Colorado CNA License — How to Get, Transfer, Renew & Verify (2025 Updated)

Enroll in a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. The program must include at least 75 hours of instruction:

• 16 hours of classroom instruction
• 16 hours of supervised clinical practice

Training must meet federal OBRA ’87 standards. You must complete the program before applying for the competency exam.

Submit an Application for Registration by Competency Examination through the Credentia CNA365® platform. You will need to:

• Create a CNA365® account
• Select your eligibility route
• Upload required documents
• Submit payment or apply a prepaid voucher

Applications must be approved before scheduling. You must pass both the Knowledge and Skills exams within 24 months of your application date. You are allowed three attempts per component before retraining is required.

Once approved, log in to CNA365® to schedule your exam. You may test:

• In person at a Colorado Regional Test Site
• Online with remote proctoring

The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP®) exam includes two parts:

• Knowledge Exam – Choose one format:
  • Written: 70 multiple-choice questions
  • Oral: 60 multiple-choice questions and 10 reading comprehension questions (must be requested at application)
• Skills Evaluation: Perform five randomly selected nurse aide skills, including mandatory hand hygiene

All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Pay by credit/debit card, prepaid card, or voucher.

After passing both exams, Credentia will send your results to the Colorado State Board of Nursing. Once approved, your name will be added to the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry, confirming your active certification.

Need help? For exam registration, call Credentia at (888) 204-6249. For application status, call the Colorado State Board of Nursing at (303) 894-2430.

• You hold an active nurse aide certification in good standing from another U.S. state
• You have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation
• If you were previously certified in Colorado, apply for reinstatement instead

Log in to the DPO Online Services Portal and select Certified Nurse Aide – Certification by Endorsement.

• Proof of current out-of-state CNA certification
• Disclosure of all healthcare licenses or certifications ever held
• Official name change documentation, if applicable
• Responses to general and criminal history screening questions with supporting documents if required
• Completed Healthcare Professions Profile

Complete the Verification of Certification form and send it to each state where you are or have been certified. The verifying state must send the completed form directly to the Colorado State Board of Nursing.

Schedule fingerprinting through Colorado Fingerprinting using your CBI Unique ID issued during the application. Both Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) checks are required.

Submit the $50 non-refundable, non-transferable fee online by credit card.

Check your DPO account regularly to track progress and respond promptly to any requests. Applications expire after one year if incomplete. Once approved, your name will appear on the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry.

Need help? Contact the Colorado State Board of Nursing at (303) 894-2430 or email dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us.

You may renew if your certification is active or has been expired for less than 90 days within the current two-year cycle. If expired more than 90 days, you must apply for reinstatement through the Colorado State Board of Nursing.

Sign in with your CNA365 credentials. If eligible, a Renewal button will appear under the Registry section. Use the Forgot Password link if needed.

Click Renewal, review and update your personal and employment information, and submit.

If a fee is displayed after submission, add it to your cart and pay online. All fees are non-refundable.

Once processed, your updated certificate will be available in CNA365 under the Registration tab. Select View Registration to view or download it.

Tip: You may renew up to 90 days before your expiration date.

Apply under Eligibility Route E11 – Reinstatement by Examination. One of the following is required:

• Your most recent Colorado Nurse Aide certificate
• A certificate of completion from a state-approved Nurse Aide Training Program

If you cannot provide proof of prior training, you must complete a new Colorado-approved program before applying.

Apply online through the DPO Online Services Portal. Select Certified Nurse Aide – Reinstate Expired Certification and upload required documents:

• Proof of training or prior CNA certificate
• Details of any CNA or healthcare work in Colorado since expiration
• Information about healthcare licenses held in other states
• Name change documentation (if applicable)
• Responses and supporting documentation for criminal history or disciplinary actions
• Completed Healthcare Professions Profile

Attest that you have passed—or will pass—both the knowledge and skills exams approved by the Board. Pay the non-refundable fee. Your status will remain pending until exam results are received.

Create an account in the Credentia CNA365® platform and submit your E11 testing application. Upload required documents and wait for approval before scheduling exams.

Once approved, schedule your exams in CNA365®:

• Skills Evaluation (PR): Demonstrate five randomly assigned nurse aide skills
• Knowledge Exam: Written (AW) or Oral (AO)

You must pass both exams within three attempts and within 24 months of your application date. If you fail either component three times, you must complete a new training program before reapplying.

After passing both exams and Board approval, your license status will be updated to Active in the Colorado Nurse Aide Registry.

Note: Applications expire one year from submission if incomplete. A new application, fee, and documents are required if your application expires before completion.

Go to the Colorado License Lookup page.

• Under License Type(s), select Nursing.

• For name search, enter first and last name.
• For license number, select NA and enter the number.
• Optional filters: city, state, ZIP code, business name, or maiden name.

Enter the characters shown in the verification field.

Click Submit to display results.

The results page displays:

• Full name
• License number
• Status — must show Active for work eligibility
• Contact type
• City, state, ZIP code

Click Detail to open the credential record and view:

• License number, method, and type
• Status
• Original issue date
• Effective date
• Expiration date
• Disciplinary or board actions (if any)
• Other Colorado licenses held

Select View Profile to open the nurse aide’s full registry profile. This serves as primary source verification and may include additional certification details not shown in License Details.

Phone Verification: Call the Colorado State Board of Nursing at (303) 894-7800, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. MT