State terminology: Certified nursing assistant (CNA). Georgia DCH licensing fees ↗ · terminology checked November 5, 2026.
Sources checked November 4, 2026. Georgia Department of Community Health; Alliant Health Solutions Nurse Aide Program.
How do I transfer my CNA credential to Georgia?
Review the agency instructions and the details that still need confirmation before choosing a pathway.
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 Georgia?
Georgia training programs must include at least 85 hours, with at least 24 hours of clinical rotation in a facility supervised by an approved RN or LPN. Facility orientation doesn't count toward the 24 clinical hours.
- Credentia gives Georgia's written (or oral) and skills competency exams and sends results electronically for your registry listing.
- After finishing training, you get three attempts to pass the written or oral exam and the skills exam within one year. If you don't pass by the third attempt, you must take a training program again.
Official training directory: GA approved training-program directory ↗
Which pathway applies to you?
Registry listing by reciprocity
Active, good-standing out-of-state CNA with qualifying paid work, or an active CNA who must retest in Georgia
- Current active certification in good standing on another state registry, with no pending or substantiated abuse, neglect or property findings.[2] [3]
- At least eight hours of paid CNA work under registered nurse supervision in the past two years. Private-duty work must be under LPN or RN supervision, with a notarized statement from the nurse and proof of pay.[2]
- If you have no CNA work in the past two years, the form says an active-status CNA must retest in Georgia. The registry emails test instructions after it reviews your reciprocity form. Maryland CNAs must be a GNA to be considered.[2]
Prepare the current application
Use the current Alliant reciprocity form and provide the registry card or printout, Social Security card, photo ID and paid-work evidence requested by the form.[2]
Submit through the public online forms
Select reciprocity through the public online forms; do not use the training-program login. Attach records as directed.[1] [4]
If you must retest
Follow the test instructions the Georgia registry emails you after it reviews your reciprocity form.[2]
Official route: online. [1] [4] Open agency instructions ↗
What if you previously held a nurse aide credential in Georgia?
Check any previous Georgia listing first. The manual distinguishes renewal, no-work retesting and retraining when expired one year or more; do not assume reciprocity bypasses a prior Georgia record.[3]
Who sends registry verification?
Georgia checks the current-state online registry; if it is unavailable, Georgia mails authority verification. Do not assume every applicant must route a Section C form.[2]
What exceptions apply?
No qualifying CNA work in two years
Current form says active CNA must retest; await emailed test instructions after review.[2]
Private-duty work
Requires LPN/RN supervision, notarized duties/dates statement with nurse license and payment proof.[2]
Maryland origin
The form says Maryland CNAs must be a GNA. Ask the Georgia registry how it treats your current Maryland credential.[2]
What else should you know?
Portal stops certification cards; form still describes mailing cards. Omit card promises.[1] [2]
Manual says ten business days for transfer review; the form says allow fourteen when web-verifiable, and longer for mailed verification. These are not guaranteed turnaround times.[3] [2]
What fees does the state publish?
The reviewed source does not publish an amount for the following item: Registry listing. Confirm the current charge with the agency before paying.
What should you confirm with the agency?
- Confirm the exact registry card or printout and current review time with Alliant.
- Confirm the full digital form and the route for applicants who previously held Georgia certification.
The state decides eligibility and approval. This guide does not grant a credential.
What will the Georgia planner ask?
- Which pathway applies to you? (Registry listing by reciprocity)
- Have you previously held CNA certification in Georgia? (Yes, No, I’m not sure)
Sources
- Georgia Nurse Aide Program portal ↗
Checked November 3, 2026 · Current notices, digital submissions and card policy
- Reciprocity Form October 2025 ↗
Checked November 3, 2026 · Two pages; Part I-II and Sections A-B; current Resources Forms link
- DCH Nurse Aide Training Program manual October 1, 2026 ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · PDF pages 8, 25, 42-44; Sections 808-812
- Online submission forms ↗
Checked November 3, 2026 · Public Step 1 form selector; no CNA login required
- Current Forms resources ↗
Checked November 3, 2026 · Reciprocity form link
- Georgia Nurse Aide Registry renewal form and instructions ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · PDF page 1: eight paid hours per 24 months; retraining threshold measured from last recertification, not expiration. Page 3: no renewal fee.