Texas Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)

1. 1
   Qualify via an HHSC-published route (approved NATCEP + exam; reciprocity from another state registry; or exam-only routes including equivalent military training ≥100 hours after July 1, 1989)

   Sources:Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry · Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)

   • Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry
     Exam-only exemption routes include: after July 1, 1989, successful completion of **military training of 100 hours or more that is equivalent to civilian nurse aide training** (TULIP eligibility route: “Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training”). Fail either skills or written/oral exam may retest twice; after three total attempts must retrain. Reciprocity requires active registry status in another compliant state.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-FAQ
   • Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
     Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry — routes to become a Certified Nurse Aide include approved NATCEP + exam, reciprocity from another state registry, military-spouse waiver options, and exam-only routes documented on HHSC pages / TULIP. Applicants use TULIP portal.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-BECOME
2. 2
   Submit application through TULIP and complete Prometric nurse aide exam (written/oral + skills) as directed after eligibility approval

   Sources:Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry · Texas HHSC

   • Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry
     Exam-only exemption routes include: after July 1, 1989, successful completion of **military training of 100 hours or more that is equivalent to civilian nurse aide training** (TULIP eligibility route: “Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training”). Fail either skills or written/oral exam may retest twice; after three total attempts must retrain. Reciprocity requires active registry status in another compliant state.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-FAQ
   • Texas HHSC
     HHSC maintains the Texas Nurse Aide Registry for CNAs authorized to work in nursing facilities / SNFs; applications via TULIP as of July 5, 2023.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-HHSC-NAR
3. 3
   Complete required criminal history / Employee Misconduct Registry checks as part of HHSC process

   Sources:Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) · Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry

   • Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
     Texas HHSC Nurse Aide Registry — routes to become a Certified Nurse Aide include approved NATCEP + exam, reciprocity from another state registry, military-spouse waiver options, and exam-only routes documented on HHSC pages / TULIP. Applicants use TULIP portal.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-BECOME
   • Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry
     Exam-only exemption routes include: after July 1, 1989, successful completion of **military training of 100 hours or more that is equivalent to civilian nurse aide training** (TULIP eligibility route: “Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training”). Fail either skills or written/oral exam may retest twice; after three total attempts must retrain. Reciprocity requires active registry status in another compliant state.
     confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
     Citation id

     SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-FAQ

• TULIP application + supporting military training documentation
• Prometric exam fees / scheduling
• DPS/criminal history documentation as required
• If military hours not accepted as equivalent: complete approved NATCEP

1. 1
   Gather training documentation (AIT transcripts/JST) showing healthcare training hours.
2. 2
   Create TULIP account; select New Nurse Aide by Exam → Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training (or NATCEP/reciprocity if that fits better).

   • VA licensing and certification test reimbursement

     Needs expert review

     You can use part of your entitlement to cover the costs of tests (no more than $2,000 per test) for a job that requires a license or certification, even if you are already receiving other education benefits. VA pays back the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, and charges entitlement based on the amount paid back. To get paid back, you must already be covered under Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35). This page does not say a specific pathway step or state fee is covered. This tag is attached because the step mentions an exam. It does not say this exam qualifies.

     Funding source (opens in the browser)Retrieved 2026-09-27. Sign-off not recorded.

3. 3
   Complete criminal history steps HHSC requires; schedule Prometric exam when eligible.

   • VA licensing and certification test reimbursement

     Needs expert review

     You can use part of your entitlement to cover the costs of tests (no more than $2,000 per test) for a job that requires a license or certification, even if you are already receiving other education benefits. VA pays back the cost of the test, including registration and administrative fees, and charges entitlement based on the amount paid back. To get paid back, you must already be covered under Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35). This page does not say a specific pathway step or state fee is covered. This tag is attached because the step mentions an exam. It does not say this exam qualifies.

     Funding source (opens in the browser)Retrieved 2026-09-27. Sign-off not recorded.

4. 4
   After passing, confirm Active status on Texas Nurse Aide Registry before facility employment.

• Military training of 100+ hours equivalent to civilian nurse aide training may qualify for the TULIP exam route “Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training” (after July 1, 1989) — may satisfy training exemption for exam eligibility

  Caveat: HHSC decides equivalency from documentation; not an automatic CNA certificate. Verify with HHSC.

  Sources:Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry

  • Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry
    Exam-only exemption routes include: after July 1, 1989, successful completion of **military training of 100 hours or more that is equivalent to civilian nurse aide training** (TULIP eligibility route: “Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training”). Fail either skills or written/oral exam may retest twice; after three total attempts must retrain. Reciprocity requires active registry status in another compliant state.
    confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
    Citation id

    SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-FAQ
• Clinical skills from 68W may help skills exam performance

  Caveat: Not a regulatory credit; exam still required

  Sources:Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry

  • Texas HHSC — Nurse Aide Registry
    Exam-only exemption routes include: after July 1, 1989, successful completion of **military training of 100 hours or more that is equivalent to civilian nurse aide training** (TULIP eligibility route: “Nurse Aide With Equivalent Military Training”). Fail either skills or written/oral exam may retest twice; after three total attempts must retrain. Reciprocity requires active registry status in another compliant state.
    confidence: highsourced/curated: 2026-09-10Official link (opens in the browser)
    Citation id

    SRC-TX-HHSC-CNA-FAQ

Verify on the licensing authority's own pages before paying a fee.

• hhs.texas.gov (opens in the browser)
• hhs.texas.gov (opens in the browser)
• hhs.texas.gov (opens in the browser)