State terminology: Certified nurse aide (CNA). Michigan issues a nurse aide certificate of registration. Michigan Nurse Aide Registry ↗ · terminology checked November 5, 2026.
Sources checked November 4, 2026. Michigan LARA, Bureau of Community and Health Systems, Nurse and Medication Aide Section.
How do I transfer my CNA credential to Michigan?
Route to review: MI-NATES reciprocity. Check all the conditions for this route. 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 Michigan?
Michigan training programs are at least 75 hours: 16 classroom hours, 16 clinical hours and 43 more hours of any mix of classroom, lab or clinical training. Lab and clinical hours must be in person.
- You must complete at least 16 classroom hours before you have direct contact with residents.
- Apply through MI-NATES and take the competency evaluation from Headmaster. You must pass both the written and skills parts.
Official training directory: MI approved training-program directory ↗
Which pathway applies to you?
MI-NATES reciprocity
Approved original training/testing plus active registry
- You must be in good standing in a state that Michigan lists as meeting its reciprocity requirements.[1] [2]
This route may not apply to:
- Training/testing in unapproved state
Check original program state
Use the live approved-state list; current registry state alone does not establish eligibility.[1]
Set up MILogin and MI-NATES
Request MI-NATES access and create a profile using Chrome or Edge. LARA's page notes that some users currently see an "ERROR ID: 2029" message when signing in to MiLogin or opening MI-NATES; if that happens, report it to the registry as LARA's page explains.[1]
Choose Reciprocity and submit
Enter current registry state/number, attest active good standing, e-sign and pay in MI-NATES.[2]
Official route: online. [1] Open agency instructions ↗
What if you previously held a nurse aide credential in Michigan?
Prior Michigan credential: renewal/lapse rules apply. Under 24 months lapsed may renew with qualifying work; over 24 months or insufficient work requires training/testing and new initial application.[1]
Who sends registry verification?
Inbound public guide asks registry details and attestation; no applicant-arranged authority verification rule found. Outbound Michigan regulators should use online registry; Michigan does not complete paper forms.[2] [1]
What exceptions apply?
No additional exception is listed in the reviewed sources.
What else should you know?
The current registry page lists a $40 fee. Confirm the fee in the portal before paying.[1]
Approved training/testing states: AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MS MO NE NV NH NJ NM NY ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT WA WI WY.[1]
What fees does the state publish?
| Item | What the source says |
|---|---|
| MI-NATES reciprocity: Registration | $40[1] |
What should you confirm with the agency?
- Processing time is not guaranteed.
- Confirm the current MI-NATES steps and the prior-Michigan route with LARA.
The state decides eligibility and approval. This guide does not grant a credential.
What will the Michigan planner ask?
- Is your current nurse aide credential active? (Yes, No, I’m not sure)
- Have you previously held CNA certification in Michigan? (Yes, No, I’m not sure)
- Where did you originally train and pass the competency exam? (Choose from all 50 states and DC)
Sources
- Nurse Aide Registry ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · Reciprocity-Out of State; approved states; Renewal; outbound reciprocity
- MI-NATES User Guide 3/10/2025 ↗
Checked November 3, 2026 · PDF page 6 Reciprocity option; pages 7-8 submission