The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license renewal process in California requires careful attention to specific state regulations to maintain active certification. This renewal is overseen by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which mandates that all certified individuals meet a set of professional and educational criteria every two years. Successfully navigating this process ensures a CNA remains on the California Nurse Aide Registry, allowing them to continue working in health care settings across the state.
Understanding Core Eligibility Requirements
Renewal of a CNA certificate in California is conditional, requiring the fulfillment of three fundamental standards before the expiration date. Failure to meet any of these standards means the certificate holder is not eligible for renewal and must pursue a different path to regain active status.
Required Paid Work Hours
A primary requirement is demonstrating recent, paid work experience providing nursing or nursing-related services to residents in a health care facility. The CNA must have worked for compensation under the supervision of a licensed health professional at some point within the two-year certification period. The core state requirement is proof of at least one day of paid service during the current two-year cycle.
Required Continuing Education Hours
The second major component is the completion of continuing education, known as In-Service Training or Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Certified Nurse Assistants must obtain a total of 48 hours of approved CEUs within the two-year certification period. A minimum of 12 hours must be completed in the first year, and another minimum of 12 hours must be completed in the second year.
Criminal Background Compliance
Maintaining a clear criminal record clearance is a non-negotiable condition for renewal. The CDPH reviews the applicant’s background to ensure continuous compliance with state and federal regulations concerning patient safety. The renewal application requires the CNA to disclose any convictions or adverse actions taken by a health-related licensing or certification authority since their last renewal. Any issue with the criminal background clearance or the disclosure of certain convictions can void eligibility.
Navigating the Renewal Cycle and Deadlines
CNA certificates issued by the CDPH operate on a biennial schedule, requiring renewal every two years. The CDPH generally sends a written renewal notice to the certificate holder’s address on file approximately 90 days before the expiration date. Certificate holders are responsible for ensuring the CDPH has their current mailing address, as non-receipt of the notice does not waive the obligation to renew on time. Renewing before the expiration date is crucial because a certificate not renewed by its deadline is considered expired.
Securing Approved Continuing Education
Obtaining valid CEUs involves specific criteria regarding the source, format, and content of the training. All in-service training or continuing education must be provided by a CDPH-approved provider to be accepted for renewal credit. CNAs can confirm a provider’s approval status by checking for their assigned Nurse Assistant Certification (NAC) number.
The format of the training is also regulated. A maximum of 24 of the total 48 CE hours may be completed through a CDPH-approved online computer training program. The remaining hours must be acquired through face-to-face in-service training or other live educational settings.
While there is no single mandated course, state regulations outline a range of topics that should be addressed in the training. These acceptable topics include:
- Universal precautions for infection control
- Maintaining healthy skin to prevent breakdown
- Patients’ rights and civil rights
- Procedures for working with the dying patient and their family
CNAs must diligently retain documentation of their completed CEUs, such as certificates or transcripts, for a minimum of four years following the renewal period in case of a state audit.
Step-by-Step Application and Submission
The formal renewal process requires the submission of specific documentation to the CDPH’s Aide and Technician Certification Section (ATCS). The primary document for renewal is the Certified Nurse Assistant Renewal Application, known as form CDPH 283C. This form must be completed accurately and accompanied by the Certified Nurse Assistant In-Service Training/Continuing Education form, CDPH 283A, which documents the 48 hours of completed training.
There is no processing fee required to submit the application for renewal. Applicants can submit their complete application package through the CDPH’s online portal or by mailing the paper forms to the Healthcare Professional Certification and Training Section in Sacramento. After submission, the CNA should monitor communication from the CDPH regarding the application’s status. If the CDPH finds deficiencies, they will issue correspondence outlining the necessary corrections.
What Happens When a License Lapses
A certificate not renewed by its expiration date is considered expired, and working as a CNA with an expired license is prohibited. If the certificate has been expired for less than two years, the CNA is eligible to reactivate their certification without requiring a full re-training program. To pursue reactivation, the individual must submit the CDPH 283C Renewal Application, checking the specific box in the reactivation section.
Upon approval, the CNA must successfully pass the Competency Evaluation Examination, which includes both the written and skills portions. Failing to reactivate the certificate within two years significantly complicates the process. If a certificate has been expired for more than two years, the individual must enroll in a CDPH-approved Nurse Assistant training program and pass the full Competency Evaluation Examination.