Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

1.   Work history from providers or agencies listed with the registry (providers or agencies who have a facility code) shall be reported by mailing an official NAT-7 form to the registry or by electronic submission using LARS. The NAT-7 form is available by contacting the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry at 225 295-8575 or 5647 Superior Drive, Baton Rouge, LA  70816.  Questions regarding LARS will be answered by calling the registry, also. 

2.  Work history from providers or agencies not listed with the registry (providers or agencies that do not have a facility code) shall be reported by the individual or provider sending a letter, on letterhead (letter shall be notarized if letterhead is computer generated).  The letter shall be signed and dated by the Administrator, Director of Nursing or an official of the Human Resources Office.  The letter must contain:

a. the name and social security number of the aide

b. the date (month, day and year) the aide began working

c. the date (month, day and year) the aide last worked there

d. the duties performed by the aide

e. the rate of pay

f. an address and phone number where the aide can be reached                   

3.  Work history from providers who employ nurse aides through staffing agencies should be reported by the provider or agency via an official NAT-7 form (if the provider or agency has a facility code) to the registry.  Since the individual is employed through a staffing agency and the provider is merely attesting to the work actually performed and the period of time worked; the provider may indicate (somewhere on the form) that they were employed through a staffing agency.      

NOTE: Private duty verification is only accepted for work performed until December 31, 2004.   

Effective January 1, 2005, only work history from approved settings such as: nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, personal care attendant agencies, assisted living programs, hospice agencies, respite agencies, supervised independent living agencies, adult day health care programs and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ICF/DD) programs is accepted.  Duties performed in supervised independent living agencies, adult day health care programs and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ICF/DD) programs require a description of the duties performed to determine whether those duties meet the criteria of "nursing or nurse related".

4.  Private duty work (only for employment prior to January 1, 2005) must have been performed for monetary compensation.  Volunteer work or working for a family member is not acceptable.  This verification shall be mailed; faxes will not be accepted.  Verification of work performed through private duty shall be a letter written by the individual the aide cared for, his/her legal guardian or a member of their family. The letter shall be signed by the responsible party and be notarized. It shall include:

a. the name and social security number of the aide

b. the date (month, day and year) the aide began working

c. the date (month, day and year) the aide last worked there

d. the duties performed by the aide

e. the rate of pay

f. an address and phone number where the aide can be reached

g.an address and phone number where the responsible party can be reached between the hours of 7:30AM and 3:30 p.m.

Note: The contents of the letter will be verified.  Attach a copy of the W-2 form(s) for the date(s) worked.  The W-2 form(s) must bear the name of the employer.  If the W-2 form(s) is not available; provide a copy of a canceled paycheck for the period of time worked (copy shall be of the front and back of the check).

Work history and/or supporting documentation required shall be mailed to the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry, 5647 Superior Drive, Baton Rouge, LA  70816.                       

Complete the "Request for Facility Code - Designated Signature Form".  The form will be reviewed to determine whether your agency meets the criteria necessary to be assigned a facility code by the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry.  Mail the original form, completed in its entirety, to the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry, 5647 Superior Drive, Baton Rouge, La.  70816.  Incomplete forms will be returned to you.  The registry will send written notification of whether your agency meets the criteria for a facility code.  If assigned a facility code, please be advised that:                                                                                                                                      

* Completion of the "request for facility code/designated signature" form indicates you agree to adhere to all policies and procedures which include completing the NAT-7 form on all certified nurse aides who are hired and terminated (regardless of the reason for termination).  The NAT-7 form must be mailed to the registry once the aide has worked a minimum of eight (8) hours and immediately upon termination.                               

The reciprocity process allows for an aide who is certified on a Nurse Aide Registry in one state to transfer the certification to another state. 

1. A nurse aide certified in another state who wishes to transfer that certification to Louisiana shall complete a reciprocity form using the directions below. The reciprocity form and the list of state registries is available at:

Reciprocity Form & Listing of State Registrie

a. Print the reciprocity form and complete the top part.

b. Attach verification of your certification from the state where you are currently registered.

This verification shall include the certification number assigned to you in that state.

c. Attach a legible (clear enough to be read on the card) copy of your social security card and official  Louisiana identification card (ID card, driver's license, etc.)

Maill all the required information to the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry at: 5647 Superior Drive, Baton Rouge, La. 70816.  If you have any questions or if you encounter a problem downloading a copy of the reciprocity form, you may call the registry at (225) 295-8575.

2. A certified nurse aide, in Louisiana, who wishes to transfer the certification to another state must contact the Nurse Aide Registry in that state to obtain the policy and procedure(s) that state uses to grant reciprocity.

1. Go to: http://www.labenfa.com

a. select "Nurse Aide Registry/Direct Service Worker Registry"

b. select "CNA" 

c. enter the "social security number" only

2. If you are having problems accessing the website as instructed above, please call the registry at (225) 295-8575 to report a problem.    

Nurse aides are certified for 2 years, beginning with the certification date.

Nurse aides are required to work, at least, 8 hours during every 24 month period (2 years) once certified.  The 8 hours must include "nursing or nurse related" duties and should have been performed in approved settings such as: (nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, personal care attendant agencies, assisted living programs, hospice agencies, respite agencies, supervised independent living agencies, adult day health care programs and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ICF/DD) programs) in order for aides to maintain their certification. 

NOTE: Duties performed in adult day health care programs and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled (ICF/DD) programs) must be reviewed to determine whether they meet the established criteria.

1. If certification is lost because the nurse aide does not have the required work history, the nurse aide may retest or complete another Nurse Aide Training Program to be certified again (provided there is no other reason which would prohibit recertification).  Aides may go to www.labenfa to find out if they are eligible to retest and get instructions for retesting.

2. If certification is lost because the nurse aide has the required work history but it has not been reported to the registry (regardless of the reason), that work history is to be submitted to the registry in accordance with the instructions outlined in "How do I report/verify work history for aides?"

A link to the "Directory of Nurse Aide Registries" can be found on the Nurse Aide (CNA) Certification and Training home page.

The NAT-7 form is one of the methods used to report employment and termination of certifed nurse aides (CNAs), to the Nurse Aide Registry.  To obtain the NAT-7 form, contact the registry at 225-295-8575 or send a written a request for such to: Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry, 5647 Superior Drive, Baton Rouge, LA  70816.

The other mode used to report employment and termination is the electronic method called the Louisiana Registry System (LARS), currently used by nursing home providers.  More information regarding LARS is also available by contacting the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry. 

This link provides the Change in Designated Siganture Form needed to report a change in authorized personnel.

Attached is a list of train the trainer instructors approved to teach the course for individuals who wish to teach in a Nurse Aide Training Program or Nurse Aide Training School.

Click here to access the Clincal Contract Change Form and instructions.

Click here to access the Coordinator or Instructor Change Form and instructions.

The Louisiana Registry System (LARS) can be accessed through the Louisiana Nurse Aide Registry web page which is available at: www.labenfa.com

A list of Nurse Aide Training Schools is available.  There is no list of nursing home providers who are approved to train, readily available.  To find out if a particular nursing home provider is approved to train, you will need to call and ask them. 

If you are a nursing student, military personnel or a nurse who is interested in nurse aide certification; complete the "Application for Nurse Aide Certification" and submit the required documentation.  The basic documentation needed is listed on the application.  If additional information is needed, you will be notified of such once your application has been reviewed.