How to become a CNA in Michigan.
Michigan requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 75
- Training hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- $175
- Exam fee
- 257
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Michigan 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
Michigan requires 75 training hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 257 approved programs in Michigan - 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 $175. Must pass both the knowledge and skills exams within 24 months of completing a training program. 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skill portions within 24 months of completing training. After that, a new LARA-approved training program is required.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Michigan Nurse Aide Registry (MINAR), managed through MI-NATES. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the MI registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 2 years through MI-NATES. You must have worked at least 40 hours for pay as a nurse aide in the last renewal cycle. If lapsed more than 2 years, you must retrain and retest (per the LARA MI-NATES FAQ, seen in a search excerpt).
Online classes
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Ask each program how its classroom hours are delivered. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
Moving from another state
The handbook provides an Out-of-State Training Waiver to test for candidates trained in listed states (the program must meet federal rules and have at least 75 hours) who have not yet passed an exam. They must pass the Michigan exam within 24 months of finishing training. The transfer process for already-certified out-of-state CNAs was not confirmed from an official page.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Michigan.
CNA funding in Michigan →Michigan CNA requirements
- Credential
- Competency-Evaluated Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $175
- Fee details
- First attempt: $175 for the knowledge/audio exam and skill test together. The handbook lists knowledge retakes (attempts 2 and 3) at $175 and skill retakes (attempts 2 and 3) at $175. There is no separate first-attempt price for each part. $25 test review deposit; $35 refund fee. Handbook effective January 1, 2025 (Version 5).
- Deadline to test
- Must pass both the knowledge and skills exams within 24 months of completing a training program.
- Retakes
- 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skill portions within 24 months of completing training. After that, a new LARA-approved training program is required.
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us, michigan.gov, hdmaster.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Michigan, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Michigan?
Michigan requires 75 hours of nurse aide training, including at least 16 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 Michigan?
Headmaster runs the Michigan nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $175.
Can you take CNA classes online in Michigan?
Online classroom allowed, with state conditions. Skills lab and clinical hours are always in person.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Michigan?
The handbook provides an Out-of-State Training Waiver to test for candidates trained in listed states (the program must meet federal rules and have at least 75 hours) who have not yet passed an exam. They must pass the Michigan exam within 24 months of finishing training. The transfer process for already-certified out-of-state CNAs was not confirmed from an official page.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Michigan?
Every 2 years through MI-NATES. You must have worked at least 40 hours for pay as a nurse aide in the last renewal cycle. If lapsed more than 2 years, you must retrain and retest (per the LARA MI-NATES FAQ, seen in a search excerpt).
How do I pay for CNA training in Michigan?
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 Michigan.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.