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Healthcare license portability
Certified Nursing Assistant license reciprocity by state
Certified Nursing Assistant licenses are broadly portable across the US — 46 of 51 states accept transfers with either direct recognition or licensure by endorsement. Tier classifications below come from each state's licensing board; click into any row for the source language and current fees.
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46 via endorsement
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5 require exam
Reciprocity tier legend
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Recognized
Existing license or national cert accepted directly.
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Endorsement
Apply for a new license — paperwork, fees, no re-exam.
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Exam required
Must retake the state exam or complete state-specific training.
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Not recognized
No reciprocity pathway. Satisfy state requirements from scratch.
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No license required
State does not license this profession.
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Unclear
State policy ambiguous or silent. Contact licensing board.
All 50 states + DC
Each row links to the full certified nursing assistant profile for that state — exam costs, application fees, licensing board contact, and the source language behind the tier classification.
| State | Reciprocity tier | Summary | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alabama CNAs certified elsewhere are added to the registry after being hired and verified by a facility. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Alaska | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Alaska offers reciprocity for active, unencumbered CNA certifications meeting state training standards, with fees. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Arizona | edit_note Exam required | Arizona offers reciprocity, but out-of-state CNAs must pass state exams if not recently employed. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Arkansas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Arkansas offers reciprocity for CNAs in good standing from other states, requiring a fee and form. | Full page arrow_outward |
| California | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | California offers reciprocity for active out-of-state CNA certifications, requiring a background check and work proof. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Colorado | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Colorado offers reciprocity for active, unencumbered CNA licenses from other states, requiring a fee and background check. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Connecticut | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Connecticut offers reciprocity for active CNA certifications from other states if training meets 100 hours. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Delaware | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Delaware offers reciprocity for active CNA licenses meeting training or experience requirements, with a fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| District of Columbia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | DC recognizes CNA reciprocity for unencumbered certifications with equivalent training and a background check. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Florida | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Florida offers reciprocity for certified CNAs from other states, requiring fingerprinting and background check. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Georgia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Georgia offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing with recent work experience. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Hawaii | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Hawaii offers reciprocity for active CNAs; application and fee required, exam if certification is not current. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Idaho | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Idaho offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting specific training and good standing requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Illinois | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Illinois accepts reciprocity for CNAs in good standing from other states; a fee applies. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Indiana | edit_note Exam required | Indiana offers reciprocity, but out-of-state CNAs must pass the written competency exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Iowa | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Iowa offers reciprocity for active CNAs; online application and verifiable employment are required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Kansas | edit_note Exam required | Kansas offers reciprocity, but applicants must pass the Kansas CNA state exam. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Kentucky | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Kentucky offers reciprocity for active CNAs; application and documentation required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Louisiana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Louisiana offers reciprocity for active CNAs; application, fee, and ID required, no testing. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Maine | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maine offers reciprocity for certified CNAs; application, ID, and state verification required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Maryland | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Maryland offers reciprocity for active CNAs; endorsement application, background check, photo, and fee required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Massachusetts | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Massachusetts offers reciprocity for active, in-good-standing CNAs from other states. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Michigan | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Michigan grants reciprocity for active CNAs from approved states; an application fee is required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Minnesota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Minnesota offers reciprocity for active CNAs with recent work experience; no fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Mississippi | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Mississippi offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting OBRA '87 training, work experience, and fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Missouri | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Missouri offers reciprocity for active CNAs without re-taking the state exam; work proof may be required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Montana | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Montana offers reciprocity for CNAs in good standing from any U.S. state; application is free. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Nebraska | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Nebraska offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting training, exam, work, and specific abuse training. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Nevada | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Nevada offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting state requirements, including background check and fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Hampshire | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Hampshire offers reciprocity for active LNAs, requiring background check and experience or competency test. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Jersey | edit_note Exam required | New Jersey offers reciprocity, but one pathway requires passing New Jersey clinical skills and competency exams. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New Mexico | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New Mexico offers reciprocity for CNAs in good standing from other states; no fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| New York | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | New York offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; a $50 application fee is required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| North Carolina | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | North Carolina offers reciprocity for active CNAs, requiring application, fee, and background check. | Full page arrow_outward |
| North Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | North Dakota offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; verification may be required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Ohio | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Ohio offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; application and ID required, no fees. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Oklahoma | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Oklahoma offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; fees vary by certification type. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Oregon | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Oregon offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting training, work experience, and cultural competency requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Pennsylvania | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Pennsylvania offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; application and documentation may be required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Rhode Island | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Rhode Island offers reciprocity for active CNAs; a fee and interstate verification form are required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| South Carolina | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | South Carolina offers reciprocity for active CNAs with good standing and sufficient training hours. | Full page arrow_outward |
| South Dakota | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | South Dakota offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting training and good standing requirements; no fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Tennessee | edit_note Exam required | Tennessee offers reciprocity, but CNAs from some states must retrain/retest or may need to retest. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Texas | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Texas offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing, meeting background check requirements; no fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Utah | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Utah offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; application and fee are required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Vermont | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Vermont offers reciprocity for active CNAs meeting experience, background check, and fee requirements. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Virginia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Virginia offers reciprocity for active CNAs with substantially equivalent training and examination standards. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Washington | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Washington offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing, requiring verification, background check, and fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| West Virginia | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | West Virginia offers reciprocity for active CNAs in good standing; no fee or background check required. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Wisconsin | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Wisconsin offers CNA reciprocity for active certifications from other states with an application and fee. | Full page arrow_outward |
| Wyoming | assignment_turned_in Endorsement | Wyoming offers CNA endorsement for active certifications, requiring an application, fee, and background check. | Full page arrow_outward |
Other profession reciprocity guides
Each profession has its own state-by-state reciprocity matrix.
Dental Assistant
EMT
Licensed Practical Nurse
Medical Assistant
Medical Coder
Paramedic
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomist
Radiology Technologist
Respiratory Therapist
Surgical Technologist
CPA
Notary Public
Paralegal
Personal Trainer
CDL Truck Driver
Electrician
HVAC Technician
Plumber
Welder
Dental Hygienist
Insurance Agent
Real Estate Agent
Barber
Cosmetologist
Massage Therapist