How to become a CNA in Missouri.
Missouri requires 175 hours of nurse aide training, including 100 hours of supervised clinical practice. Then you pass the state exam through Headmaster and get listed on the nurse aide registry.
- 175
- Training hours
- 100
- Clinical hours
- $135
- Exam fee
- 337
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your Missouri certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Minimum age: 18 (16 if enrolled in a secondary school health occupations or cooperative work program). Must not be on the DHSS Employee Disqualification List or have certain disqualifying criminal convictions. Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
Missouri requires 175 training hours, including 100 hours of supervised clinical work. Only programs approved by the state qualify you for the exam.
See all 337 approved programs in Missouri - 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 $135. Retakes must happen within 90 calendar days of the first exam. No overall deadline after training was confirmed. 3 attempts: the first exam plus 2 retakes within 90 days. After a third failure, the whole basic course must be retaken. Challenge candidates get 1 attempt.
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the Missouri CNA Registry (DHSS CNA, CMT, LIMA and Insulin Registry). Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the MO registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 24 months, online through TMU. You must have worked for pay as a CNA at least 8 consecutive hours in the previous 24 months (self-attested). A renewal fee applies and can be paid by the aide or the employer.
Moving from another state
Must be current and in good standing on another state's registry. Apply with the Missouri CNA Reciprocity Application on TMU; DHSS decides eligibility.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in Missouri.
CNA funding in Missouri →Missouri CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
- Training hours
- 175 hours
- Clinical hours
- 100 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $135 ($32 knowledge, $103 skills)
- Fee details
- Knowledge exam (any version: English, Spanish, audio, or Spanish audio) $32; skills test $103. Retakes are the same price per part. $25 test review deposit; $35 refund processing fee. A renewal fee exists, but the amount is not stated. Handbook Version 15.0, updated April 2026.
- Deadline to test
- Retakes must happen within 90 calendar days of the first exam. No overall deadline after training was confirmed.
- Retakes
- 3 attempts: the first exam plus 2 retakes within 90 days. After a third failure, the whole basic course must be retaken. Challenge candidates get 1 attempt.
- Minimum age
- 18 (16 if enrolled in a secondary school health occupations or cooperative work program)
- Background check
- Must not be on the DHSS Employee Disqualification List or have certain disqualifying criminal convictions.
- Regulator
- Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: s1.sos.mo.gov, health.mo.gov, law.cornell.edu, hdmaster.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in Missouri, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in Missouri?
Missouri requires 175 hours of nurse aide training, including 100 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 Missouri?
Headmaster runs the Missouri nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $135.
I am a CNA in another state. Can I work in Missouri?
Must be current and in good standing on another state's registry. Apply with the Missouri CNA Reciprocity Application on TMU; DHSS decides eligibility.
How do you renew a CNA certification in Missouri?
Every 24 months, online through TMU. You must have worked for pay as a CNA at least 8 consecutive hours in the previous 24 months (self-attested). A renewal fee applies and can be paid by the aide or the employer.
How do I pay for CNA training in Missouri?
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 Missouri.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.