How to become a NA-R in Minnesota.
Minnesota 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
- Varies
- Exam fee
- 376
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Minnesota certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Background study handled by the MN Department of Human Services, Background Studies and Investigation Section. The registry keeps no background check records. Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Minnesota 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 376 approved programs in Minnesota - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. Must schedule and complete testing within 24 months of finishing the training program (challenge candidates: 24 months from the first attempt). 4 attempts at the knowledge exam and 3 at the skill test within 24 months. If attempts run out, a new MDH-approved training program is required.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the MN registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Must work at least 8 hours as a paid nursing assistant every 24 months and give a recent pay stub (plus a job description if not in a nursing home or assisted living). A 24-month lapse makes the status expire.
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
Interstate endorsement through MDH's online registry system with employer verification. No processing fee.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Minnesota.
CNA funding in Minnesota →Minnesota CNA requirements
- Credential
- Nursing Assistant Registered (NA-R)
- Training hours
- 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Fee details
- The handbook says fees are set by the test site: 'contact the test site where you want to schedule your test.' There are two systems: Minnesota State colleges (mn.tmutest.com) and in-facility sites (mr.tmutest.com). Search results cited a full test at about $250 at one college (not an official statewide fee). $25 test review deposit; $35 refund processing fee.
- Deadline to test
- Must schedule and complete testing within 24 months of finishing the training program (challenge candidates: 24 months from the first attempt).
- Retakes
- 4 attempts at the knowledge exam and 3 at the skill test within 24 months. If attempts run out, a new MDH-approved training program is required.
- Background check
- Background study handled by the MN Department of Human Services, Background Studies and Investigation Section. The registry keeps no background check records.
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- Minnesota Department of Health
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: health.state.mn.us, revisor.mn.gov, hdmaster.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Minnesota, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Minnesota?
Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Headmaster runs the Minnesota nurse aide competency exam.
Can you take CNA classes online in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota?
Interstate endorsement through MDH's online registry system with employer verification. No processing fee.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Minnesota?
Must work at least 8 hours as a paid nursing assistant every 24 months and give a recent pay stub (plus a job description if not in a nursing home or assisted living). A 24-month lapse makes the status expire.
How do I pay for CNA training in Minnesota?
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 Minnesota.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.