2.6 OBRA Registry, Reactivation, Lapsed Status, and Delay Prevention
Key Takeaways
The Washington OBRA Nursing Assistant Registry is operated by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS); verify your status by emailing OBRARegistry@dshs.wa.gov.
OBRA status stays active for 24 months, and you must never go more than 24 months without paid caregiving work to remain active.
Standard candidates have four attempts to pass each exam part before retraining is required, but E8 OBRA reactivation allows only one retest.
An abuse, neglect, or misappropriation finding makes an aide permanently ineligible and is recorded as ineligible in the DSHS OBRA registry.
The OBRA Registry and DSHS
The federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987 requires every state to maintain a nurse-aide registry, and Washington's is the OBRA Nursing Assistant Registry, operated by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) - a different agency from the DOH (certification) and WABON (regulation). The registry tracks your nursing-assistant work record and records any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property or funds.
Two registry facts matter most for eligibility planning:
- Verification: You confirm your registry status by emailing OBRARegistry@dshs.wa.gov with your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
- Active window: Your OBRA status stays active for 24 months from the date you passed both NNAAP exam parts. To remain active, you must never go more than 24 months without working for compensation as a caregiver.
A finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation makes an aide permanently ineligible to work in nursing facilities or with vulnerable adults, and that ineligibility is listed in the DSHS OBRA registry - a consequence far more serious than a lapsed credential.
Lapsed, Reactivation, and Attempt Rules
Registry status drives two eligibility routes from section 2.3:
- E5 - a credential lapsed more than 3 years with completed retraining.
- E8 - OBRA reactivation, the registry-specific route.
The attempt rules differ sharply by situation:
| Situation | Attempts before retraining |
|---|---|
| Standard candidate, written test | Four (4) attempts |
| Standard candidate, skills test | Four (4) attempts |
| E8 OBRA reactivation | One (1) retest only - pass both parts first try or retrain |
Separately, the certification (not the exam) must be renewed with DOH each year before your birthday. If certification has lapsed, contact DOH for reinstatement instructions; if it has been expired more than a year, the application fee rises to $197. Do not confuse the 24-month registry active window, the annual DOH renewal, and the 3-year/E5 retraining threshold - they are three distinct clocks measuring three different things.
Delay-Prevention Workflow
Registry and reactivation problems are not solved by memorizing more practice questions; they are solved with administrative discipline. Use this delay-prevention table:
| Risk point | Candidate action |
|---|---|
| Unsure if history is OBRA, lapsed, or another route | Match history to the E5-E9 list before scheduling |
| Reviewed route (E5, E7, E8, E9) | Complete DOH Credentialing application; obtain Authorization to Test |
| E8 reactivation | Remember one retest only - prepare to pass both parts on attempt one |
| Exam registration | Enter the NAC.NC credential number correctly in CNA365 |
| Registry status check | Email OBRARegistry@dshs.wa.gov to confirm active status |
| Skills logistics | Use the program or WABON regional scheduling |
Also plan for results timing: skills score reports are available about 24 hours after testing (5-7 business days if answer sheets need hand-scoring), and once you pass both parts your name is forwarded to the OBRA registry - but you must still contact DOH to finalize your NAC certification. One administrative note for 2026: on July 1, 2026, regulatory authority for NAC and NAR moves from DOH to the Washington State Board of Nursing, so confirm current contact points when you apply. Identify the route, complete the application, obtain authorization, then study - in that order.
Background Checks and the Responsible Agencies
Disclose background-history questions accurately and provide any requested explanations or records through the credentialing process. A registry finding, background-check issue, or eligibility question must be resolved through the responsible agency rather than through an exam appointment.
As of July 1, 2026, the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) oversees nursing assistant credentialing and discipline. Applications and renewals still use the Department of Health's HELMS system, and credential verification still uses the DOH Provider Credential Search. DSHS maintains the OBRA Nurse Aide Registry; Credentia handles the knowledge-test registration process.
Before registering, check your registry status and eligibility route. E5 concerns a credential lapsed more than three years with retraining; E8 concerns OBRA reactivation. Obtain an Authorization to Test when your route requires it, and locate your NAC credential number in the official credential search. Complete and pass the skills test through the applicable Washington testing pathway before registering for the online written or oral knowledge test. These steps prevent a registry or authorization mismatch from delaying your exam.
For a credentialing or disciplinary question, contact WABON; for an OBRA registry question, contact DSHS. Follow the current agency instructions for any required background investigation.
Which agency operates the Washington OBRA Nursing Assistant Registry?
The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
Credentia.
The candidate's nursing-facility employer.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
How long does OBRA registry status stay active, and what keeps it active?
12 months, kept active by annual renewal only.
36 months, kept active by passing a retest.
24 months, kept active by never going more than 24 months without paid caregiving work.
It never lapses once you pass the exam.
How many attempts does a standard candidate get to pass each part of the exam before retraining is required?
One attempt, the same as OBRA reactivation.
Two attempts for skills and unlimited for written.
Four attempts per part, with no time limit to use them.
Ten attempts, then a mandatory appeal.
What is the consequence of a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect on the OBRA registry?
A two-month suspension followed by automatic reinstatement.
Permanent ineligibility to work in nursing facilities or with vulnerable adults, listed in the DSHS registry.
A requirement to retake only the written exam.
A higher renewal fee but no eligibility impact.
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.