How to Become a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) in North Carolina

Checked against N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation - N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry · Verified 2026-10-10

Exam: Required
Training: Required
Term: 2 years
State fee: None ("There are no registry fees")
Certified by: N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation - N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry

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Who can apply

Complete a state-approved Nurse Aide I training program of at least 75 hours, or qualify for a training waiver (for example out-of-state training in the last 2 years, EMTs, nursing students, or military medical training).
RNs and LPNs with a current, unrestricted N.C. license can be listed without training or testing.

Step by step

Complete a state-approved Nurse Aide I training program (at least 75 hours).
Apply for and schedule the Nurse Aide I competency exam on the Credentia website.
Pass both the written (or oral) exam and the skills evaluation within two years of finishing training or within three attempts, whichever comes first.
You are listed on the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry within 5 business days of passing.

Official application →

Training and exam

Training: North Carolina requires a state-approved basic course of at least 75 hours, which matches the 75-hour federal minimum (including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training).

Exam: Credentia gives the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam: a written (or oral, English or Spanish) exam plus a skills-based practical evaluation. Pass both within two years of finishing training or within three attempts, whichever comes first.

Practice for the CNA written exam free — physical care skills, safety & infection control, and the nurse aide role →

What it costs in North Carolina

Fixed amounts are set by the state. Items marked “your quote” are priced by private sellers, so enter what you’re quoted.

State-approved Nurse Aide I training program tuition$
Credentia exam, written or oral + skills ($145 from January 1, 2027)$140
Registry listing fee (NCDHHS: no registry fees)$0

Estimated total in North Carolina$140Plus 1 item with no state-set price. Add your quotes above to complete the total.

Cost details from the state

Credentia exam fees (current): written + skills $140; oral + skills $140; written retest $40; oral retest $40; skills retest $100. Starting January 1, 2027: $145 / $145 / $45 / $45 / $100.
Training tuition varies by program. Federal rule: if a nursing home employs you, or has offered you a job, when you start training, you cannot be charged for the training or its books. If a nursing home hires you within 12 months after you finish, the state must arrange for you to be paid back for training costs (42 CFR 483.152(c)).

Pay in North Carolina

Before you compare job offers, see what a paycheck takes home in North Carolina after taxes.

Starting out on an entry-level wage? Check the SNAP income limits in North Carolina by household size.

How long it takes

NCDHHS says you are listed on the N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry within 5 business days after passing the exam.

What other sites get wrong about North Carolina

Myth: Your North Carolina Nurse Aide I listing renews automatically as long as you work 8 paid hours.

Fact: Renewal is not automatic: you file the Online Renewal Form and an RN files the Online Employment Verification Form, and it is your responsibility to know when your listing expires. source

Staying on the registry

Renewal: Your listing lasts 24 months. To renew, work at least 8 paid hours of Nurse Aide I duties delegated and supervised by an RN during that period; you file the Online Renewal Form and an RN files the Online Employment Verification Form. The renewed listing runs 24 months from the last qualified work date the RN reports, not from your old expiration date. Private-duty, sitter, volunteer and virtual work do not count. There is no renewal fee.

Good to know in North Carolina

Transferring from another state: Apply by reciprocity if you are trained, tested and in good standing on another state's registry and worked at least 8 paid hours of RN-supervised nurse aide tasks in the last 24 months (out-of-state private-duty work does not count). If you trained in another state within the last 24 months, you can instead use a training waiver and take the N.C. exam.

Renewal reminders: NCDHHS pages conflict: the registry page says renewal forms are mailed about three months before expiration, but the FAQ says knowing your expiration date and how to renew is your responsibility. Track your own date.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change — confirm with N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation - N.C. Nurse Aide I Registry before you apply.