[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-how-to-start-a-cna-school-in-minnesota-2026-guide":3},{"slug":4,"title":5,"text":6,"is_active":7,"best_states":8,"image_url":15,"summary":16,"created_by":17,"created_at":18,"updated_at":19,"cta_btn_text":17,"cta_btn_link":17,"published_at":20,"categories":21,"id":22},"how-to-start-a-cna-school-in-minnesota-2026-guide","How to Start a CNA School in Minnesota (2026 Guide)","\u003Cp>Minnesota's healthcare hiring numbers tell a blunt story. Nursing assistants hit a 17.4% job vacancy rate in mid-2022 — one of the highest of any occupation the state tracks — and by 2024 healthcare still accounted for roughly 31,700 open positions, about a quarter of all vacancies in the state. CareerForce, the state's workforce arm, has repeatedly flagged nursing assistant as one of Minnesota's most in-demand jobs. The training pipeline is the bottleneck, and that's the business opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minnesota's approval process has a rhythm all its own. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) grants new programs \u003Cstrong>provisional approval\u003C\u002Fstrong> first — then you must actually run your first class within six months, host an on-site visit while you're teaching, and earn full approval by demonstrating the program live. You'll also pick your curriculum from a \u003Cstrong>state-approved list\u003C\u002Fstrong> rather than writing your own from scratch. And there's an expensive wrinkle most guides miss entirely: after a 2026 change in state law, nearly every tuition-charging CNA school also needs a \u003Cstrong>private career school license from the Office of Higher Education (OHE)\u003C\u002Fstrong> — with a $3,730 initial fee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We work with CNA and allied-health schools every day on enrollment, records, and compliance, so we've seen what makes programs like this run smoothly — and what buries them in paperwork. Here's the full Minnesota playbook. The usual honest caveat: we're operators, not lawyers. Verify the specifics with MDH and OHE before spending money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Quick Facts: CNA School Requirements in Minnesota\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Ctable>\n\u003Cthead>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Cth>Item\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>Minnesota Requirement\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Fthead>\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Total training hours\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>75 minimum, including ≥16 hours of supervised practical training on a live person\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Credential\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Registered nurse aide\u002Fnursing assistant, Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Approving agency\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Minnesota Department of Health, Nurse Aide Registry \u002F Federal Compliance\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Application\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>NATCEP Provisional Application (PDF) emailed to Health.NAR.coord@state.mn.us; no MDH fee published\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Also required\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>OHE private career school licensure (initial fee $3,730) unless charges are ≤$500 or the program is ≤40 hours\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Exam vendor\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>D&SDT-Headmaster (TMU platform, mn.tmutest.com)\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Registry\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Typical time to approval\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>Provisional within 90 days of a complete application; full approval after your first class + site visit; OHE licensure runs in parallel\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Instructor requirement\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>MN-licensed RN, 2+ years licensed nursing experience incl. 1 year in long-term care, plus curriculum-specific train-the-trainer where required\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Ch2>Step 1: Form Your Business Entity\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>File LLC Articles of Organization with the \u003Cstrong>Minnesota Secretary of State\u003C\u002Fstrong> through the online Business Filings portal at sos.mn.gov — \u003Cstrong>$155 online or in person\u003C\u002Fstrong> (treated as expedited), $135 by mail. Annual renewals for active LLCs are free, which is a pleasant rarity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Get your free EIN from the IRS, open a dedicated business bank account, and keep the finances clean from the start. That's generic advice everywhere, but it has teeth in Minnesota: the OHE licensure process examines your school as a financial entity, and your tuition pricing decision (more on the $500 threshold below) is one of the most consequential business choices you'll make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 2: Register for State Taxes\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Register with the \u003Cstrong>Minnesota Department of Revenue via e-Services\u003C\u002Fstrong> for business taxes and employer withholding. Tuition is friendly territory: \u003Cstrong>educational\u002Finstructional services are not an enumerated taxable service in Minnesota\u003C\u002Fstrong>, so tuition is generally not subject to sales tax. Goods are different — if you sell scrubs, supplies, or merchandise to students, those sales are taxable, so decide early whether you'll retail anything or simply include supplies in tuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you hire your first instructor, register as an employer with \u003Cstrong>Minnesota Unemployment Insurance\u003C\u002Fstrong> through DEED's employer self-service portal at uimn.org, alongside your withholding registration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 3: Secure Your Location, Classroom, and Skills Lab\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Here's a Minnesota nuance that changes the real-estate math: the 16 hours of supervised practical training must be performed \u003Cstrong>on a live person\u003C\u002Fstrong> — but they do \u003Cstrong>not\u003C\u002Fstrong> have to happen in a nursing home. A lab, long-term care facility, assisted-living setting, or hospital all work. That means a well-equipped skills lab in your own building, with students practicing on each other under your RN's direct supervision, can satisfy the practical requirement — with two carve-outs: \u003Cstrong>perineal care and catheter care must be done on mannequins\u003C\u002Fstrong> when you're training outside a facility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Equip the lab accordingly: hospital bed, mannequin (you'll need it for those two skills regardless), wheelchair, gait belts, blood pressure equipment, hygiene and transfer supplies, and a handwashing sink. A bonus of the lab-based model: background studies and TB tests aren't required for non-facility lab training — they're only triggered when students enter a facility for clinicals. MDH's site visit will verify that your space supports the curriculum you declared, so build the lab before you schedule the first class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 4: Apply for State Program Approval\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Minnesota's approval sequence is distinctive — provisional first, prove it live, then full approval:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Apply.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Complete the \u003Cstrong>NATCEP Provisional Application Form\u003C\u002Fstrong> and email it to \u003Cstrong>Health.NAR.coord@state.mn.us\u003C\u002Fstrong> with your primary instructor's resume, qualifications, and current RN license. There's no portal and no published MDH application fee. You'll declare your curriculum (from the approved list — see Step 6), your delivery format, and your designated \u003Cstrong>Training Program Coordinator\u003C\u002Fstrong>, the person who serves as liaison with the Registry and Headmaster.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Provisional approval.\u003C\u002Fstrong> MDH issues provisional approval within 90 days of a complete application — the federal maximum; complete applications typically move faster. You receive a \u003Cstrong>five-digit program code\u003C\u002Fstrong>, TMU access, and a listing on MDH's public training-sites directory.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Run your first class within 6 months.\u003C\u002Fstrong> This deadline has teeth: fail to hold class within six months and the application is closed or denied. Students you teach during the provisional period get full credit.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Site visit and full approval.\u003C\u002Fstrong> MDH visits during your provisional period to verify you're teaching the declared curriculum and running supervised practical training properly. Substantial compliance earns \u003Cstrong>full approval, valid for two years\u003C\u002Fstrong>.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\u003Cp>One eligibility footnote: programs operated by nursing homes are barred if the facility had an extended survey, waiver, civil money penalty, or payment denial in the past two years. As a standalone school you're not subject to that — but your clinical partner facilities' compliance status still matters to you (Step 7).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>And the second license.\u003C\u002Fstrong> This is the high-value detail: under Minn. Stat. 136A.833 as amended in 2026, only two exemptions from \u003Cstrong>OHE private career school licensure\u003C\u002Fstrong> remain — programs of \u003Cstrong>40 clock hours or less\u003C\u002Fstrong>, and programs where \u003Cstrong>total student charges are $500 or less\u003C\u002Fstrong>. A 75-hour CNA program charging market tuition fits neither, which means you need OHE licensure under Minn. Stat. 136A.821–.834: an \u003Cstrong>initial license fee of $3,730\u003C\u002Fstrong> (one program; $500 per additional program), \u003Cstrong>$3,160 renewals\u003C\u002Fstrong>, applied for through OHE's \u003Cstrong>MNSAS portal\u003C\u002Fstrong> (mnsas.ohe.state.mn.us). If you deliberately price at or under $500 all-in, you can instead file for an exemption (valid two years, reapply 90 days before expiration) — a legitimate strategy for facility-subsidized or workforce-funded models, but a hard ceiling for a tuition-funded school. Older guides citing broader exemptions are describing pre-2023 law; don't rely on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 5: Hire a Qualified Program Director and Instructors\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Your \u003Cstrong>primary instructor\u003C\u002Fstrong> must be a \u003Cstrong>current Minnesota-licensed RN with at least 2 years of licensed nursing experience in the U.S., including at least 1 year in long-term care\u003C\u002Fstrong> — nursing home or assisted living both count — plus preparation for teaching adults or experience supervising nurse aides. \u003Cstrong>LPNs cannot serve as primary instructors\u003C\u002Fstrong> in Minnesota, though they may conduct supervised practical training under a written agreement and the RN's oversight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Train-the-trainer in Minnesota is \u003Cstrong>curriculum-specific\u003C\u002Fstrong>: the Minnesota State curriculum, OnTrack, and AHCA's online edition each require their own train-the-trainer certificate, and the certificates are \u003Cstrong>not interchangeable\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Choose your curriculum first, then get your instructor certified for that exact curriculum — doing it in the other order wastes money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You'll also designate a \u003Cstrong>Training Program Coordinator\u003C\u002Fstrong> as the administrative liaison with MDH and Headmaster; in small schools that's usually the owner or the primary instructor wearing a second hat. Budget $35–$50\u002Fhour for RN instructor pay in most Minnesota markets, higher in the Twin Cities — and line up a second qualified RN before you need one, because the instructor is your single point of failure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 6: Build or Buy a State-Compliant Curriculum\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Minnesota takes curriculum choice off your plate — mostly. You must select from the \u003Cstrong>Minnesota-Approved Training Curricula\u003C\u002Fstrong> list, which includes the Minnesota State 2024 Edition, Ready CNA, AHCA's 8th Edition, OnTrack, Hartman's, and Sanford Health's curriculum. The hour floor is the federal one: \u003Cstrong>75 hours minimum with at least 16 hours of supervised practical training\u003C\u002Fstrong>; Minnesota doesn't impose a fixed classroom\u002Fclinical split beyond that, and self-study hours don't count toward the 75.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two rules to respect:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>No mixing.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Your approval is tied to the curriculum you declared. You can supplement it, but you can't substitute content from a different approved curriculum. Switching curricula is a conversation with MDH, not a quiet swap.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Delivery is declared upfront.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Minnesota allows programs to deliver curriculum instruction \u003Cstrong>face-to-face or via interactive online delivery\u003C\u002Fstrong> — you declare the format in your application. The online-capable versions (AHCA online, OnTrack) carry their train-the-trainer requirements. The 16 practical hours are always live and in person.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Fol>\n\u003Cp>That online allowance makes Minnesota one of the more hybrid-friendly CNA states — a real advantage for reaching rural students across a big state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 7: Set Up Clinical Site Agreements\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Because Minnesota's practical hours can run in your own lab, a facility clinical isn't strictly mandatory — but many schools still partner with facilities, both for richer training and because facilities are where your graduates get hired. If you do run in-facility clinicals, Minnesota requires the full package: a \u003Cstrong>written contract\u003C\u002Fstrong> with the facility, \u003Cstrong>background studies and TB screening completed before students start\u003C\u002Fstrong>, cell-phone and privacy policies, and instructor-verified skill proficiency before students touch residents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Common snags: background study turnaround times can bump start dates — build them into your enrollment timeline, not your week-one scramble; and a facility with recent survey trouble is a shaky partner, so keep a second relationship warm. Pitch facilities with the vacancy math — at a 17% NA vacancy rate, your cohort is the most reliable pipeline they'll see all year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 8: Understand Testing and the State Registry\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Minnesota's knowledge and skills exams are run by \u003Cstrong>D&SDT-Headmaster\u003C\u002Fstrong> (the state's test contractor since February 2022) on the \u003Cstrong>TMU platform\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Two operational rules matter to you as a school:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>The 48-hour rule:\u003C\u002Fstrong> instructors must register students in TMU within 48 hours of class start. Miss it and you create testing delays downstream. Make it an automated step in your enrollment workflow.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Test-site systems don't mix:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Minnesota runs two parallel test-site networks — Minnesota State college sites and MDH-approved \"in-facility\" sites — and a student must complete all their attempts within the same system. Advise students accordingly.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Cp>Yes, \u003Cstrong>your school can become a test site\u003C\u002Fstrong>: MDH approves all sites, and you apply through the Test Site Agreement Application on Headmaster's Minnesota page, meeting the equipment requirements. On-site testing is a strong enrollment selling point. Graduates who pass both portions land on the \u003Cstrong>Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry\u003C\u002Fstrong> (lookup at narlookup.web.health.state.mn.us). Two more Minnesota facts worth teaching your students: aides can't work in a certified facility past \u003Cstrong>four months\u003C\u002Fstrong> of hire without completing an approved program, and MDH \u003Cstrong>publishes per-program pass rates\u003C\u002Fstrong> — your results are public, so teach like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 9: Set Up Enrollment, Payments, and Student Records\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Count the clocks you're now running: the 48-hour TMU registration window, the six-month first-class deadline, background studies before clinicals, two-year MDH approval cycles, OHE renewals, and public pass-rate accountability. Minnesota doesn't have the most paperwork of any state — it has the most \u003Cem>deadlines\u003C\u002Fem>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's exactly what we built \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjointransition.com\">Transition\u003C\u002Fa> to manage. Schools use it for branded online enrollment, payments and payment plans, attendance and hour tracking, e-signed enrollment agreements and clinical contracts, and automated email\u002FSMS sequences — including the operational nudges, like flagging every new enrollee for TMU registration on day one. One system instead of spreadsheets, Jotform, Square, and sticky notes, with records ready whenever MDH visits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Step 10: Launch with a Local Marketing Plan\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Google Business Profile first.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Local search drives CNA enrollment everywhere; reviews from each cohort compound.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Plug into DEED and CareerForce.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Minnesota's workforce system actively promotes nursing assistant careers and funds training through WIOA — and state law gives licensed\u002Fexempt schools a streamlined pathway onto eligible-training-provider lists and dual-training grant programs. That's seats filled with funded students.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Leverage the public pass-rate data.\u003C\u002Fstrong> If your numbers are good, MDH's own published statistics become your best marketing asset. Put them on your homepage.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Work your facility partners\u003C\u002Fstrong> — hiring pipelines, co-marketing, tuition sponsorship — and answer every inquiry within minutes. Fast follow-up beats ad spend.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2>What It Really Costs\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Realistic estimated startup ranges for a single-location Minnesota school:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ctable>\n\u003Cthead>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Cth>Item\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003Cth>Estimated Range\u003C\u002Fth>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Fthead>\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>LLC formation\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$135–$155\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>OHE private career school initial license\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$3,730 (or $100–$200 exemption filings if charges ≤$500)\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Curriculum license + train-the-trainer\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$1,000–$5,000\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Insurance (liability + professional)\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$2,000–$5,000\u002Fyr\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Rent + deposit (first 3–6 months)\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$6,000–$18,000\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Skills lab equipment\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$8,000–$20,000\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Instructor payroll (pre-revenue + first cohort)\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$8,000–$20,000\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Background studies \u002F compliance costs\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$500–$1,500\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Marketing (first 6 months)\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$2,000–$6,000\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>Software, records, enrollment systems\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>$1,000–$3,000\u002Fyr\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cstrong>Bottom line (cash outlay)\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003Ctd>\u003Cstrong>~$32,000–$80,000\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp>The OHE license is the line item that surprises founders — $3,730 up front and $3,160 at renewal. Price your tuition with it baked in, and note OHE's $600 surcharge for repeatedly revised applications: submitting a clean, complete application the first time is worth real money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>How Long It Takes\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Plan on \u003Cstrong>3–7 months\u003C\u002Fstrong> to your first class, with full MDH approval landing after that first cohort. The sequence works in your favor: provisional approval must issue within 90 days of a complete application, you can teach (and collect tuition) during the provisional period, and full approval follows the site visit. The real long pole for most founders is \u003Cstrong>OHE licensure\u003C\u002Fstrong> — run the MNSAS application in parallel with the MDH application, curriculum purchase, and train-the-trainer scheduling rather than sequentially. And respect the six-month first-class deadline: provisional approval is a countdown, not a trophy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Common Mistakes to Avoid\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Assuming an old OHE exemption still applies.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The 2023 and 2026 amendments gutted the exemption list — only the ≤40-hour and ≤$500 exemptions survive. Budget for licensure or price for exemption; don't discover this after launch.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Buying train-the-trainer for the wrong curriculum.\u003C\u002Fstrong> The certificates are curriculum-specific and non-interchangeable. Pick the curriculum first.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Blowing the 48-hour TMU registration window.\u003C\u002Fstrong> It's the easiest compliance miss in the state. Automate it into enrollment.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Sitting on provisional approval.\u003C\u002Fstrong> No first class within six months means a closed application and a restart.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Mixing content across approved curricula.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Supplementing is fine; substituting is not. Your approval is tied to what you declared.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Ignoring your public pass rate.\u003C\u002Fstrong> MDH publishes it. It's either your best ad or your biggest liability — there's no third option.\u003C\u002Fli>\n\u003C\u002Ful>\n\u003Ch2>FAQ\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>How much does it cost to start a CNA school in Minnesota?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\nBudget roughly $32,000–$80,000: the $3,730 OHE license, curriculum licensing and train-the-trainer, lab equipment, rent, insurance, and pre-revenue payroll. MDH itself publishes no application fee for NATCEP approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Do I need to be a nurse to open a CNA school in Minnesota?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\nNo — but your primary instructor must be a Minnesota-licensed RN with 2+ years of licensed nursing experience including a year in long-term care, plus adult-teaching preparation and any curriculum-specific train-the-trainer certificate. LPNs can assist with practical training but cannot be the primary instructor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>How many hours is CNA training in Minnesota?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\n75 hours minimum, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training performed on a live person under direct RN\u002FLPN supervision. Minnesota doesn't fix a classroom\u002Fclinical split beyond that, and self-study hours don't count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Can CNA classes be online in Minnesota?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\nThe instructional portion can be — Minnesota lets programs declare interactive online delivery in their approval application, and several approved curricula have online editions. The 16 practical hours must always be live and in person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Do CNA students have to train in a nursing home in Minnesota?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\nNo. The supervised practical hours can happen in a lab, long-term care facility, assisted living, or hospital — though outside a facility, perineal and catheter care must be practiced on mannequins, and facility clinicals require contracts, background studies, and TB screening first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>What exam do Minnesota CNA students take?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\nThe Minnesota nursing assistant knowledge and skills exams, administered by D&SDT-Headmaster via TMU. Passing both places the graduate on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry. Schools can apply to become MDH-approved test sites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>How long does Minnesota program approval last?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\nProvisional approval converts to full approval after a successful site visit during your first cohort; full approval runs two years and is tied to your declared curriculum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>Disclaimer\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>This guide is general information, not legal advice. Minnesota's rules have moved recently — the OHE exemption list was rewritten as recently as 2026 — so verify current requirements with the MDH Nurse Aide Registry (Health.NAR.coord@state.mn.us, 651-201-4200), the Office of Higher Education (via the MNSAS portal), and your own attorney and accountant before making commitments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ch2>The Paperwork Gets You Open. The Systems Keep You Open.\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\u003Cp>Minnesota runs on deadlines — 90 days, 6 months, 48 hours, 2 years — and the schools that thrive are the ones whose operations never miss one. See how Transition runs enrollment, payments, student records, e-signatures, and automated messaging for CNA schools like yours at \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjointransition.com\">jointransition.com\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>",true,[9],{"slug":10,"image_url":11,"name":12,"description":13,"active":7,"rate_school_desc":13,"id":14},"minnesota","https:\u002F\u002Ftransition-prod.s3.amazonaws.com\u002Fuploads\u002Fbest_state_schools\u002Fimages\u002F1749702812.530075_mn.svg","Minnesota","",13,"https:\u002F\u002Fs3.amazonaws.com\u002Ftransition-prod\u002Fuploads\u002Fbest_state_schools\u002Fblog_images\u002Fminnesota-hero.jpg","Start a CNA school in Minnesota: 75 training hours, MDH NATCEP provisional approval, OHE private career school licensure, real costs, and timelines.",null,"2026-07-27T18:03:02.458654Z","2026-07-28T07:30:18.298455Z","2026-07-27T09:00:00Z","general",41]