How to Renew Your CNA Certification in Texas

Renewing your Texas CNA certification is straightforward if you know the steps. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), renewal happens every two years and runs entirely through TULIP, the state’s online licensing portal. No paper forms, no in-person visits. This page walks you through every requirement and the exact renewal process, including what happens if your certification has lapsed.

Renewal Requirement	Details
Renewal cycle	Every 2 years from initial certification date
In-service education	24 hours (must include geriatrics + dementia/Alzheimer’s training)
Employment verification	8+ paid hours under RN supervision in the past 24 months
Renewal portal	TULIP (Texas Unified License Information Portal)
Renewal fee	Not published by HHSC; verify at TULIP login
Contact for questions	[email protected]

Texas CNA Renewal Requirements at a Glance

Texas CNAs must renew their certification every two years. The renewal process is managed through TULIP, and you’ll need to meet four requirements before you can submit.

Renewal Checklist

Requirement	What It Means
24 hours of in-service education	Must include geriatrics training AND dementia/Alzheimer’s disease care
8+ hours of paid nursing work	Under RN supervision, in the past 24 months
No Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR) entries	HHSC screens this as part of the renewal process
No disqualifying criminal convictions	Background check is part of renewal

The HHSC renewal page lists all four requirements. If you’re currently working as a CNA in a Texas healthcare facility, there’s a good chance you already meet most of them.

The sections below cover each requirement in detail, plus a step-by-step walkthrough of the TULIP renewal portal.

Now that you know what’s required, let’s walk through the actual renewal process in TULIP, step by step.

How to Renew Through TULIP

Government portals can feel intimidating, but the TULIP renewal process is manageable. Have your documents ready before you start and you’ll be through it in about 15–20 minutes.

Step-by-Step TULIP Renewal Walkthrough

Before you log in, gather these:
– Certificates for all in-service education hours completed
– Employer information (facility name, supervisor contact, dates worked)
– Your nurse aide certification number

Then follow these steps through the TULIP portal:

1. Log in to TULIP: go to the TULIP portal at hhs.texas.gov. If this is your first time accessing TULIP, create an account using your certification number and personal information.
2. Navigate to nurse aide renewal: find the “Nurse Aide” section and select the renewal option.
3. Verify your personal information: confirm your name, address, and contact details are current. Update anything that has changed since your last renewal.
4. Submit proof of in-service education: upload or enter your completed hours documentation. You’ll need to show that you’ve met the 24-hour requirement, including the mandatory geriatrics and dementia/Alzheimer’s training.
5. Provide employment verification: enter your employer’s information and confirm you’ve worked at least 8 paid hours under RN supervision in the past 24 months.
6. Submit the renewal application: review everything and submit. HHSC does not list a specific renewal fee on the renewal page; check TULIP at the time of submission for any applicable fees.
7. Save your confirmation: screenshot or print the submission confirmation for your records.

Required Documentation

Before starting your TULIP session, check your current registry status to confirm your certification details are accurate. Discrepancies in your name or certification number can delay processing.

If you run into problems during the renewal process, contact the Nurse Aide Registry directly at [email protected]. For questions about the competency exam (relevant only if you’re retraining after a lapse), contact Prometric at 800-488-5787.

The biggest piece of your renewal is completing 24 hours of in-service education. Here’s exactly what that means and where to get it done.

In-Service Education Requirements

If you’re currently working in a Texas nursing facility, you may already be completing most of your required in-service hours through your employer. Many facilities provide mandatory staff training that counts toward your renewal requirement — check with your supervisor or HR department before paying for outside courses.

Required Topics

The Texas HHSC requires 24 hours of in-service education every two years. Two topics are mandatory within those 24 hours:

• Geriatrics training — care principles for older adult patients
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease care — specific training in cognitive decline and dementia care approaches

The remaining hours can cover other topics common to CNA in-service training: infection control, patient rights, safety, communication, and documentation.

Where to Complete In-Service Hours

Option	Description
Employer-provided training	Most common; many facilities include this as part of regular employment
Online CE providers	Approved by HHSC; allows flexible scheduling
Community colleges and vocational schools	Available in most Texas metro areas
Professional nursing organizations	Offer courses specific to CNA and nursing aide roles

Texas CNAs who work for hospital systems often get training covered entirely.

“Look for a hospital system that will pay for further training. My daughter got a CNA position in a hospital and they paid for classes.”

(Reddit user)

That’s a real advantage of hospital employment. If you’re at a smaller facility or currently between jobs, online CNA classes can cover your in-service hours on your schedule.

In-service education is one half of renewal eligibility. The other half is proving you’ve been working — here’s how employment verification works.

Employment Verification

Texas requires proof that you’ve worked at least 8 paid hours as a nursing assistant in the past 24 months. If you can’t provide that, your certification will lapse and you’ll need to retrain.

What Counts as Qualifying Employment

The HHSC specifies that qualifying work must meet all three conditions:

• Paid work — volunteer caregiving does not count
• Nursing-related duties — work in a nursing facility, hospital, or home health setting
• Under RN supervision — work must be supervised by a licensed nurse

The 8-hour minimum is lower than most CNAs expect. If you’ve worked even a few shifts in the past two years, whether full-time, part-time, or per diem, you likely qualify.

What to Do If You Can’t Verify Employment

If you left nursing work for a period and can’t document 8+ qualifying hours, your certification will lapse. There’s no exemption for personal circumstances like medical leave or family caregiving.

Some CNAs leave the profession because the working conditions make it difficult to stay. That reality shows up consistently in what Texas CNAs report.

“I worked at a nursing home in Texas that did not offer health insurance to any employees, except for mgmt.”

(21 upvotes — Reddit user)

Poor benefits and working conditions push CNAs out of the workforce and into lapsed certification status. If that’s your situation, the next section explains exactly what comes next. For those who still qualify, log in to TULIP and complete the renewal process. See our complete guide to becoming a CNA in Texas if you need to restart the training path.

If you’ve missed your renewal window entirely, don’t panic, but you do need to understand what happens next.

What Happens If Your Certification Lapses

If your Texas CNA certification lapses — either because you missed the renewal deadline or can’t verify qualifying employment — you’ll need to start the training process over. There is no abbreviated reactivation path.

Reactivation vs. Full Retraining

Texas does not offer a formal reactivation shortcut. Here’s what lapsed certification triggers:

Trigger	Consequence	Path Back	Estimated Cost
Missed renewal deadline	Certification lapses	Complete new NATCEP (100 hours min.) + pass Prometric exam	NATCEP: $400–$1,200 + Exam: $125
Cannot verify 8+ paid hours in 24 months	Certification lapses	Same — full NATCEP + Prometric	Same as above

NATCEP (Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program) requires a minimum of 100 hours: 60 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of supervised clinical practice at an approved facility. The HHSC NATCEP page has a full list of approved programs. You must pass the CNA competency exam again through Prometric, which costs $125 for the written and clinical skills components combined.

HHSC does not document a formal grace period for late renewal. If your renewal date has passed, treat your certification as lapsed and begin the retraining process.

People complete NATCEP and return to CNA work in Texas regularly. If you’re weighing whether it’s worth it, see why become a CNA in Texas for current career outlook and pay. To find a program, start with how to choose a CNA program or browse Texas CNA programs by location. For full details on the training and exam process, see the complete guide to CNA certification in Texas.

Have more questions about the renewal process? Here are the most common ones Texas CNAs ask.