CNA REGISTRY
To work as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) in a nursing home in the State of Delaware, either as facility staff or as contract/agency staff, individuals must meet the CNA requirements given in the State of Delaware law and regulations. The requirements include taking required training in an approved program and passing a test.
Individuals who are shown to be competent are placed on the CNA Registry. The certification as a CNA must be renewed every 24 months. Employers can only hire CNAs who are on Delaware’s CNA Registry, in good standing.
The Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection is responsible for the training and testing program for CNAs and for the CNA Registry.
Delaware Nurse Aide Registry Status
The Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection has a contract with D&S Diversified Technologies to develop, score, administer, and report the results of the State competency test for the Delaware CNA/Nurse Aide Registry.
To verify if someone is a CNA in good standing in the State of Delaware, you can check the Delaware CNA Registry under the D&S Diversified Technologies’ website, at http://www.hdmaster.com . You can also call the CNA Registry .
A facility must not employ individuals who have a negative finding entered into the State Nurse Aide Registry concerning abuse, neglect, or mistreatment of residents, or concerning misappropriation of their property.
To be hired by a nursing home or a temporary agency that provides services in a nursing home, all applicants must undergo a criminal history check and pre-employment drug testing. Failure to pass the criminal background check or to submit to the drug test will cause a person to be disqualified for employment. Conviction of the following crimes will automatically disqualify a person from working as a Certified Nursing Assistant: felony theft, drug and violent offenses, and offenses involving patients and other vulnerable persons. Conviction of some lesser offenses may also lead to disqualification. Please call the Criminal Background Checks & Mandatory Drug Testing phone number if you need more information about the criminal background check or drug testing requirements.
CNA Training Requirements and Training Program Approval
Anyone who wants to be trained to become a CNA in Delaware must enroll in a CNA training program that is approved by the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection. All CNA training programs in Delaware must be approved by the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection before they begin providing training.
Please call the CNA Registry from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for any of the following:
- List of approved CNA training programs,
- Application and requirements for providing a CNA training program, and
- State and Federal CNA regulations.
CNA Competency Test
For questions regarding test applications, test scheduling, eligibility to test, and/or arranging for special testing accommodations, please call D&S Diversified Technologies' toll-free phone number, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday; and from 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Please visit D&S Diversified Technologies' website at http://www.hdmaster.com to obtain the following documents:
- Candidate Handbook
- Test Schedule
- Test Fee Information
- Test Application forms
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodation Request forms.
CNA Renewal
A Certified Nursing Assistant must perform at least 64 hours of nursing-related services in a health care setting during each 24-month certification period in order to qualify for recertification. A CNA who does not perform at least 64 hours of nursing-related services in a certification time period must complete and pass a new training course and competency test, or take and pass the competency test.
The Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection sends renewal forms and instructions to all CNAs 90 days prior to the expiration date on the CNA’s certification card. There is no fee for renewal.
The Division must have a CNA’s current legal name and address to make sure that he/she receives the renewal information. It is the responsibility of the CNA to notify the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection of any name or address change. If your address has changed, please call the CNA Registry to report the change. If your name has changed, you must submit a copy of a legal document showing your name change. Your name will not be changed on the Registry unless you provide a copy of a legal document, such as a marriage license or divorce decree. Please mail this legal documentation to the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection's Kent/Sussex Counties office.
CNA Reciprocity
A Certified Nursing Assistant trained and certified outside the State of Delaware cannot work in a nursing home in Delaware without a Delaware certificate. Delaware certification is required before the person begins working as a CNA, whether working directly for a nursing home or through a temporary/contract agency.
The Division will grant certification through the process of reciprocity if all of the following conditions are met:
- The CNA has a current certificate from the State in which he or she currently practices. CNAs from the State of Maryland must also hold a current Geriatric Nursing Assistant certificate to be eligible for reciprocity;
- The CNA must have three months of full-time experience as a CNA or have completed a training program equal to at least 150 hours; and
- The CNA must be in good standing in the state where he/she is currently certified.
You can get an application and instructions for reciprocity by calling the CNA Registry . You can also get a copy of the reciprocity form by visiting the D&S Diversified Technologies’ website at: http://www.hdmaster.com.
A completed CNA reciprocity application must include a copy of a current registry certificate, along with proof of three-month, full-time employment as a CNA. There is no fee to apply for reciprocity.
After the Division approves the application for reciprocity, the Division will issue the person a Delaware Nurse Aide Certificate. Individuals must allow at least 30 days for processing the application, and applicants for reciprocity cannot be employed as a CNA until the Division approves the application for reciprocity.
