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District of Columbia Certified Nursing Assistant — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Certified Nurse Aide

District certification for certified nurse aides, also called certified nursing assistants. Inactive status is prohibited for nursing assistive personnel by D.C. Code § 3-1205.11(a), despite 17 DCMR § 9608.1. Home-setting practice is permitted subject to the competency and supervision conditions in § 9600.5.

Licensing authority: District of Columbia Board of Nursing / DC Health · Application information

Certification by endorsement

All of the following:

Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
Examination waiver
D.C. Code § 3-1205.06(e) permits the Board, in its discretion, to waive examination requirements for qualifying reciprocity or endorsement applicants. Examinations that the route requires as passing evidence remain referenced even when the Board excuses a particular applicant from sitting them.
Existing certification
Provide proof of current unencumbered CNA registration or certification in another jurisdiction, with substantially equivalent standards and continuous good standing; provide the employer/supervising-nurse training and competence attestation.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Certification by examination after an approved CNA or bridge program

All of the following:

Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Education
Successfully complete a Board-approved or Board-equivalent CNA or bridge program within the preceding 24 months.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Training admission
Board-approved training requires a reading, writing and math pre-admission assessment, English literacy at a minimum fifth-grade level on CASAS e-test, GAIN-Wonderlic or TABE, and vaccination or immunity evidence. These training-entry assessments are conditions, not certification-exam leaves.
Certification by examination after evaluation of foreign nursing education

All of the following:

Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Education
Provide a Board-recognized credentials evaluation establishing equivalent RN or LPN education outside the United States. The Board July 2025 checklist additionally specifies a CGFNS certificate received within the preceding 36 months.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Certification by examination after nursing fundamentals coursework

All of the following:

Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Education
Successfully complete practical- or registered-nursing Fundamentals of Nursing with at least 40 clinical hours including § 9615 skills. The Board July 2025 checklist additionally requests US coursework within the preceding 36 months.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Late certification renewal within 60 days
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the renewal application, employment attestation and required fees and supporting records.
Background check
Obtain the required criminal-background-check clearance.
Continuing education
Complete 24 hours of relevant in-service training or continuing education during the preceding two years, including two hours of LGBTQ cultural competency or specified specialized clinical training and 10% District public-health-priority subjects.
Late period
Apply within 60 days after expiration and pay the late fee; a later lapse requires reinstatement.
Other nap education
Continuing education may be applied to another active District nursing-assistive-personnel certification under § 9607.2.
Paid work
Perform at least eight hours of compensated CNA functions within the preceding 24 months.
Renewal cycle
DC Health implemented birth-month/birth-year renewal beginning June 16, 2024, with renewals transitioning beginning September 2024; observe the issued certification expiration date.
Transition education adjustment
The Board accepts 50% of standard continuing education for the one-time transition when the certification term is less than two years, while retaining the two-hour LGBTQ and 10% public-health requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal or reinstatement after lapse during active military operations
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application window
Apply while still in the armed services or within six months after discharge from active service or return to inactive military status.
Background check
Meet applicable criminal-background-check requirements.
Continuing education
Complete any missing renewal continuing education within six months after discharge, return to inactive status, or return to the United States from an active war zone; meet other applicable renewal or reinstatement conditions.
Deployment
The certification was active at deployment and lapsed during military service while the United States was engaged in active military operations against a foreign power or hostile force.
Documentation
Provide activation orders or equivalent active-service evidence and pay the renewal fee; the reinstatement/late-renewal fee is waived under § 4015.1.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

New certification application after more than five years of expiration

All of the following:

Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
Expiration period
More than five years have elapsed after expiration; submit a new certification application and meet the examination-route education requirements. The awkward phrase "does meet" in § 9609.2 is read with the controlling § 3-1205.12(b), which requires a new application after five years.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Examination re application after certification expired less than 24 months

All of the following:

Alternative reinstatement
Applicants meeting all § 9609.1 reinstatement conditions may use the separate reinstatement route. D5 is not treated as overriding the regulation or requiring every expired certificate holder to retest.
Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
Expiration period
Credentia DC Eligibility Route D5 offers examination re-application when certification expired less than 24 months ago.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Certification by reciprocity

All of the following:

Application
Submit the completed application and supporting identity, photograph, training and name-change records; pay applicable application and background-check fees.
Background check
Undergo the required criminal background check before certification; the Board reviews positive results.
Board age statement
17 DCMR § 9604.1(a) states: "Be at least eighteen (18) years of age". The controlling statute permits age 16 subject to its education condition; the regulatory age statement is retained for applicants to see.
Exam timing
The current Credentia DC instructions require passing both parts within two years and permit three attempts, with new training and application after a third failure.
Examination waiver
D.C. Code § 3-1205.06(e) permits the Board, in its discretion, to waive examination requirements for qualifying reciprocity or endorsement applicants. Examinations that the route requires as passing evidence remain referenced even when the Board excuses a particular applicant from sitting them.
Existing certification
Provide current unencumbered CNA certification in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards and reciprocal admission of District-certified professionals, or in a jurisdiction on the Board-approved reciprocity list; supply verification and the training/competence attestation.
General qualifications
Meet the applicable D.C. Code § 3-1205.03 qualifications, including occupation-related conviction and unresolved discipline restrictions.
Minimum age
D.C. Code § 3-1209.07(c) allows applicants age 16 or older who have obtained, or are enrolled and actively pursuing, a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.
Open approved alternatives
17 DCMR § 9605.1 permits another national examination approved by the Board, and § 9604.1 permits another CMS- and Board-recognized certification program. The unnamed approved alternatives are applicant conditions; no additional currently offered examination is identified.
Reinstatement of expired certification within five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Background check
Complete the required criminal background check.
Continuing education
Provide evidence of 24 hours of relevant in-service training or continuing education within the preceding two years.
Current certification
Provide evidence of current CNA certification or registration.
Expiration period
Apply within five years after expiration.
Lower ranked testing instruction
Credentia DC handbook Eligibility Route D5 states: "You are taking the NNAAP® Examination for re-application to obtain a current certification after it has expired less than twenty-four (24) months ago.". Section 9609.1 establishes reinstatement on its listed conditions without an examination; the lower-ranked testing instruction is retained as a condition rather than added to this regulatory reinstatement route.
Paid work
Provide evidence of at least eight hours of CNA work during the preceding 24 months.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Certification renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the renewal application, employment attestation and required fees and supporting records.
Background check
Obtain the required criminal-background-check clearance.
Continuing education
Complete 24 hours of relevant in-service training or continuing education during the preceding two years, including two hours of LGBTQ cultural competency or specified specialized clinical training and 10% District public-health-priority subjects.
Other nap education
Continuing education may be applied to another active District nursing-assistive-personnel certification under § 9607.2.
Paid work
Perform at least eight hours of compensated CNA functions within the preceding 24 months.
Renewal cycle
DC Health implemented birth-month/birth-year renewal beginning June 16, 2024, with renewals transitioning beginning September 2024; observe the issued certification expiration date.
Transition education adjustment
The Board accepts 50% of standard continuing education for the one-time transition when the certification term is less than two years, while retaining the two-hour LGBTQ and 10% public-health requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement after revocation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application and fee
File the prescribed application and pay the reinstatement fee.
Background check
Satisfy the current background-check requirement for reinstatement.
Board or court order
Comply with the revocation order or final review judgment/order; Board approval and case-specific evidence of fitness control. These provisions prescribe no generally identified examination.
Fitness
Demonstrate moral qualifications, competency, and knowledge of District and federal law, and that resumed practice will not harm the public interest or profession.
Overturned conviction
A revocation based on a qualifying conviction ends when that conviction is overturned.
Waiting period
Apply no sooner than one year after revocation or denial of reinstatement unless the Board order provides otherwise.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Restoration of suspended certification
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Background check
Satisfy the current background-check requirement for reinstatement.
Board or court order
Comply with the terms and conditions of the suspension order or the final review judgment/order; restoration is subject to the Board decision. Any individually ordered assessment or proof of competency is an applicant condition; these provisions prescribe no generally identified examination.
Overturned conviction
A suspension based on a qualifying conviction ends when that conviction is overturned; provide the resulting final judicial disposition.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Provisional CNA Certification

Board-discretionary provisional certification for up to 90 days while required proof of another jurisdiction certification is outstanding; all other certification requirements must be met.

Licensing authority: District of Columbia Board of Nursing / DC Health · Application information

Provisional certification pending receipt of reciprocal certification proof

All of the following:

Background check
Meet the applicable criminal-background-check requirements.
Board verification
The Board must independently satisfy itself, by telephone inquiry or other means, that the applicant holds the other jurisdiction certification in good standing.
Duration
The Board may grant provisional certification for up to 90 days.
Examination evidence
Provide the examination evidence required by §§ 9604 and 9606; unnamed CMS/Board-approved programs remain conditions.
Other requirements
Meet all certification requirements except the Board receipt of the required proof of certification or licensure in the other jurisdiction.
Reciprocity
Meet the applicable substantial-equivalence and reciprocal-admission conditions of § 4014.1.
Waiver
D.C. Code § 3-1205.06(e) permits the Board, in its discretion, to waive examination requirements for qualifying reciprocity or endorsement applicants. Examinations that the route requires as passing evidence remain referenced even when the Board excuses a particular applicant from sitting them.

Temporary CNA Certification

Temporary CNA certification for up to 90 days, including qualifying holders of another jurisdiction certification and qualifying CNA candidates awaiting skills testing. Restrictions and eligibility differ by route.

Licensing authority: District of Columbia Board of Nursing / DC Health · Application information

Temporary certification for a CNA candidate awaiting skills testing

All of the following:

Application
Have submitted the full certification application, paid applicable fees, and complied with the criminal-background-check requirement.
Director authority
The August 5, 2025 Board letter exercises the § 4007.1 temporary-certification authority.
Duration
Temporary certification is valid for up to 90 days.
Salesforce
Candidates who previously applied and paid through Credentia must prepare the Salesforce application in draft and notify the Board to move it forward, as specified in the Board letter.
Skills timing
Have not attempted the skills examination but be actively attempting to schedule it, as DC Health determines; repeated cancellations or rescheduling do not qualify. The pending NNAAP Skills Evaluation is retained because the route involves it; it need not be passed before temporary certification.
Supervision
Practice is restricted to direct supervision by a licensed healthcare professional.
Title restriction
Do not represent yourself as a fully certified CNA or use titles reserved to full certification.
Written score
Have passed the Credentia-administered written/didactic NNAAP examination.
Temporary certification through the statutory expedited endorsement pathway
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Discipline
Good standing excludes current public or private discipline or practice restrictions; a prior revoked or suspended District credential disqualifies temporary certification under § 3-1205.08a(d).
Duration
Temporary certification is valid for up to 90 days while credential verification and District endorsement are completed.
Existing certification
Hold active nurse aide or equivalent certification in good standing in Maryland or Virginia. This is an applicant credential condition, not a survey of those jurisdictions.
Full certification
Full District certification follows approval by endorsement; its separate route carries its examination-evidence requirements.
Proof and fee
Submit certification proof, pay the stated $50 fee and complete the background check.
Review
The Board provides an approval or a denial explanation within five business days after a complete application.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Temporary certification for an applicant certified in another US jurisdiction
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Director and board discretion
Issuance requires the Director written public-health-and-welfare determination and the Board decision under § 4007; an individual must satisfy any written Director requirements.
Discipline
Current public/private discipline or practice restrictions are incompatible with good standing; a previous revoked or suspended District certification excludes the applicant under § 3-1205.08a(d).
Duration
The Director fixes the period, up to 90 days, and the Board may impose practice restrictions.
Existing certification
Hold active certification in good standing in another US jurisdiction for the same profession and submit an application for new District certification, including endorsement or reciprocity as applicable.
Full certification
The full-certification pathway is separate; certification held elsewhere is a condition of this temporary pathway, which identifies no additional examination.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Skills Evaluation

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
Credentia Nurse Aide LLC (develops and manages the NNAAP exam); administered by Credentia at test centers
Format
Performance evaluation at a test center, scored and retaken separately from the Written (or Oral) Examination: the candidate performs five skills on a candidate volunteer acting as the client and is rated by a Nurse Aide Evaluator; each skill is scored Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory and all five must be Satisfactory to pass
Time limit
30 minutes
Examination sources

NNAAP Written (or Oral) Examination

Provider
Credentia Nurse Aide LLC (develops and manages the NNAAP exam); administered by Credentia online or at test centers
Format
Multiple-choice examination taken online or at a test center, in English or Spanish, scored and retaken separately from the Skills Evaluation; candidates may choose the Oral Examination form, in which the multiple-choice questions are read aloud by recorded voice (MP3 player at test centers) and ten reading comprehension (word recognition) questions are added, and both Oral sections must be passed
Exam questions
70 multiple-choice items: 60 scored and 10 pretest (non-scored); the Oral form has 60 multiple-choice items and 10 reading comprehension (word recognition) items
Time limit
2 hours
Examination outline
  • I. Physical Care Skills — A. Activities of Daily Living (22% of the exam; 13 questions) (22%)
    • Activities of Daily Living — 1. Hygiene
    • Activities of Daily Living — 2. Dressing and Grooming
    • Activities of Daily Living — 3. Nutrition and Hydration
    • Activities of Daily Living — 4. Elimination
    • Activities of Daily Living — 5. Rest/Sleep/Comfort
  • I. Physical Care Skills — B. Basic Nursing Skills (35% of the exam; 21 questions) (35%)
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 1. Infection Control
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 2. Safety/Emergency
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 3. Therapeutic/Technical Procedures
    • Basic Nursing Skills — 4. Data Collection and Reporting
  • I. Physical Care Skills — C. Self-Care and Independence (7% of the exam; 4 questions) (7%)
    • Self-Care and Independence
  • II. Psychosocial Care Skills — A. Emotional and Mental Health Needs (8% of the exam; 5 questions) (8%)
    • Emotional and Mental Health Needs
  • II. Psychosocial Care Skills — B. Spiritual and Cultural Needs (2% of the exam; 1 question) (2%)
    • Spiritual and Cultural Needs
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — A. Communication (7% of the exam; 4 questions) (7%)
    • Communication
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — B. Client Rights (8% of the exam; 5 questions) (8%)
    • Client Rights
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — C. Legal and Ethical Behavior (5% of the exam; 3 questions) (5%)
    • Legal and Ethical Behavior
  • III. Role of the Nurse Aide — D. Member of the Health Care Team (6% of the exam; 4 questions) (6%)
    • Member of the Health Care Team
Examination sources