Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Nurse Aide Certification Program
What This Board Does
The Nurse Aide Certification Program administers the certification of nurse aides in Hawaii, including testing, registry maintenance, and oversight of training programs, in compliance with federal Medicaid requirements under OBRA 87. It determines whether applicants meet competency standards through written and skills testing, maintains the Hawaii Nurse Aide Registry, and tracks substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation by certified aides. Certification is required to work as a nurse aide in a Medicare or Medicaid-certified facility.
Why You Should Care
If you or a family member receives care in a nursing facility, the certification standards and background check process this program administers are the primary quality safeguard for the aides providing daily hands-on care.