Certified Nursing Assistant FAQs

The list of approved CNA training programs can be found here.

The list of approved LPN and RN prelicensure nursing programs in Florida, as well as their current status such as Approved, Accredited, or Probation can be found here. You can search and compare by county, program name, or degree offered.

The status of a closed or terminated program may be verified via the Department of Health’s License Verification website here (you will enter the program name in the “Business Name” field).

Please note: the information available will be limited. Interested parties may email the Florida Board of Nursing at MQA.Nursing@flhealth.gov for additional information including closure and termination dates.

There are three (3) exceptions which allow you to work for a maximum of four (4) months (120 days) while awaiting receipt of your Florida CNA certification: (1) applicants enrolled in or have completed a state approved program, or (2) applicants who have been verified as being actively certified in another state, or (3) applicants who have preliminarily passed the state exam but have not yet received the certificate. (See 400.211, F.S.) All of these are at the determination of the employer.

There are three (3) exceptions which allow you to work for a maximum of four (4) months (120 days) while awaiting receipt of your Florida CNA certification: (1) applicants enrolled in or have completed a state approved program, or (2) applicants who have been verified as being actively certified in another state, or (3) applicants who have preliminarily passed the state exam but have not yet received the certificate. (See 400.211, F.S.) All of these are at the determination of the employer.

If you have completed a Florida approved CNA program within 6 months of your exam application, then you are only required to take the written component.

Please visit the Florida Health Care Complaint Portal to report your criminal conviction. https://www.flhealthcomplaint.gov/

Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. To change your name, please submit supporting documents, which must be one of the following: (Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document)

1. A copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court.
2. A divorce decree restoring your maiden name.
3. A court order showing the name change (adoption, legal name change, federal identity change).
4. A copy of a certificate of naturalization or H1B Employment Visa (note: foreign applicants and/or licensees may not have state issued documents).

Licensee

If you are a licensee, you may either update your name online or via email/mail. To update online:

• Login to online services by selecting your profession from the dropdown menu and entering your information
• Find the “Manage My License” menu
• Select “Request Name Change” and submit your request along with legible supporting documents
• Once you have entered your new information, click on “Submit”

If you prefer to email or mail in your address change, please complete the update address form and email to: MQAOnlineService@flhealth.gov

Or mail to:
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Licensure Support Services
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin #C10
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-32260

Applicant
If you an applicant, you may either email or mail in your name change, please complete the change name form and email to: MQA.NursingAppstatus@flhealth.gov

or

mail to:
Department of Health
Medical Quality Assurance
Board of Nursing 4052
Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-02
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3252

PROCESSING TIME: If you are submitting an name change request by mail, please allow 5-7 business days for processing. Online requests will be processed within 48 hours. Please Note: An updated license will not be automatically sent.

The Division of Medical Quality Assurance is now issuing electronic licenses, which enables you to download a PDF copy of your license within two business days. The license can be retrieved in the License Documents menu of your MQA Online Services Portal, https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal account. To learn more, please visit the electronic licensing webpage at https://flhealthsource.gov/electronic-licensing/.

Yes, you are required to notify the registry in writing of any changes in your name or address. Official notifications and renewal forms are sent to your address of record.

You can reach the registry at (850) 245-4125 or by email at MQA.CNA@flhealth.gov.

Log into your MQA Online Services Portal account and select Request Duplicate License from the “Manage My License Information” pulldown menu. Review your changes and click “Submit.”

Yes, there are three (3) exceptions which allow you to work for a maximum of four (4) months (120 days) while awaiting receipt of your Florida certification: (1) applicants enrolled in or have completed a state approved program, or (2) applicants who have been verified as being actively certified in another state, or (3) applicants who have preliminarily passed the state exam but have not yet received the certificate. (See 400.211, F.S.) All of these are at the determination of the employer.

No, the CMA must have a Florida CNA certificate in order to work as a CNA in Florida.

Medical Assistants are not licensed in Florida; however, a medical assistant may become certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants, 800-228-2262. Please see Section 458.3485, Florida Statute (F.S.) for more information regarding medical assistants.

For information regarding the regulation of HHAs in Florida, please visit the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) website at www.ahca.myflorida.com or call (888) 419-3456.

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) regulates home health agencies.  For information on what a home health agency is allowed to do, please visit the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) website at www.ahca.myflorida.com or call (888) 419-3456.

Renewal forms are no longer sent to licensees. CNA renewal postcards are sent out about 120 days before the expiration date. Licensees may renew online or print off their renewal form from our online site at: www.FLHealthSource.gov.   If you recently moved and left a forward address with the US Postal Service within the last 6 months, you will need to change your address online at www.flhealthsource.gov or submit the address change on the renewal form with the correct fees in order to renew your certificate or receive any notifications.

If you do not renew your certificate by midnight of the expiration date, your certificate becomes delinquent and you cannot work as a CNA until the certificate is renewed. In order to renew your license after the expiration date, you will need to meet the work and in-service training requirements, pay the original renewal fee and pay a delinquency fee. If the certificate is not renewed by expiration date,  two years later, your certificate will become null and void and you will have to take the CNA examination again to be certified in Florida.

The expiration date of CNA certificates now shows on the Department of Health License Verification site at: https://mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us/MQASearchServices/HealthCareProviders

If you complete a state approved training program and meet specified requirements, you might be eligible to receive reimbursement for some of your expenses. You should ask your employer (nursing homes are the only employers which do reimburse) or the district Medicaid office in your area for details.

CNA applicants may “challenge” the exam. Completion of a state approved CNA training program is not required unless the applicant has failed part of the exam three times.

You must pass both the written and the performance exam offered by the testing vendor, Prometric, to be certified as a nursing assistant in the state of Florida. The only exception to this is for approved Endorsement candidates.

Examination results are valid for two years. So, if you pass one part of the exam, you must pass the second part within two years or you will have to repeat both parts of the exam to be certified.

Yes, you must pass both parts of the examination within two years to be certified in Florida.

You must complete a Board approved CNA training program (full 120 hour program) and retake both parts of the exam. You can find a list of approved training programs at https://floridasnursing.gov/education-and-training-programs/.

No, the exams are not the same from state to state.

Florida does not require the testing for those candidates who have been verified as being actively certified and in good standing in another state. Otherwise, you will be required to take the written and performance exams in order to be placed on Florida’s Registry.

Each certified nursing assistant must complete a minimum of 24 hours of in-service training each biennium. For candidates certified during the biennium period, the training shall be prorated to 1.0 hours of in-service training per month from the month of initial certification to the end of the biennium.

It is the CNA’s responsibility to keep documentation of all in-services received. If the employer does not provide the in-service it is the CNA’s responsibility to obtain the in-services.

The biennial renewal in-service hours shall include: Blood-borne Pathogens, Infection Control; Domestic Violence; Documentation & Legal Aspects for CNAs; Resident Rights; Communication with impaired clients; CPR skills; and Medical Error Prevention/Safety. A CNA’s agency or facility may require their employees to complete specific in-service hours as part of their employment.

Yes, background screening is required by Florida law for this certificate/license. All offenses are reviewed.

If the result of his background report shows arrests and offenses, or incomplete dispositions, they will receive a notice from the Background Screening Unit requesting additional information. Depending on the types and seriousness of the offenses, the applicant’s file may go before the Board of Nursing for further review. If the Board denies the applicant’s file, the applicant will receive an official Intent to Deny Order and will have right of appeal.

That determination is made by the employer.

Each application is reviewed on its own merits. The Board of Nursing has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the Board office; however, the staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Nursing for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the Board Members when making licensure decisions.

A Level 2 background screening is a state and national background check conducted pursuant to Chapter 435, F.S. for employment.

All new CNA applications to the testing company (Prometric)  and by Endorsement will be required to have a background screen prior to certification.

The testing company includes a notice of the fees in the application bulletin for the CNA applicants by Examination. Information regarding the background requirements and screening are also reflected in the application for CNAs by Endorsement.

No, there are no refunds if the Board does not approve the candidate. This is the same as in any other health care practitioner application or testing process.

Yes. To be eligible for employment in long-term care as a certified nursing assistant, you must hold current certification and have no disqualifying offenses as outlined in Chapter 435 and Section 408.809, Florida Statutes. Licensees with a disqualifying offense may apply for an exemption (employment waiver) in order to work in certain facilities.

No, both felonies and misdemeanors may be disqualifying. The disqualifying offenses are outlined in Chapter 435 and Section 408.809, Florida Statutes.

If you hold an active CNA, LPN, RN, or APRN license you may request an exemption review through the Department of Health. If it is determined the disqualifying offenses do not make you ineligible for employment, you will be granted an exemption, thereby, allowing you to work.

This would vary from program to program. You will need to check with any prospective programs, but this will not satisfy the background screening requirements for licensure.

Yes, a new background check is required on all new applications for the CNA exam.

No, a new background check is required at time of new application for the CNA exam.

For licensure or certification by the Board of Nursing, all criminal offenses are screened and reviewed prior to licensure or certification. For employment background screening, the employer uses a specified list of disqualifying offenses pursuant to Chapter 435 and Section 408.809, Florida Statute. If the employee has one of these specified offenses, he cannot be employed until he receives an exemption.

Applicants for initial licensure are required to submit fingerprints via Livescan for a Level II background screening. Applicants who are fingerprinted after January 1, 2013 will have their prints retained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Emailed requests will be accepted, provided the email address matches the one listed on the application received from Prometric. Applicants wishing to change their CNA application route may also submit a written request by mail or fax with an original signature to our office:

4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-02
Tallahassee, FL 32329
Fax: (850) 617-6460

These requests can no longer go through Prometric. They must request the change with the board office.

CNA Applicant – EDOH0380Z

LPN/RN Applicant – EDOH4420Z

APRN Applicant – EDOH4420Z

LPN/RN Multi-State Upgrade Applicant – EDOH4420Z