours of classroom instruction including laboratory time, and; 16 clock hours of clinical skills training in a Department approved Delaware licensed facility. Additional hours may be added by the CNA training program in either of these areas or both.
    • All CNAs hired to work in a facility shall undergo a minimum of 80 clock hours of orientation, at least 40 of which shall be clinical.

    To learn more, review the Department of Health and Social Services Order regarding Certified Nursing Assistant Training and Qualifications (Effective February 18, 2022). Please also review the regulations:

    Delaware Approved CNA Training Programs

    • 240 North James Street Suite B2 Newport, DE 19804
    • Telephone (302) 3420-0880
    • Fax (302) 342-0883
    • Larch Corporate Center
    • 102 Larch Circle, Suite 104 Wilmington, DE 19804
    • (302) 660-7100
    • (302) 750-4335
    • Maggie Career Institute

    To become a training program

    Complete a Nurse Aide Training Program Application.

    7 Ways to Become a CNA in Delaware

    Review the following criteria to determine if you are eligible to take the Delaware CNA Competency Exam for your name to appear on the Delaware CNA Registry.

    This route is for individuals who have successfully completed a Delaware approve Nurse Aide Training Program within the last 24 months.

    You have three attempts to pass the Written and Clinical Skills tests within 24 months of completing your training program. If you do not pass both the Written and Clinical Skills tests within three attempts, you will need to retrain before you can test again.

    This route is for individuals who are enrolled in a Delaware licensed nursing program and have successfully completed a “Fundamentals/Basic Nursing” course that includes no less than the required number of hours as outline by the Delaware Department of Social Services order of clinical instruction in a long-term care or hospital licensed pursuant to 16 Del.C. Ch. 10 setting. Along with the application, individual will need to submit an official letter from their school demonstrating current enrollment and a transcript.

    This route is for individuals who were a certified nurse aide in Delaware but did not complete the required continuing education hours and/or perform at least 64 hours of nursing-related services for pay during their last 24-month certification period. They must successfully retake the Delaware State Nurse Aide Competency Exam in order to be recertified.

    • You must submit proof of past certification along with your application.

    This route is for individuals who are an active CNA in any other state than Delaware (or a GNA in Maryland), who do not have three months of full-time employment. They are qualified to take the Delaware State Nurse Aide Competency Exam without having to complete a Delaware approved nurse aide training program.

    • You must submit a copy of your current CNA or GNA certification from the state where you are currently certified along with your application.

    This route is for individuals who have graduated from an RN or LPN program in the United States more than twenty-four (24) months prior to application for certification. These individuals are deemed qualified to meet the Delaware approved nurse aide training program requirements and who are eligible to take the Delaware State Nurse Aide Competency Exam.

    • You must submit a copy of your school diploma with official school seal along with your application.

    This route is for individuals who have an active CNA (or GNA in Maryland) that is in good standing in a state other than Delaware. Delaware CNA certification is required prior to being employed as a CNA in the State. The individual must be a CNA trained and certified in a State other than Delaware and must have completed a program that equals or exceeds the federal nurse aide training program requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations §483.152. Reciprocity will be granted to the out-of-state applicant provided the CNA:

    • Has a current CNA certificate from the jurisdiction where he or she currently practices. Applicants from the State of Maryland must hold a current Geriatric Nursing Assistant certificate, and
    • Is in good standing in the jurisdiction where he/she is currently certified, and
    • Has submitted the required reciprocity fee along with the application.

    This route is for individuals who have graduated from an RN or LPN program in the United States less that twenty-four (24) months prior to application for certification. These individuals are deemed qualified to meet the Delaware approved nurse aide training programs requirements and competency evaluation program requirements, and are eligible for certification upon submission of a sealed copy of their school diploma.

    • You must submit a copy of your diploma with an official school seal along with your application for deemed certification.
    • If you meet the requirements of route 6 or 7, you are not required to take an exam. You are eligible to apply with DHCQ to be placed directly on the registry by completing the necessary application documents.

    Review this Candidate Information Bulletin for everything you need to know about the CNA Exam.

    Take a practice exam here.

    Apply or Recertify as a Delaware CNA

    The CNA Exam

    To become a certified nurse aide in Delaware:

    • Complete the exam application form.
    • Take your tests at your scheduled test location. Be sure to bring the necessary identification with you to the test center – see page 5.
    • If you pass both the clinical skills and the written tests, you will be added to the CNA Registry.

    You may be eligible for reimbursement of nurse aide training and testing fees if you are employed by a Medicare/Medicaid federally certified nursing facility no later than 12 months after completing your training and state competency test. You are responsible for saving all receipts for any expenses that you are paid out of pocket including fees for the course, tests, textbooks, or other required course materials.

    Please note that you are only eligible for reimbursement if you are employed by a Medicare/Medicaid federally certified nursing home. A few nursing homes are not Medicare /Medicaid federally certified and are not required to reimburse you for training and testing fees. You are also not eligible for reimbursement if you are employed in a health setting other than a Medicare/Medicaid federally certified nursing home, such as a temporary agency, assisted living facility, hospital or a private home. You are also not eligible for reimbursement if you are not employed within 12 months after completing the training and testing program.

    Delaware Certified Nurse Aide Recertification Procedure

    To qualify for recertification, CNAs are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of approved continuing education (RELIAS CEUs), including 6 hours of Dementia training and 2 hours of training related to resident/patient abuse prevention/neglect and/or mistreatment. RELIAS provides a pre-selected package of classes that meet these requirements. In addition, CNAs must work a minimum of 64 hours for pay under the supervision of a nurse or physician during their certification period.

    CNAs must complete the online self-reporting 64-hour worked renewal form. The 64-hour worked renewal form is listed as class (z64) in the RELIAS packet. CNAs must complete the five boxes of information, which includes: their employer/facility name, supervisor’s name, hire date, current home address and date of birth.

    CNAs who do not meet the recertification requirements by their expiration date are considered to have lapsed and are required to contact Prometric ( or call 1-866-664-9504) to take the State of Delaware CNA written and clinical skills examinations. There is a $115.00 fee, payable to Prometric, via credit or debit card, to register for the examinations. When you call Prometric, press prompt #2 and then prompt #9, this will get you to a real person to schedule. You need to schedule to take test option #3, the written and clinical skills exams.

    If you have difficulty logging into RELIAS, we recommend you send an email message to the RELIAS support site. You may also choose to call their customer service number at 1-844-735-2223, which is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

    The Division of Health Care Quality will also accept RELIAS CEUs, completed during your recertification period, from your employers RELIAS account. To request a transcript transfer, contact RELIAS customer service at 1-844-735-2223 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

    • Go to https://decnarecert.reliasacademy.com/.  Do not create or register an account for yourself in RELIAS. An account has automatically been created for you. Enter your email address and temporary password (Welcome1).
    • Pay a $25 renewal fee online through the RELIAS website using a credit or debit card.