CNA License Renewal in California (2026)

CNA license renewal in California is handled by the California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program, which requires Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)s to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

California CNA renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	A CNA certificate must be renewed every two years before its expiration date. If it has lapsed for less than two years, it can only be reactivated by passing the Competency Evaluation Examination.
CE hours required	48 hours
Renewal fee	see board (fee not fixed/published)
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program

Go to the official California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program. review of CDPH CNA renewal page (verified via scrape; CDPH had a TLS cert-chain issue on direct fetch).

Continuing-education requirements for CNAs in California

Renewal requires documenting (form CDPH 283A) 48 hours of in-service training / CE completed during the two-year period, with at least 12 hours in each year; up to 24 of the 48 may be from a CDPH-approved online program. The renewal application also asks you to list CNA/health-care employment held during the period.

Need approved hours? Compare California CNA CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your CNA license in California

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program portal.
Complete the required 48 CE hours.
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: No renewal fee is published on the official CDPH renewal page, so the fee is left null rather than assumed. Federal rules generally require a CNA to perform paid nursing-related services to keep certification active, but CDPH does not publish a specific paid-work-hour threshold, so none is asserted here.

CNA license renewal in California: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my CNA license in California?

California CNA licenses renew every 24 months. A CNA certificate must be renewed every two years before its expiration date. If it has lapsed for less than two years, it can only be reactivated by passing the Competency Evaluation Examination.

How many CE hours are required to renew an CNA license in California?

Approximately 48 continuing-education hours per cycle. Renewal requires documenting (form CDPH 283A) 48 hours of in-service training / CE completed during the two-year period, with at least 12 hours in each year; up to 24 of the 48 may be from a CDPH-approved online program. The renewal application also asks you to list CNA/health-care employment held during the period. Confirm the current requirement with the California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program.

Can I renew my California CNA license online?

Yes — California offers online renewal through the California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program. Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my California CNA license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. Late or reactivation fees may apply. Contact the California Department of Public Health — Licensing and Certification Program promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) renewal