New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry

New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry
ATTN: Nurse Aide Registry
5301 Central Avenue NE
Suite 1510 – Room 11
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108
Telephone:  505-861-9680
Fax: 505-841-6551
Email:  [email protected]


Full information can be found here:  https://www.nmhealth.org/about/dhi/hflc/prop/nar/

The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) and the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) regulate the training and certification of CNAs in New Mexico. Prometric has been assigned to manage the New Mexico CNA registry and administer the New Mexico NACE (Nurse Aide Competency Examination).

Initial Certification for Nurse Aides in New Mexico

An individual seeking to get certification as a nurse aide for the first time in the state of New Mexico should take the following steps:

  1. Complete training course for nurse aides approved by the state of New Mexico.
  2. Complete the application to test (see below)
  3. Take and pass the two-part competency examination at the scheduled testing location.

Once you pass the examination, Prometric will mail a certificate to you and add your name to the Certified Nurse Aide Registry.

Certification Routes for CNAs in New Mexico

  • Route 1—New NM Trained Nurse Aide
  • Route 2—Military Trained
  • Route 3—Graduate RN/LPN
  • Route 4—Out-of-State Nurse Aide (Expired certificate)
  • Route 5—Foreign Train or Out-of-State Nurse/Nurse Aide (RN/LPN/NA)
  • Route 6—Nurse Student (RN/LPN)
  • Route 7—Expired NM Nurse Aide Certificate – Less than 24 Months Ago
  • Route 8—Expired NM Nurse Aide Certificate – More than 24 Months Ago
  • Route 9—Expired NM Nurse Aide Certificate – Retrained

Renewal of CNA Certification in New Mexico

New Mexico CNA certificates must be renewed every 24 months. To be eligible to apply for renewal of certification, you must meet the minimum requirements for renewal.

  • Performing at least 8 hours of paid nurse aide duties under nurse supervision within the last 24-month certification period.
  • Your record with the NM Certified Nurse Aide Registry must be free of Medicaid fraud, misappropriation of resident property, or resident abuse or neglect.
The CNA schools displayed in this section offer tuition-based programs.

You must fill out the certification renewal application and include all required documents, including copy of documents supporting name changes if name changes apply. Upon assessing your application and deeming your eligible for recertification, the registry will issue a new certificate that will expire 24 months from the date of your last reported employment.

Certification by Reciprocity

Nurse aides holding certificates from another US state can transfer their certificate to the CNA registry in New Mexico without testing or training. Via certification by reciprocity, out-of-state certified CNAs will be granted a new NM Certificate. They need to apply for certification by reciprocity to the HFLC (Health Facility Licensing and Certification Bureau) in the Division of Health Improvement at the New Mexico Department of Health.

Certification by reciprocity (PDF download)