How to Look Up a CNA License in Pennsylvania

Checking a CNA license in Pennsylvania should take about two minutes. Go to credentia.com/web/pa/registry, enter the nurse aide’s name or registration number, and you’ll see their current certification status, expiration date, and any findings on record. The search is free, requires no account, and is available 24 hours a day.

This article walks through the exact steps for the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry, explains what each status means, and covers what employers need to document for federal compliance.

Quick Reference	Details
Registry lookup URL	credentia.com/web/pa/registry
Registry operator	Credentia (contractor for PA DOH)
Alternative lookup	cna365.examroom.ai/registry/?StateCode=PA
PA DOH Division phone	(800) 254-5164
Credentia support	(888) 204-6249
Active status	Certified, eligible to work
Inactive status	Lapsed. Must renew or retest before employment.

What Is the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry?

The Pennsylvania Nurse Aide Registry is the official state database that tracks every certified nursing assistant authorized to work in Pennsylvania. If you need to perform a Pennsylvania CNA license lookup, this registry is the authoritative source.

Who Maintains the Registry

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) owns and governs the registry. Day-to-day operations are handled by Credentia, a third-party contractor that runs the registry through its CNA365 platform. When you search for a nurse aide’s certification status, you’re accessing the PA DOH database through Credentia’s interface.

This three-part chain matters because you’ll encounter all three names in your search: the state’s nurse aide page is on pa.gov, the lookup portal is at credentia.com, and the platform is called CNA365. They all point to the same official record.

What Information the Registry Contains

The registry tracks two categories of information. First, it confirms active certification: the CNA’s name, certification status, certification date, and expiration date. Second, it records any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property.

Federal law under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987 (OBRA) requires every state to maintain a publicly accessible nurse aide registry. Facilities receiving Medicare or Medicaid funding must verify both certification status and findings before hiring any nurse aide. Not yet certified? Learn how to become a CNA in Pennsylvania before exploring the registry process.

How to Look Up a CNA in Pennsylvania

The fastest path to a Pennsylvania CNA registry lookup starts at Credentia’s search portal. No account is required for a basic public search.

Method 1: CNA365 Registry Search (Recommended)

1. Go to credentia.com/web/pa/registry
2. Enter the nurse aide’s last name in the search field (first name is optional but narrows results)
3. Alternatively, enter the certificate registration number if you have it — this returns an exact match with no ambiguity
4. Review the results: confirm “Active” status and verify the expiration date has not passed
5. Check for any findings listed below the certification information — absence of findings is part of a complete verification

Results display name, certification status, certification date, expiration date, and any substantiated findings. The search is free and available 24/7 (Credentia PA Registry).

You can also access the same registry data at cna365.examroom.ai/registry/?StateCode=PA — a different interface drawing from the same PA DOH records.

If no results appear: Try searching by last name only first. Check spelling, and consider maiden name vs. married name variations — the registry matches the name on file at certification. To update your name on the registry, contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249 with your certificate number and legal documentation of the name change (marriage certificate or court order). Until updated, search using the name on file at your original certification. If you’re still getting no results, contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249. They can locate records by certificate number or resolve account discrepancies that don’t surface in the public search.

If you’re certified in another state and checking how your credentials transfer to Pennsylvania, see our guide to Pennsylvania CNA reciprocity. Credentia also administers the Pennsylvania CNA competency exam — see all CNA exam vendors by state if you’re comparing programs across state lines.

Method 2: PALS Verification System

PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System) is the state’s broader professional license verification portal. It covers nurses, pharmacists, and other licensed healthcare workers, not just nurse aides.

1. Navigate to the PALS verification portal through pa.gov
2. Search by the healthcare professional’s name
3. Filter results to “Certified Nursing Assistant” — PALS covers all Pennsylvania healthcare licenses, so filtering is required to isolate nurse aide records

PALS is useful when you need to verify multiple license types for the same person at once.

Which System to Use

Task	Best Tool
Verifying a nurse aide only	CNA365 at credentia.com/web/pa/registry
Verifying multiple license types for one person	PALS (Pennsylvania Licensing System)
Batch verification of nurse aides	CNA365 (purpose-built for nurse aide lookup)
Out-of-state CNA checking PA status	CNA365

CNA365 is purpose-built for nurse aide lookups and returns results faster. Use PALS only when you need to verify credentials beyond the nurse aide certification.

Understanding Your CNA Registry Status in Pennsylvania

When your search returns a result, you'll see one of three status designations. Here's what each one means and what to do next.

Status	Meaning	Next Step
Active	Certified, eligible for employment	No action needed -- verify expiration date is current
Inactive	Lapsed renewal or no documented employment in 24 months	Must renew or retest before employment
Findings	Substantiated abuse, neglect, or misappropriation	Cannot be employed in Medicare/Medicaid facilities

Active Status

Active means the CNA is certified and eligible for employment as a nurse aide. The registry shows a certification date and an expiration date that has not passed. Both pieces confirm the certification is current and in good standing.

For employers, "Active" with no findings listed is your complete confirmation that the candidate clears the federal registry check.

Inactive Status

Inactive does not mean the certification is permanently lost. It typically means one of two things: the CNA did not complete renewal within the 24-month certification cycle, or they did not document at least one 8-hour paid shift as a nurse aide during that period (PA DOH).

If your status shows inactive, contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249 to confirm which reactivation path applies -- the requirement depends on how long your certification has been inactive and whether you have unreported employment hours. In some cases, submitting proof of employment to Credentia is sufficient. If you have not worked as a nurse aide within the certification period, you must retake the competency evaluation (skills test and written exam) through Credentia. See our guide to CNA license renewal in Pennsylvania for the specific steps and timelines.

Registry Findings (Abuse, Neglect, Misappropriation)

If the registry shows substantiated findings, this is a serious record with major employment consequences. Federal regulation 42 CFR § 483.156 prohibits Medicare and Medicaid-funded facilities from employing anyone with findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property on their registry record.

Findings are not recorded based on allegations alone. The PA DOH investigates and provides written notice to the nurse aide before any finding is finalized. You have the right to dispute the allegations through an administrative hearing before the finding is recorded on the registry. If you have received notice of a pending finding, contact the PA DOH Division of Nursing Care Facilities at (800) 254-5164 immediately to understand your hearing rights and timeline.

Once a finding is substantiated and recorded after the appeals process, it bars employment as a nurse aide in Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities (PA DOH, 42 CFR § 483.156).

Employers must verify both active certification status AND the absence of findings. Checking status alone is not sufficient for federal compliance.

CNA Verification Requirements for Pennsylvania Employers

Federal law requires every Medicare and Medicaid-funded facility in Pennsylvania to verify a nurse aide's registry status before hiring. This requirement comes from 42 CFR § 483.156. Facilities that skip this check risk federal penalties and potential loss of Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Federal Verification Requirements

The verification requirement covers all nurse aides: new hires, transfers from other facilities, and aides returning after a leave. It applies to both current Pennsylvania CNAs and out-of-state CNAs transferring their credentials. There is no exemption for temporary or agency staff.

How to Run an Employment Verification

1. Go to credentia.com/web/pa/registry
2. Search by the candidate's name or certificate number
3. Confirm the status shows "Active" with a valid expiration date
4. Confirm no findings are listed
5. Print or save the results page, and record the date of verification

That date-stamped documentation is your compliance record. Keep it in the employee file -- if a federal auditor asks for verification history, you need a paper trail, not a memory.

What to Do If Status Shows Inactive or Findings

Inactive status: The candidate may reactivate before starting work. Inactive is not a permanent disqualifier -- it means renewal is required before their first shift. Contact Credentia at (888) 204-6249 to confirm the specific reactivation pathway for their situation.

Findings on record: The candidate cannot be employed as a nurse aide at a Medicare or Medicaid-funded facility. This is a federal prohibition, not a facility-level decision. There is no waiver process for these positions.

For employers who also manage CNA training programs, see Pennsylvania CNA programs for an overview of approved training options. To understand what motivates candidates entering the field, why become a CNA in Pennsylvania covers salary, stability, and career pathway factors.

Pennsylvania CNA Registry Contact Information

For most registry questions, contact Credentia first. They handle day-to-day operations including lookups, account issues, scheduling, renewal processing, and reciprocity applications.

Contact	Phone	Hours
Credentia Registry Support	(888) 204-6249	Mon-Fri 8am-5pm EST
Credentia Registration/Scheduling	(888) 204-6249	Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 8am-4pm EST
PA DOH Division of Nursing Care Facilities	(800) 254-5164	Business hours
PA DOH Division (alternate)	(717) 787-1816	Business hours

Call Credentia for: Account issues, exam scheduling, renewal questions, certificate replacement, name changes on the registry, reciprocity applications, and any registry lookup problems.

Call PA DOH for: Policy questions, filing a complaint, disputing a finding on the registry, and regulatory matters.

Questions like this are common in CNA communities -- Pennsylvania's registry process is not always intuitive:

"Can anyone please clarify what documentation do you need to be a Certified Nursing Assistant in Pennsylvania?"
(Reddit user, r/nursing)

The registry contact information above can help resolve documentation questions that are not answered on the state website. Call Credentia first for the fastest response -- their extended hours through 11pm on weekdays make them far more reachable than the state office for most scheduling windows.