Alabama Nurse Aide Registry

The Alabama Nurse Aide Registry is the official record of every certified nurse aide authorized to work in the state. It’s maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health, and you can search it right now at dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry. Whether you’re a CNA checking your own status, an employer verifying a hire, or someone trying to figure out why a name isn’t showing up, this guide covers the full registry — how to search it, what it records, and what to do when something doesn’t look right.

What	Details
Registry operator	Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Division of Provider Services
Certification ID	Your Social Security Number (no separate CNA license number)
Physical license	Not issued — your registry listing is your credential
Portal	dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry
Employer check frequency	Before hiring + at least once every 12 months
Active status requirement	8 hours paid nursing-related work under supervision of a licensed nurse (RN or LPN) within 24 months

What Is the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry?

The Alabama Certified Nurse Aide Registry is the state’s official record of every CNA who has met Alabama’s training and examination requirements. It’s maintained by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), Division of Provider Services, under the federal mandate established by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA). Every state is required by federal law to maintain a nurse aide registry, and this is Alabama’s.

Alabama’s system works differently from most states in two important ways. First, Alabama does not issue a physical CNA license, card, or certificate. Your listing on the state of Alabama CNA registry IS your credential. When an employer asks for your “CNA license,” they mean your registry listing — there is nothing else to show them.

Second, your Social Security Number serves as your certification identifier. Alabama doesn’t assign a separate CNA license number. This is how ADPH identifies your record in its system.

One more thing before you start searching: the ADPH is not the same as the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN). The Board of Nursing handles RN and LPN licensing — not CNA certification. If you call ABN about a CNA registry matter, they’ll redirect you to ADPH.

This registry covers CNAs only. If you hold a MAC (Medication Assistant-Certified), LPN, or RN credential in Alabama, your verification goes through the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) — not the ADPH registry.

Alabama CNAs depend on this registry for employment verification — and in a state where pay varies widely by setting, keeping your status active matters:

“in alabama they hire CNA’s for 8.50 in FACILITIES. most i made was 17 as hospice CNA in home health and i have over 8 years of experience.”
— CNA in Alabama (8+ years of experience), via Reddit

Whether you’re verifying your own status or an employer is checking a candidate, the ADPH registry is the single source of truth for CNA certification in Alabama. Here is how to use it.

How to Search the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry

Checking your CNA status should be simple. Here’s how to do it on the first try.

What You Need Before Searching

You have two search options on the ADPH portal: search by name, or search by Social Security Number.

• Name search: You’ll need the CNA’s full legal name exactly as it appears on their Social Security card. Common name variations cause “not found” results — “Bobby” versus “Robert,” a hyphenated married name versus a maiden name, or a middle name included versus omitted. If a name search returns nothing, try variations before assuming the listing doesn’t exist.
• SSN search: You’ll need the full 9-digit Social Security Number. This is the most reliable search method because SSN is Alabama’s primary certification identifier. CNAs searching their own status will use their own SSN. Employers searching a candidate’s record should have the SSN on file from hiring paperwork.

Keep the portal open in another tab as you go through the steps below.

Step-by-Step Search Instructions

1. Go to the registry portal: Visit dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry. This is the official ADPH search interface — there is no other official portal for Alabama CNA verification.

2. Choose your search type: The portal provides fields for Last Name, First Name, and Social Security Number. You can fill in any combination. A last name alone works for uncommon names; SSN gives you the most precise match.

3. Enter your search criteria: Type the information into the appropriate fields. Use the exact legal name for name searches. For SSN searches, enter all nine digits — the portal accepts formats with or without dashes.

4. Click Search: Submit the form. The portal returns a results list based on your criteria.

5. Review the results: If multiple records appear (common for frequent names like “Smith”), scan the name and certification dates to identify the correct record. Click the individual’s name to view the full record.

If your search returns no results, don’t assume the certification doesn’t exist. Name variations and processing delays are the two most common reasons. See What to Do If Your Name Isn’t on the Registry below for next steps.

Understanding Your Search Results

A record on the ADPH portal shows several fields. Here’s what each one means:

• Certification Status: Active or Inactive. Active means the CNA meets Alabama’s current work requirement. Inactive means the certification has lapsed.
• Certification Date: When the CNA was first added to the registry after passing the competency exam.
• Training Program: The name of the approved program the CNA completed.
• Employment Eligibility: Whether the CNA is currently eligible to work as a nurse aide in Alabama.
• Findings: Any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property.

If your name appears with Active status and no findings, your certification is current and valid. If you’re an employer using these results for a hiring decision, the next section covers what you’re legally required to document.

How to Verify a CNA’s Certification in Alabama

For Employers

Federal and state law require employers at Medicare- or Medicaid-certified facilities to verify a CNA’s status before hiring — and at least once every 12 months for each CNA already on staff.

You’re checking for two things: an Active certification status, and the absence of any abuse, neglect, or misappropriation findings. Hiring a CNA with a substantiated finding can result in citations during federal surveys.

Best practice: print or save a PDF of the registry results page, record the date you searched and your name as the searcher, and keep it in the employee’s personnel file. This documentation protects the facility during audits. Alabama employers are also required to conduct criminal background checks through ADPH Provider Standards. Contact the ADPH Division of Provider Services at (334) 206-5175 or visit alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/ for current requirements and applicable regulations.

For CNAs Checking Their Own Status

Check your own listing before you start a new job — not after. This lets you catch problems before your employer finds them.

Use the search steps above and look up your record by SSN. Confirm your name is spelled correctly, your status shows as Active, and there are no unexpected findings. If anything looks wrong, contact the ADPH Division of Provider Services directly. You’ll find contact details in the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry Contact Information section below.

What the Registry Records

Certification and Training Information

Every record in the Alabama CNA certification registry includes these fields:

Field	What It Shows
Certification Status	Active or Inactive
Certification Date	Date first listed after passing the competency exam
Training Program	Name of the ADPH-approved program completed
Examination Results	Pass date for the competency evaluation
Employment Eligibility	Whether the CNA is eligible to work in Alabama

These are the fields you saw when walking through the search in the previous section.

Abuse, Neglect, and Misappropriation Findings

Beyond active/inactive status, the registry tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property. Before a finding is placed, the CNA has the right to a formal hearing through ADPH. Once placed after due process, findings cannot be removed or expunged.

A CNA with a substantiated finding is permanently disqualified from employment as a nurse aide in any Medicare- or Medicaid-certified facility. Given that the majority of nursing homes, hospitals, and home health agencies accept Medicare or Medicaid, this effectively ends the CNA’s ability to practice in those settings.

How to Get Listed on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry

Through Training and Examination

To get your name on the registry, you must complete a state-approved CNA training and certification program and pass the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (NACE). The NACE has two components: a written (or oral) knowledge test and a clinical skills evaluation. Alabama uses Credentia to administer the exam.

After you pass both portions, you don’t submit a separate application or pay a registration fee. Credentia reports your results to ADPH, which adds your name to the registry. This typically takes 7 to 10 business days after passing.

For the complete walkthrough of Alabama’s training requirements, approved programs, and exam process, see our how to become a CNA in Alabama guide. You can also review our CNA exam overview for what to expect on test day.

Through Reciprocity from Another State

CNAs move between states for many reasons — and pay differences between Alabama and neighboring states are a common one:

“When I started in Alabama in 2022 I was making $11/hr. Went to Florida for $16/hr”
— CNA in Alabama, via Reddit

Whether you’re leaving Alabama or arriving from another state, your certification does not transfer automatically. Here is how the reciprocity process works through ADPH.

Alabama’s reciprocity process is employer-initiated. There is no application form, no fee, and no individual submission process. If you hold active CNA certification in good standing from another U.S. state, your new Alabama employer contacts the ADPH Division of Provider Services to verify your out-of-state certification and initiate the transfer. ADPH then adds your name to the Alabama registry.

What this means practically: you must secure a job offer from an Alabama employer before the transfer can begin. Your certification must be active and in good standing in your current state, with no findings. Once your employer initiates the process, no additional paperwork or fees are required from you. This is different from most states, which have a CNA-initiated reciprocity application.

Processing typically takes 2 to 4 weeks after your employer contacts ADPH. During this period, check with your employer about whether you can begin working under supervision while the transfer processes — Alabama does not have a formal temporary practice authorization, so this depends on facility policy. Your employer will need to provide ADPH with your full legal name, Social Security Number, the state where you’re currently certified, and your current employer’s contact information for verification.

What to Do If Your Name Isn’t on the Registry

If You Recently Passed the Exam

Processing takes time. After passing the NACE, your results go from Credentia to ADPH, which then processes the listing. This typically takes 7 to 10 business days. You don’t need to submit anything — the exam vendor handles the reporting automatically.

If more than two weeks have passed and your name still doesn’t appear, contact ADPH directly. Have your exam date and testing location name ready when you call. Contact details are in the next section.

If Your Certification Has Lapsed

Alabama doesn’t have a CNA renewal process in the traditional sense. Your registry listing stays active as long as you complete at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work under the supervision of a licensed nurse within every 24-month period.

If you haven’t met the 8-hour requirement within 24 months, your listing moves to Inactive. Despite what some websites claim, Alabama does not charge a renewal fee and does not require continuing education hours — the 8-hour work requirement is the only maintenance standard.

If your certification recently lapsed but it has been less than 24 months since your last qualifying work, contact the ADPH Division of Provider Services to discuss reactivation. You may be able to restore your Active status by providing documentation of qualifying paid nursing work — such as pay stubs or an employer letter confirming dates and supervised hours — without retesting.

If your certification has been inactive for more than 24 months, you must complete a new state-approved training program and pass both portions of the NACE again. There’s no shortcut and no abbreviated path through retraining.

If you need to start over, our guide to choosing a CNA program can help you find an approved Alabama program. Options across the state include the Calhoun Community College CNA program (North Alabama), Jefferson State Community College CNA program (Birmingham), and Wallace Community College CNA program (Dothan). You’ll also need to retake the CNA exam after completing training.

If There’s an Error

If your name is misspelled, your certification dates are wrong, or something else looks incorrect, contact the ADPH Division of Provider Services. Name changes from marriage or a court order also require updating through ADPH with supporting documentation.

Have the following ready before you call: your current photo ID, your Social Security card, and a clear description of the error. Contact information is in the next section.

Alabama Nurse Aide Registry Contact Information

Agency: Alabama Department of Public Health, Division of Provider Services

Phone: (334) 206-5175

Mailing Address:
Alabama Department of Public Health
Division of Provider Services
P.O. Box 303017
Montgomery, AL 36130-3017

Online Registry Portal: dph1.adph.state.al.us/NurseAideRegistry

Provider Standards Website: alabamapublichealth.gov/providerstandards/

Before calling, have your Social Security Number, your full legal name as it appears on your Social Security card, and a description of your question ready. Calling in the morning typically reaches staff more quickly than afternoon calls.