Texas Nurse Aide Registry: How to Verify, Check, and Navigate TULIP

Checking a CNA’s registry status should take two minutes. Here’s how to do it on the first try.

The Texas Nurse Aide Registry is a public database maintained by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) that lists every certified nurse aide authorized to work in Texas nursing facilities. You access it through TULIP (Texas Unified License Information Portal), the same online system used for renewals, reciprocity applications, and certification updates. The registry is free to search, requires no account, and is open to anyone — employers, CNAs, and the public alike.

If you are not yet certified and landed here by accident, our guide on how to become a CNA in Texas covers the full path from training to registry listing. If you are already certified or you are an employer, everything you need is below.

What	Details
Maintained by	Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
Access portal	TULIP (Texas Unified License Information Portal)
Public search	Free, no login required
HHSC registry email	[email protected]
Prometric (exam questions)	800-488-5787
Renewal cycle	Every 2 years

(Source: Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry)

What Is the Texas Nurse Aide Registry?

The Texas Nurse Aide Registry is the official HHSC database that confirms whether a certified nursing assistant is authorized to work in Texas nursing facilities. Every CNA in Texas gets a record in this registry after completing a Texas CNA program, passing the competency exam, and clearing a required background check.

The registry record contains three things: certification status, expiration date, and any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property. That last piece matters to employers. Misconduct findings are not tracked in a separate database; they appear directly in the same TULIP search result as the certification status.

HHSC administers the Texas CNA registry through TULIP (Texas Unified License Information Portal). TULIP is the single portal that handles public verification lookups, personal account management, renewal submissions, and reciprocity applications. You will see the TULIP name throughout this article because it is the only system you need.

If you haven’t started the certification process yet, see our guide on how to become a CNA in Texas for training requirements and program options. If you are already certified or you are hiring, you are in the right place.

How to Verify a CNA License in Texas

To verify a CNA’s registry status, go to the TULIP portal and use the public search. No account. No fee. No waiting.

What You Need Before You Search

You need the CNA’s full legal name as it appears on their certificate. A certificate number speeds things up if you have it, but it is not required.

Name spelling matters. If the CNA recently had a name change (marriage, legal name change), search under both the current and former name. A one-letter mismatch returns no results even when the record exists.

Step-by-Step TULIP Public Search

Step	Action	What You See
1	Go to the TULIP portal	HHSC licensing portal landing page
2	Select “Nurse Aide” from the license type options	Search form with name and number fields
3	Enter the CNA’s last name in the Last Name field	Optional: add first name or certificate number to narrow results
4	Review the results list	Name, certification status, expiration date, any findings
5	Click the individual record for full details	Complete certificate record with status, history, and findings

(Source: Texas HHSC TULIP Portal)

If multiple records appear with the same name, use the certificate number or listed city to identify the correct person.

What Registry Status Codes Mean

This is the part the TULIP portal does not explain. Here is what each status means for employment eligibility.

Status	What It Means	Can They Work in Texas?
Active	Certification is current and valid	Yes — authorized to work in TX nursing facilities
Inactive	Certification has lapsed (expired, not renewed, or employment requirement not met)	No — must complete renewal before returning to work
Revoked	Certification permanently revoked due to a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation	No — permanently barred from working as a CNA in Texas

(Source: Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry)

Active means the CNA is cleared. Inactive means they need to renew before they can work. Revoked is permanent.

If the search returns no results, run through this checklist before contacting HHSC:

1. Check the spelling of the name, including hyphenated names
2. Search under a former name if the CNA recently changed their name
3. If the CNA just passed their exam, the registry may take 5 to 10 business days to update
4. If it has been more than 15 business days since the exam, contact HHSC at [email protected] with the CNA’s full name, exam date, and testing location

Common issues with missing records are covered in more detail in the troubleshooting section below.

How to Check Your Own Registry Status

You have two options for checking your own Texas CNA lookup: the TULIP public search (no account needed) and a TULIP account login (your personal account with full certificate details).

TULIP Login vs. Public Search

The public search shows your certification status, expiration date, and any findings. Use it when you want a quick status check before a job interview or when an employer asks you to confirm your registry number.

A TULIP account login shows everything the public search shows, plus your renewal history, continuing education records, and tools to take action on your account. Use your TULIP account when you need to manage your certification — submit a renewal, update your address, or start a reciprocity application.

If your status shows Inactive, your certification has lapsed and needs to be renewed. The renewal process requires 24 hours of in-service education (including geriatrics and dementia/Alzheimer’s topics) and documentation of at least 8 hours of paid nursing work under RN supervision in the past 24 months. Our Texas CNA Renewal guide walks through the full TULIP renewal process step by step.

If your certification has been expired for more than two years and you cannot document qualifying work hours, you will need to retrain and retest from the beginning.

(Source: Texas HHSC Renew or Make Changes to a Nurse Aide Certificate)

For Employers: Verifying CNA Credentials

Federal regulations require nursing facilities to verify every CNA’s registry status before hiring. Under 42 CFR § 483.156, Texas facilities must confirm both active registry status and the absence of any misconduct findings before a CNA begins work. Verification is not optional.

The step-by-step TULIP process is covered in the “How to Verify” section above. What is unique to your role as an employer is the second required check.

Employee Misconduct Registry Check

The Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) is a separate HHSC database from the Nurse Aide Registry. The EMR tracks individuals found to have committed abuse, neglect, or exploitation in any regulated Texas care setting, covering a broader category of direct care workers beyond CNAs. Texas law requires you to check the EMR for every new hire in a regulated long-term care facility.

A result in the EMR means the individual is prohibited from working in a regulated Texas care setting, regardless of their Nurse Aide Registry status. Both checks are mandatory, and both results should be documented in the employee’s personnel file.

For complete verification: run the TULIP Nurse Aide Registry search, then run the EMR search. If you are uncertain what a finding means for a specific hire, contact HHSC at [email protected] with the candidate’s full name and certificate number.

(Source: Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry)

Registry Contact Information

For any issue the TULIP portal cannot resolve, use the contacts below. The email address handles most registry questions. Prometric handles everything tied to the exam.

Contact	For	Details
HHSC Nurse Aide Registry (email)	Registry status, name changes, missing records, renewal questions	[email protected]
HHSC Nurse Aide Registry (phone)	Registry questions by phone, address updates	(512) 438-2050
Prometric	Exam scheduling, score reports, delays affecting registry listing	800-488-5787
HHSC Mailing Address	Written requests and name change documentation	Nurse Aide Registry, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, TX 78714-9030

(Source: Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry; Prometric, 2026)

HHSC does not publish official response times. Allow 5 to 10 business days for email responses. If your issue is time-sensitive, call (512) 438-2050 first.

Common Registry Issues and Solutions

Most registry problems fall into four categories. Here is the direct path to resolving each one.

Issue	Likely Cause	What to Do
Name not matching	Name change not yet updated in TULIP	Submit a name change request through your TULIP account with legal documentation (marriage certificate or court order). Allow 10 business days for processing.
Status shows Inactive	Certification expired or work and CE requirements not met	Complete the renewal process through TULIP. Requires 24 hours in-service education and 8+ hours paid nursing work under RN supervision. See the full process at renew your Texas CNA certification.
Not on registry after passing exam	HHSC processing delay (normal up to 15 business days)	Wait 15 business days from exam date. If still missing, email [email protected] with your full name, exam date, and testing site. For score transmission delays, call Prometric at 800-488-5787.
Out-of-state CNA not listed	Texas reciprocity application not yet submitted	Submit Form 5505-NAR through TULIP with a Texas DPS criminal background check and proof of active certification from the originating state. If that state has no expiration date on certifications, also submit Form 5506-NAR.

(Source: Form 5505-NAR; Texas HHSC Renew or Make Changes to a Nurse Aide Certificate)

If your certification has lapsed and you cannot document qualifying work hours, Texas requires you to complete a new NATCEP-approved training program. Our CNA training and certification guide can help you find approved programs. If the issue is the exam itself, see our guide on how to retake the CNA exam.