State terminology: Nurse aide certification. Tennessee Health Facilities Commission: Nurse Aide Programs and Registry ↗ · terminology checked November 6, 2026.
Tennessee at a glance
| Agency and any testing or registry providers | Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, Nurse Aide Programs and Registry |
|---|---|
| Official state hub | Open the official state page ↗ |
| Training guidance | Standard route reviewed · checked November 4, 2026 |
| Transfer guidance | Standard route reviewed · checked November 4, 2026 |
| Renewal guidance | See Tennessee CNA renewal requirements |
Training sources checked November 4, 2026. Standard route reviewed.
How do you become a CNA in Tennessee?
Complete an approved nurse-aide training program and the state competency examination, using the current HFC/Credentia handbook and platform.[1] [2] Completing training alone does not give you a state credential. Before enrolling, check the state’s testing requirements and what it takes to get the credential or be listed on the registry.
What else should you know about training?
- HFC oversees approved nurse-aide training and competency evaluation and publishes a training-program search.[1]
- Credentia became the nurse-aide registry and testing vendor on June 1, 2026.[1]
- The agency identifies free training/testing for candidates in nursing-home-based programs who are employed by a skilled nursing facility; private program charges vary.[1]
- You must pass the state exam within two years of finishing an approved training program. You get three attempts at the skills exam and three at the knowledge exam. If you fail either one three times, or two years pass, you must retrain. Certification is valid for 24 months.[1] [3]
Where can you find training programs?
Tennessee HFC-approved nurse aide training program search ↗[1] Before you enroll, confirm with the state that the exact program and training site are currently approved. Check the total hours, clinical placement and costs as well.
What should you confirm with the state?
- The reviewed state sources do not state one clear initial training-hour minimum. Confirm the current total with the state.
- Use the current vendor page and confirm the handbook and fee.
Where did this information come from?
- Tennessee Nurse Aide Programs and Registry ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · HFC Nurse Aide page (reviewed from page text captured November 4, 2026): Credentia became the registry and testing vendor June 1, 2026; exam within 24 months of training; renewal every 2 years with 8 hours worked in 24 months; reinstatement proof for each year; reciprocity from all states except Florida.
- Tennessee nurse aide — Credentia ↗
Checked November 3, 2026 · Current state testing resources
- Credentia Tennessee: Eligibility Criteria ↗
Checked November 4, 2026 · E1 New Nurse Aide: training completed within the last 24 months; three attempts each at the skills and knowledge exams; retrain after a third failure or once two years have passed.
See reviewed CNA training programs →
How do you transfer an out-of-state nurse aide credential to Tennessee?
Agency and any providers named in the sources: Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, Nurse Aide Programs and Registry. Sources checked November 4, 2026. This summary does not decide individual eligibility.
Which pathway applies to you?
Tennessee reciprocity — Active out-of-state nurse aides without abuse or other derogatory registry information.
Key requirement: The sending-state certification must be active with no abuse or derogatory information.
What are the first steps for Tennessee reciprocity?
Use the current testing-agency route
Tennessee identifies Credentia as its registry/testing vendor from June 1, 2026.
Submit the online reciprocity application
Select Tennessee in the current Credentia state directory and follow its document instructions.
What exceptions apply?
- Living in Florida — Tennessee does not accept Florida reciprocity. A person living in Florida must retrain and retest in Tennessee to become certified.
What else should you know?
- Tennessee certification is valid for 24 months. Renewal requires verification of at least eight hours of CNA work during the 24-month period in a licensed or certified healthcare facility.
What should you confirm?
- Confirm portal-only requirements and the fee with the agency.
- Published processing descriptions are not guaranteed approval times.
What will the Tennessee planner ask?
- Which pathway applies to you? (Tennessee reciprocity)
- Have you previously held nurse aide certification in Tennessee? (Yes, No, I’m not sure)
How do you renew or maintain your nurse aide credential in Tennessee?
The state sets the renewal cycle and any requirements for work hours and continuing education. This section summarizes the sources we reviewed. Follow the official instructions if they differ.
| Renewal cycle | Every 2 years. Certification lasts 24 months. |
|---|---|
| Paid work requirement | Proof that you worked at least 8 hours in the past 24 months in a licensed or certified healthcare facility. Use a pay stub, a payroll printout, or a notarized attestation form completed by the facility. Private duty, sitter, companion and private physician office work don't count. |
| CE or in-service | The Health Facilities Commission's renewal instructions list proof of work, not continuing education. |
| Renewal window | Since June 1, 2026, renewals go through Credentia: create a Credentia account and submit your renewal online. HFC's page doesn't list a renewal fee. |
| If the credential lapses | If your certification expires, you must reinstate it, which takes more documentation than a renewal: proof of 8 hours worked each year, starting the year before it expired and continuing through the current year. If you can't show continuous CNA work in a certified facility, you must retrain and retest. |
Tennessee CNA certification lasts 24 months. To renew every 2 years, you show that you worked at least 8 hours in a licensed or certified healthcare facility during that time, using a pay stub, payroll printout or notarized attestation. Private duty, sitter and companion work don't count. Renewals go through Credentia online. HFC's renewal instructions list proof of work, not continuing education. If your certification expires, reinstating it takes proof of 8 hours worked for each year; otherwise you must retrain and retest.
Source: Tennessee HFC Nurse Aide Information ↗
Open the official Tennessee registry or agency page ↗ · Compare CNA renewal requirements by state