How to become a CNA in Iowa.
Iowa requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including 30 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 75
- Training hours
- 30
- Clinical hours
- $165
- Exam fee
- 46
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Iowa certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Iowa requires 75 training hours, including 30 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 46 approved programs in Iowa - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. The exam fee is $165. Three opportunities to pass each part; if one part fails only that part is retaken; after three failures of either part the 75 hour course must be retaken
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Iowa Direct Care Worker (DCW) Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the IA registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Must perform at least 8 hours of qualifying employment in a two year period; standing expires after 24 consecutive months without paid nursing or nursing related services, then new training and competency evaluation required
Moving from another state
CNAs currently on another state's registry apply online through the Iowa DCW Registry website (dia-hfd.iowa.gov); allow at least two weeks. No fee or detailed criteria published.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Iowa.
CNA funding in Iowa →Iowa CNA requirements
- Credential
- Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- 30 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $165 ($50 knowledge, $115 skills)
- Fee details
- Per DIAL: written $50 (proctored at an Iowa community college via Headmaster, or remote via Headmaster) or $70 via Credentia online; skills $115 at a community college or $135 via Health Tech Associates. Total shown uses the cheapest combination. Headmaster 2026 handbook: refund requests incur a $35 processing fee.
- Retakes
- Three opportunities to pass each part; if one part fails only that part is retaken; after three failures of either part the 75 hour course must be retaken
- Regulator
- Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: legis.iowa.gov, law.cornell.edu, dial.iowa.gov, ecfr.gov. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Iowa, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Iowa?
Iowa requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including 30 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
Who gives the CNA exam in Iowa?
Headmaster runs the Iowa nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $165.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Iowa?
CNAs currently on another state's registry apply online through the Iowa DCW Registry website (dia-hfd.iowa.gov); allow at least two weeks. No fee or detailed criteria published.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Iowa?
Must perform at least 8 hours of qualifying employment in a two year period; standing expires after 24 consecutive months without paid nursing or nursing related services, then new training and competency evaluation required
How do I pay for CNA training in Iowa?
Workforce vouchers, employer sponsorship, state grants, and scholarships all pay for nurse aide training. A nursing home that hires you within a year of certification must reimburse your training costs under federal rules.
Start your training in Iowa.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.