State terminology: Certified nursing assistant (CNA) and licensed nursing assistant (LNA). Arizona distinguishes CNA registry listing from LNA licensure. Choose the state instructions for the credential you’re seeking. Arizona nursing assistant applications ↗ · terminology checked November 5, 2026.
Sources checked November 4, 2026. Arizona State Board of Nursing.
How do I transfer my CNA credential to Arizona?
Compare the reviewed application routes to see which one fits your situation. An out-of-state credential alone does not establish eligibility.
What does CNA reciprocity mean?
States use the terms reciprocity, endorsement and transfer to describe how they review nurse aide credentials from another state. Each state defines its own process, so use the term your new state uses. Approval is not automatic. The destination state decides whether your training, testing, work history and registry status meet its rules.
A nurse aide registry is an official state list used to check nurse aide status. A competency evaluation is the state-approved nurse aide exam. Its format varies by state. This guide explains the published instructions, but the agency decides whether you qualify.
How do you become a CNA in Arizona?
To get certified by exam, you must graduate from a Board-approved nursing assistant program of at least 120 hours.
- Submit the initial exam application through the Board Nurse Portal, completion certificate, passing exam evidence and lawful-presence documentation.
- CNA certification and LNA licensure are separate credentials. CNA applicants don't submit fingerprints to the Board; LNA applicants do, along with other licensure requirements.
Official training directory: Board-approved nursing assistant program list ↗
Which pathway applies to you?
Registry CNA endorsement
Applicants choosing Arizona CNA registration.
- Out-of-state CNA status must be active or have been active within two years of application.[1]
- Provide qualifying training completion: 120 hours, or a state-approved 75-hour course plus 45 hours of nursing-assistant work.[1]
- The application requires citizenship/lawful-presence documentation.[1]
Choose CNA endorsement
Apply through the Nurse Portal and supply completion evidence.[1]
Follow the CNA screening rule
CNA endorsement does not require fingerprints to AZBN.[1]
Official route: Nurse Portal. [1] Open agency instructions ↗
Licensed Nursing Assistant endorsement
Applicants choosing the distinct LNA license.
- Out-of-state CNA status must be active or have been active within two years of application.[1]
- Provide qualifying training completion: 120 hours, or a state-approved 75-hour course plus 45 hours of nursing-assistant work.[1]
- The application requires citizenship/lawful-presence documentation.[1]
Choose LNA endorsement
Apply through the Nurse Portal, not the RN/LPN application.[1]
Complete LNA screening
Fingerprints are required unless submitted to AZBN within two years; a DPS clearance card is not a substitute.[1]
Official route: Nurse Portal. [1] Open agency instructions ↗
What if you previously held a nurse aide credential in Arizona?
Prior destination credentials require agency confirmation; a new interstate application is not assumed to replace renewal or reinstatement.
Who sends registry verification?
Follow the receiving agency’s verification instructions.
What exceptions apply?
No additional exception is listed in the reviewed sources.
What else should you know?
CNA and LNA are different Arizona credentials. An LNA also requires fingerprints and fees, and the Board has broader jurisdiction over LNAs for unprofessional conduct.[1]
What fees does the state publish?
| Item | What the source says |
|---|---|
| Registry CNA endorsement: CNA endorsement | $50; card payment adds $2 or 2.2%, whichever is greater; eCheck has no processing charge.[2] |
| Licensed Nursing Assistant endorsement: LNA endorsement and background check | $50 endorsement plus $50 background check; payment processing may add a separate fee.[2] |
What should you confirm with the agency?
- Prior Arizona CNA/LNA return pathways and case-specific verification alternatives need Board confirmation.
- The FAQ abbreviates training to 75 hours; use the explicit endorsement requirements, which also specify the 45 work hours for that route.
The state decides eligibility and approval. This guide does not grant a credential.
What will the Arizona planner ask?
- Which pathway applies to you? (Registry CNA endorsement, Licensed Nursing Assistant endorsement)
- Have you previously been listed as a CNA or held an LNA license in Arizona? (Yes, No, I’m not sure)
Sources
- AZBN application requirements ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · Certified Nursing Assistant / Licensed Nursing Assistant by Endorsement; separate from the RN and LPN sections.
- AZBN Agency Fees ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · Initial Exam and Endorsement Applications; Payment Processing Fee Change
- Arizona Board of Nursing renew your license ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · Board renewal page, CNA/LNA tab: renew every 2 years; 8 paid hours in the last 2 years (LNA 160); CNA renewal fee $0; $10 late fee per year worked after expiration.