Nebraska CNA License Verification: Check the Official Nurse Aide Registry
Nebraska CNA license verification is handled through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services License Information System. Search the official Nurse Aide Registry, open the matching record and confirm whether the aide is Active, Lapsed or Ineligible before relying on the result.
Nebraska uses the term Nurse Aide and does not issue a traditional CNA license or physical licensure card. Registry status is what matters for work, reactivation and interstate endorsement.
Quick Answer: How to Verify a Nebraska CNA
Open the Nebraska DHHS License Information System, choose Individual Search, search for the nurse aide and open the matching record. Confirm the person’s name, registry information and status before using the result for employment or credentialing.
The system also includes nurses, medication aides, physicians and other health credentials, so make sure the profession or record you open is actually the nurse aide record you need. Nebraska’s broader Nebraska License Verification guide explains the different state lookup routes when you are not sure which agency or credential applies.
Use Individual Search
The Nebraska License Information System provides an Individual Search for nurse aides and other health professionals. Search the person rather than a facility or business.
Open the individual record
Do not rely only on the search-results list. Open the matching person’s record and review the current registry status before saving or printing proof.
RN/LPN verification is different
If the person is an RN, LPN or APRN rather than a nurse aide, use the site’s Nebraska Nursing License Verification guide.
Nebraska Calls It a Nurse Aide Registry, Not a CNA License
“Nebraska CNA license verification” is a common search phrase, but Nebraska officially manages nurse aides through a state registry. DHHS does not issue a traditional nurse aide license or physical licensure card.
Nurse Aide
Nebraska DHHS describes the credential as placement on the Nurse Aide Registry. This is the record employers should check when nurse aide status matters.
Status is maintained through qualifying work
Nebraska does not show a normal recurring expiration date for an active nurse aide. Status can become Lapsed when qualifying paid nurse aide employment is not recorded within the required 24-month period.
Print from the registry
After finding your record, open it and use the green Generate Wallet Card button if you need printable proof. Nebraska does not mail physical nurse aide cards.
Nebraska CNA Registry Lookup: Exact Steps
Use this workflow for your own status, an employment check, staffing verification or a credential file.
Open Nebraska DHHS License Information System
Use the Nebraska.gov public search linked by DHHS. JavaScript must be enabled for the search system to work correctly.
Choose Individual Search
Nurse aides are individual records. Do not use Business/Service Search or Facility/Service Search when you are checking a person.
Enter the strongest information you have
The system provides fields such as first name, last name, license or registry number, status, profession, license type, city, county and ZIP. Start with the identifying information most likely to produce one clear match.
Use a wildcard when spelling is uncertain
The Nebraska search allows an asterisk to widen a name search. This can help when you know only part of a first name or are unsure of the exact spelling.
Open the matching nurse aide record
Confirm that the result belongs to the correct person and that the displayed profession or registry record is the nurse aide credential you intended to verify.
Record the status and date checked
For employment or compliance files, save the person’s name, registry number if shown, current status, official source and verification date. Generate a wallet card when printable proof is useful.
Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry Status: Active, Lapsed and Ineligible
| Status | What Nebraska DHHS means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The aide passed the required exams and/or has qualifying nurse aide employment recorded within the past two years. | Confirm the exact person and keep qualifying paid employment reported so the record remains active. |
| Lapsed | DHHS has no record of passing exams or qualifying nurse aide employment within the past two years. | Determine whether qualifying employment was simply not reported or whether written/oral and clinical retesting is required. |
| Ineligible | A finding involving conviction, abuse, neglect or misappropriation is on record. | Do not treat the person as eligible to work in a certified nursing home. Follow DHHS guidance for the specific record. |
| No result | The search criteria may be wrong, the record may use another name, or you may be searching the wrong credential. | Use fewer fields, try the registry number or alternate name, and contact Nursing Support if the record remains unresolved. |
There is no ordinary every-two-years renewal application for an active Nebraska nurse aide. The important rule is maintaining qualifying paid nurse aide employment within 24 months of the last qualifying employment date.
How to Keep Nebraska Nurse Aide Status Active
To remain Active, a nurse aide must work as a nurse aide in a paid position within 24 months of the last qualifying nurse aide employment. The work must be in an approved Nebraska employer setting.
Work within 24 months
Do not treat “two years” as a paperwork-only renewal window. The registry status is tied to qualifying paid nurse aide employment.
Paid nurse aide duties matter
The employment must involve nurse aide work for monetary compensation. Keep employment dates and employer details available in case the Registry record needs correction.
Not every job keeps the registry active
DHHS publishes a specific approved-employer list. Work outside those approved settings may not satisfy the active-status rule.
Do not immediately assume you must retest. Check whether qualifying employment was reported. Nebraska provides an Employment Verification Form that an employer can complete to document paid nursing or nursing-related work.
Which Nebraska Employers Can Keep a Nurse Aide Active?
Nebraska DHHS lists the approved health care settings that can be used to maintain Active nurse aide registry status. The list was expanded effective September 3, 2025 to include qualifying Community-Based Developmental Disabilities service providers.
- Critical access hospital
- General acute hospital
- Hospital
- Long-term care hospital
- Psychiatric or mental hospital
- Rehabilitation hospital
- Assisted-living facility
- Intermediate Care Facility
- Intermediate Care Facility for Developmental Disabilities
- Nursing facility
- Skilled nursing facility
- Ambulatory surgical center
- Health clinic
- Licensed home health agency
- Hospice
- Certified Community-Based Developmental Disabilities service providers
The DHHS approved-employer document states that the Community-Based Developmental Disabilities addition does not include the Home and Community Based Services Waiver. Confirm the employer setting before assuming the work will maintain Active status.
Nebraska CNA Renewal After Lapsed Status: How Reactivation Works
If the registry truly lapsed because you have not had qualifying paid nurse aide work within the required period, Nebraska uses re-competency testing rather than a normal renewal form.
Confirm that your status is actually Lapsed
Search the official registry first. If qualifying work was performed but not reported, employment verification may solve the record problem without unnecessary retesting.
Contact an approved re-competency testing provider
DHHS directs lapsed nurse aides to approved postsecondary education providers that conduct re-competency testing.
Retake the written/oral and clinical exams
Both required examinations must be successfully completed for normal reactivation. DHHS notes that both exams may be completed on the same day.
Allow time for the registry to update
DHHS says it may take about three weeks after successful completion of the examinations for the Registry record to update.
A nurse aide who took a 30-hour course before 1989 and was grandfathered onto the Registry is not eligible to reactivate simply by retesting. DHHS requires that aide to complete the current 75-hour Nurse Aide Course.
The official Employment Verification Form requires the employer to document the employer name, contact details, job duties and dates of paid nursing or nursing-related employment, with the employer certification completed in the presence of a notary.
Transfer an Out-of-State CNA to Nebraska
Nebraska calls the transfer process Interstate Endorsement. An out-of-state nurse aide must become Active on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry before working in a certified Nebraska nursing facility.
What Nebraska checks
- Active status in the state from which you are seeking reciprocity.
- At least 75 hours of nurse aide training.
- Passing written and clinical examination results.
- Nurse aide employment within the previous 24 months if you did not test within that period.
- Registry checks in the state where you trained and other states where you worked.
Complete the one-hour abuse training
Every nurse aide transferring into Nebraska must complete at least one hour of Nebraska-specific Abuse/Neglect/Misappropriation Training, even when similar training was completed in another state.
You will not be made Active on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry until this requirement has been completed.
Allow up to 30 days
DHHS states that a completed Interstate Endorsement application may take up to 30 days to process. An incomplete application can be returned with a deficiency notice.
Do not use Interstate Endorsement again
The official application says a person who has previously been Active on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry is not eligible to apply by Interstate Endorsement. The person instead needs the appropriate retest or Employment Verification route.
The endorsement form asks for legal and previous names, contact information, Social Security number, date and place of birth, training school and hours, course completion date, examination history, the state from which reciprocity is requested, registry number and recent nurse aide employers.
Verify the source-state record before filing Nebraska endorsement. Use the site’s Iowa CNA License Verification guide when the source credential is from Iowa.
Requirements to Become a Nebraska Nurse Aide
Nebraska’s requirements are more specific than simply completing a CNA class. The state sets minimum age, training, language, conduct and competency requirements.
At least 16 years old
A person must be at least 16 years of age to qualify for placement on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry.
Minimum 75-hour approved course
The normal Nebraska route requires at least 75 hours of state-approved nurse aide training. DHHS also identifies a separate 21-hour basic resident care course route for certain intermediate care facilities serving people with developmental disabilities.
One Nebraska-specific hour
The nurse aide must successfully complete Nebraska-specific abuse, neglect and misappropriation training.
Language requirement
DHHS requires the aide to be able to speak and understand English or a language understood by a substantial portion of the nursing home’s residents.
Criminal-history restrictions apply
DHHS lists restrictions involving crimes of moral turpitude that are rationally related to the nurse aide position and separately tracks abuse, neglect and misappropriation findings.
Pass both state-approved exams
The normal route requires successful completion of the written/oral examination and clinical/skills competency examination.
Nebraska DHHS notes that a nurse aide must be at least 18 to use a lift independently. A 16- or 17-year-old nurse aide may assist in the use of a lift.
Nebraska Nurse Aide Exam Rules
| Exam | Format | Passing rule | Attempt limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written / Oral | 50 multiple-choice questions. | 70% or higher. | Three total attempts. After three unsuccessful attempts, the 75-hour nurse aide course must be repeated. |
| Clinical / Skills | Demonstration of six skills. | 70% or higher on each skill, with required mandatory steps performed correctly. | Three total attempts. After three unsuccessful attempts, the 75-hour nurse aide course must be repeated. |
If any one of the six required skills is failed, the skills examination is failed. Mandatory steps within a skill must also be completed correctly.
DHHS states that becoming Active on the Registry after successful examinations can take approximately three weeks. If the expected record does not appear after processing time, contact the testing provider and Nebraska DHHS Nursing Support.
Nebraska CNA Fees: What Is Free and What May Cost Money?
Nebraska DHHS states that there are no state nurse aide application fees, and Nebraska nurse aides do not pay a DHHS fee for certification or verification of their Registry status.
| Service | DHHS fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Public Registry lookup | No fee | Use the Nebraska License Information System to check the current record. |
| Nurse aide application / Registry placement | No nurse aide fee | Training and testing providers may charge their own course or examination fees. |
| Registry certification or verification | No fee for Nebraska nurse aides | This is an exception to the general DHHS certification/verification fees charged for many licensed professions. |
| Name change | No nurse aide charge | Attach documentation proving the legal name change. |
| Re-competency testing | Provider-specific | Approved testing providers can charge for written/oral and clinical retesting. Check the provider’s current amount before registering. |
How to Print a Nebraska CNA Wallet Card or Verification
Nebraska does not issue physical nurse aide licensure cards. Printable proof comes from the public Registry.
Search your name in the Registry
Use Nebraska DHHS License Information System Individual Search.
Open your individual record
Select the correct nurse aide record rather than stopping at the results page.
Select Generate Wallet Card
The record includes a green Generate Wallet Card option that can be used to view or print the wallet-size proof.
Some states provide their own verification form when a Nebraska nurse aide is moving out. Nebraska does not create the receiving state’s form. Obtain the form from the destination state and send it to Nebraska DHHS for completion. Nebraska states that nurse aides are not charged a fee for this verification.
Name Change, Address Change and Employment Records
Submit legal proof
Nebraska provides a Name Change/License Reissue Form. Nurse aides are not charged a name-change fee, but the form must include documentation proving the legal change.
Keep DHHS contact information current
Use the DHHS address-change process when your mailing details change so registry and program correspondence is not tied to an old address.
Correct missing work information
If qualifying employment is missing from the Registry, use the Employment Verification route rather than assuming you must immediately retest.
No Nebraska CNA Record Found? Try These Fixes
| Problem | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No record by name | Spelling, former name or too many search filters. | Try fewer fields, the registry number if known, a former name or the wildcard feature. |
| Wrong health credential appears | The LIS contains nurses, medication aides and other professions in addition to nurse aides. | Check the profession or credential type before relying on the result. |
| Status shows Lapsed even though you worked | Qualifying paid employment may not have been reported. | Review the Employment Verification Form and contact Nursing Support before paying for retesting. |
| Recently passed exams but no Active record | Registry processing is still underway. | DHHS says updates may take about three weeks after successful exams. Contact the testing provider if the expected update is delayed. |
| Out-of-state CNA is missing | Nebraska Interstate Endorsement has not been completed or approved. | Complete endorsement and the Nebraska-specific abuse/neglect/misappropriation training, then verify the Nebraska Registry again. |
| Search page does not work correctly | JavaScript may be disabled. | Enable JavaScript or try a supported browser before assuming the record is missing. |
Use the Nebraska.gov Registry result or DHHS verification route when the aide’s current work eligibility matters.
Nebraska CNA Verification Checklist for Employers
- Official Nebraska.gov Registry used.
- Date verification was performed.
- Exact legal name matched.
- Registry or credential number when displayed.
- Nurse Aide profession or credential confirmed.
- Active, Lapsed or Ineligible status.
- Any adverse information relevant to the employment decision.
- Printable wallet card or dated verification when required by policy.
- Résumé or job-board profile.
- Training-course completion document.
- Employee badge.
- Old undated screenshot.
- RN/LPN license search instead of Nurse Aide Registry status.
- Another state’s active CNA record before Nebraska endorsement is complete.
Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry Contact Information
| Contact item | Official detail | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Nebraska DHHS Office of Nursing Support, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit | Registry, endorsement, reactivation and nurse aide program questions. |
| Phone | 402-471-4322 | Unresolved Registry records, forms and nurse aide status questions. |
| Fax | 402-742-1151 | Forms when DHHS instructions allow fax submission. |
| DHHS.NursingSupport@nebraska.gov | Nursing Support correspondence and eligible form submissions. | |
| DHHS Licensure Unit, Attn: Nurse Aide, PO Box 94986, Lincoln, NE 68509 | Applications and forms requiring mail submission. | |
| Physical office | Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall South, 3rd Floor, Lincoln, NE 68508 | Official Licensure Unit office location. |
| Office hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed federal holidays | Plan phone or in-person contact during listed business hours. |
| Complaints | 402-471-0316 | Health Care Facilities and Services complaint or nurse aide reporting route. |
Official Nebraska Nurse Aide Verification and Registry Resources
Use the official resource that matches your final task after reviewing the practical steps above.
Nebraska CNA License Verification FAQs
How do I verify a Nebraska CNA online?
Use the Nebraska DHHS License Information System and choose Individual Search. Search for the nurse aide, open the correct record and confirm the person’s identity and current Registry status before relying on the result.
Does Nebraska actually issue a CNA license?
Nebraska officially uses a Nurse Aide Registry rather than a traditional CNA license. Nurse aides are placed on the Registry after meeting Nebraska requirements, and DHHS does not issue physical nurse aide licensure cards.
What do Active, Lapsed and Ineligible mean on the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry?
Active generally means the aide passed the required exams and/or has qualifying nurse aide employment within the past two years. Lapsed means DHHS has no record of qualifying exams or employment within that period. Ineligible means a conviction, abuse, neglect or misappropriation finding is on record and the person is not eligible to work in a certified nursing home.
Does a Nebraska CNA expire every two years?
Nebraska does not use a normal fixed two-year CNA expiration date. To remain Active, the nurse aide must have qualifying paid nurse aide employment within 24 months of the last qualifying employment date.
How do I reactivate a Lapsed Nebraska nurse aide record?
If the record truly lapsed because qualifying employment was not maintained, Nebraska requires successful written/oral and clinical re-competency exams. If qualifying work was performed but not reported, check whether an Employment Verification Form can correct the record before arranging retesting.
How do I transfer an out-of-state CNA to Nebraska?
Complete Nebraska’s Interstate Endorsement process. Nebraska checks the source-state registry, training and exam history and recent employment when applicable. Every transferring nurse aide must also complete Nebraska’s one-hour Abuse/Neglect/Misappropriation Training before becoming Active.
Does Nebraska charge a CNA Registry or verification fee?
Nebraska DHHS states that there are no nurse aide fees and that Nebraska nurse aides do not pay a fee for certification or verification of Registry status. Training and testing providers may still charge their own course or examination fees.
How do I print a Nebraska CNA wallet card?
Search for your name in the Nebraska Registry, open your individual record and select the green Generate Wallet Card button. Nebraska does not mail physical nurse aide cards.
What training and exams are required for a new Nebraska nurse aide?
The normal Nebraska route requires at least 75 hours of state-approved nurse aide training, one hour of Nebraska-specific abuse/neglect/misappropriation training, and successful written/oral and clinical/skills competency examinations. Applicants must also meet Nebraska’s age, language and conduct requirements.
What should I do if no Nebraska nurse aide record appears?
Try fewer search fields, confirm the spelling, check a former name, use the Registry number when available and make sure you are searching the correct profession. JavaScript must be enabled for the Nebraska search system. If the record is still unresolved, contact Nebraska DHHS Nursing Support at 402-471-4322.
Verify the Nebraska Nurse Aide Record Before You Rely on It
For Nebraska CNA license verification, the official answer is the Nebraska Nurse Aide Registry. Check the person’s current Registry status first. If the record is Lapsed, determine whether qualifying employment was simply not reported or whether re-competency testing is required. If the aide is moving from another state, complete Interstate Endorsement and Nebraska’s required abuse/neglect/misappropriation training before treating the person as Active in Nebraska.