The Minnesota Department of Health Nursing Assistant Registry provides the necessary information that you need when verifying the certification status of a nursing assistant in the state. It is important for employers to verify the certification of a nursing assistant first before hiring them as the state does not allow the hiring of such assistants when their names are not included in the registry. The verification can be done easily as it only takes a few simple steps to perform. The results will be provided once you have called to speak with a registry representative and provided the appropriate name and social security number for identification purposes.
Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry
P.O. Box 64501
St. Paul, MN 55164-0501
Telephone: (651) 215-8705
Toll Free in Greater Minnesota: 1-800-397-6124
Hours of Operation: M-F, 9:00a.m. and 3:00p.m.
Email: health.FPC-NAR@state.mn.us
According to the rules of the state, no one can be allowed to work as a nursing assistant in any long term care facility unless their names had been entered into the registry. To place your name on the registry, you will have to finish an accredited training program first and then successfully pass the competency exam which is conducted by the state. It involves both a written and a skills exam which has to be passed. You can also be placed in the Registry if you are currently in a good standing from another registry in the U.S.
If you wish to work in Minnesota as a nursing assistant and you have a current active license in another state, you can apply for an Interstate Endorsement Form. You can fill up the form electronically or you can download it and have it sent to the Registry. You will have to wait for about a month in order to have your name included in the state’s nurse aide registry.
To maintain an active status on the registry, you will have to provide at least eight hours of paid employment in the capacity of a nursing assistant for every 24 consecutive months. Failing to provide the said employment shall render your status inactive on the registry. You will need to contact the registry to find if your employer is included on the registry’s list and if your employment in them would qualify for the said 8 hour work. It is important to have duties and responsibilities which are congruent to the tasks of a CNA or they shall be deemed void. You will not be required to do inservice work in order to stay on the registry. You can read more about MN nurse aide requirements here.
The registry does not issue any paper or duplicate copies of your nursing assistant certification. You can however request for a copy if you have tested for the certification exam within the last 24 months. You will be asked for a small fee for the processing of the certificate. Name and address changes should be sent directly to the registry. You must furnish a copy of a legal document showing your name change and you can easily call the registry for an address change. There is an available update form which you can download from the website in order to change any personal or employment information or if you wish to provide additional information to your profile.