Tennessee CNA Registry & TMU
Lookup, Renewal & Reciprocity — Career Academy Memphis
Last updated: June 2026
2026 update: TMU is now Credentia
Effective June 1, 2026, the State of Tennessee replaced TMU (TestMaster Universe, operated by D&S Diversified Technologies–Headmaster) with Credentia as its nurse aide testing and registry vendor. The old tn.tmutest.com portal is being retired. For the current registry lookup, exam scheduling, and renewal, use the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission's nurse aide page, which links to Credentia:
Your existing CNA certification and registry number carry over — your status didn't change, only the vendor.
What Is the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry?
The Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry is the official state list of every active Certified Nursing Assistant in Tennessee. It's maintained by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and, as of June 1, 2026, administered by Credentia — the state's nurse aide testing and registry vendor, replacing the former TMU portal. Look up a license through the Health Facilities Commission's nurse aide page.
A CNA must appear on the registry in good standing to legally work in any Medicare- or Medicaid-certified Tennessee facility, per federal regulation 42 CFR 483.156 and Tennessee Code Annotated § 68-11-1601 et seq.
Sources: Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (state authority); Credentia (state nurse aide vendor since June 2026); 42 CFR 483.156 (federal Nurse Aide Registry requirements).
Credentia vs. the Health Facilities Commission — Who Does What
| TN Health Facilities Commission | Credentia (vendor since June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Statutory authority over the Nurse Aide Registry | Operates the registry database and records |
| Issues CNA certifications and rules on registry standing | Hosts the public license-lookup portal |
| Reviews reciprocity applications from out-of-state CNAs | Administers the TN CNA state competency exam |
| Handles findings (abuse, neglect, theft) appeals | Registers training programs and exam testing sites |
Credentia handles the day-to-day operational pieces (testing, the lookup portal, training-program registration), but every CNA license is ultimately issued by the State of Tennessee through the Health Facilities Commission. If you need to dispute a finding or appeal a registry decision, contact the Health Facilities Commission directly — the vendor cannot override state actions. (This vendor was TMU through May 2026.)
How to Look Up a CNA License in Tennessee
- 1Open the state registry lookup. Go to the Health Facilities Commission nurse aide page , which links to the current Credentia registry search. (As of June 2026, Credentia replaced the former TMU portal at tn.tmutest.com.)
- 2Select the public registry search. No login or account is required.
- 3Enter the CNA's information. First name, last name, and date of birth — or the CNA registry number if you have it.
- 4Review the result. The portal returns certification status, expiration date, registry number, and any findings (abuse, neglect, theft). For employment, verify that status shows Active and there are no findings.
The lookup is free and returns instantly. Tennessee employers in Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities are legally required to verify good standing before hiring or assigning a CNA to patient care.
How to Renew Your Tennessee CNA License
Tennessee CNA “renewal” is not an application or fee — it's a work requirement. To stay active on the registry, a CNA must work at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide duties every 24 months.
If you're working as a CNA
Your employer reports your hours to the state registry (now administered by Credentia) automatically. Status stays Active as long as 8+ paid hours are logged within any rolling 24-month period.
If your status has lapsed
You'll need to retake the full 120-hour CNA training program plus the state competency exam. There is no shorter “refresher” path under current TN rules.
Get recertified at Career Academy →To check your renewal status, look up your name through the state registry (linked from the Health Facilities Commission's nurse aide page) and review the expiration date.
Tennessee CNA Reciprocity
Coming to Tennessee from another state
Out-of-state CNAs apply for placement on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry through a reciprocity / endorsement application filed with the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (processed through Credentia as of June 2026). The application requires proof of current certification in good standing in another state. Approval typically takes 2–6 weeks. No retesting is required if your originating state's program met the federal 75-hour minimum — which is true of every state.
Leaving Tennessee for another state
Tennessee's 120-hour CNA program exceeds the federal 75-hour minimum, so TN CNAs in good standing can apply for reciprocity in virtually any other state. Each state has its own application process, but most accept TN CNAs via straightforward endorsement.
Common bordering-state reciprocity:
- Mississippi — via the Mississippi State Department of Health. Required for Southaven, Olive Branch, and other DeSoto County jobs — see CNA classes near Southaven for details.
- Arkansas — via the Arkansas Office of Long Term Care Nurse Aide Registry.
- Kentucky — via the Kentucky Medicaid Nurse Aide Registry administered by KMA Records Department.
What “Good Standing” Means
A CNA is in good standing when:
- Their certification is Active (not expired or revoked)
- There are no findings entered against them — meaning no documented abuse, neglect, or theft incidents substantiated by an investigation
- All required continuing-employment hours have been logged (8 hours of paid nurse aide work in the past 24 months)
Federal law (42 CFR 483.156) prohibits Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities from employing CNAs who are not in good standing. Findings are permanent on the registry unless successfully appealed.
Not certified yet — or need to recertify?
Whether you're starting fresh or your certification has lapsed, getting (back) on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry means completing a state-approved 120-hour CNA program and passing the state competency exam. Career Academy is a Tennessee Higher Education Commission–authorized CNA school (THEC Authorization #2580) and a registered state exam testing site — we can place you in the next available cohort.
See class start datesTN CNA Registry (Credentia & TMU) — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry?
The Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry is the official state list of every active Certified Nursing Assistant in Tennessee. It's maintained by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission and, as of June 1, 2026, administered by Credentia — the state's nurse aide testing and registry vendor. A CNA must be on the registry in good standing to work in any Medicare/Medicaid-certified Tennessee facility.
What happened to TMU? Is TMU still the Tennessee CNA registry?
No. Through May 2026, TMU (TestMaster Universe, operated by D&S Diversified Technologies–Headmaster) administered Tennessee's nurse aide registry and testing at tn.tmutest.com. Effective June 1, 2026, the state replaced TMU with Credentia. Use the Credentia registry — linked from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission's nurse aide page at tn.gov/hfc — for lookups, testing, and renewals. Your existing certification and registry number carry over; only the vendor changed.
How do I look up a CNA license in Tennessee?
Go to the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission's nurse aide page (tn.gov/hfc), which links to the current Credentia registry search, and look up the CNA by first name, last name, and date of birth — or by registry number. The result shows certification status, expiration date, and whether the CNA is in good standing. The lookup is free and needs no account.
How do I renew my CNA license in Tennessee?
Tennessee CNAs must work at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide duties every 24 months to stay active on the registry. Renewal happens automatically when the employer reports those hours to the state registry — there is no separate renewal application or fee for an active CNA. If you have not worked 8+ paid hours as a CNA in 24 months, your status moves to expired and you'll need to retest.
What does "good standing" on the TN registry mean?
A CNA is in good standing if their certification is active (not expired or revoked) and has no abuse, neglect, or theft finding entered against them. Employers verify good standing on the state registry (administered by Credentia as of June 2026) before hiring. Federal law (42 CFR 483.156) prohibits Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities from employing CNAs who are not in good standing on the state registry.
Can I work in Tennessee with a CNA license from another state?
Yes, through reciprocity / endorsement. Out-of-state CNAs apply for placement on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry by submitting a reciprocity application to the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (processed through Credentia as of June 2026) with proof of current certification in good standing in another state. Approval typically takes 2–6 weeks. No retesting is required if the originating state's program met federal 75-hour minimum standards.
Can I take my Tennessee CNA license to another state?
Yes. Tennessee's 120-hour CNA program exceeds the federal 75-hour minimum, so TN CNAs in good standing can apply for reciprocity in virtually any other state. Each state has its own reciprocity application process — typically a form, fee, and proof of TN registry status. Mississippi, Arkansas, and Kentucky all accept TN CNAs via standard endorsement.
What happens if my CNA license expires in Tennessee?
If you have not worked 8+ paid nurse aide hours in 24 months, your status becomes expired and you cannot work as a CNA in TN until reactivated. Reactivation requires either retaking the full 120-hour training program plus the state exam, or in some cases passing the state competency exam alone. Career Academy can place expired CNAs into the next available cohort.
Is the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry the same as the TN Health Care Worker Registry?
No. The Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry is specifically for CNAs and lists their certification status. The Tennessee Department of Health maintains separate listings for other healthcare workers (LPNs, RNs, etc.) through different licensure boards. CNA verification only happens via the Nurse Aide Registry, which the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission administers through Credentia (the state's vendor since June 2026).
Authoritative Sources
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission — Nurse Aide Information — state authority and current registry links.
- Credentia — Tennessee's nurse aide testing and registry vendor since June 1, 2026 (replaced TMU / tn.tmutest.com).
- 42 CFR 483.156 — federal Nurse Aide Registry requirements.
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0720-18-.15 — Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation — current state rule governing CNA training and registry placement.
Learn More
- How to Become a CNA in Tennessee — full step-by-step from application to state exam
- CNA to LPN in Memphis — already certified? the next step up in your healthcare career
- CNA State Test in Tennessee — what to expect on exam day
- CNA Classes in Memphis — how the training program works
- CNA Classes Near Southaven, MS — TN-MS reciprocity practical guide
Written by Career Academy staff — CNA educators with 10+ years of experience training nursing assistants in Memphis, TN.
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