How to become a CNA in New Mexico.
New Mexico requires at least 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
- Min. hours
- 16
- Clinical hours
- $140
- Exam fee
- 43
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your New Mexico certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Minimum age: 16. Caregivers Criminal History Screening Program: criminal background check, plus health screening (TB test, immunizations) according to HCA Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
New Mexico requires at least 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 43 approved programs in New Mexico - 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 $140. Must pass both parts within 24 months of finishing training, or retrain 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skills parts within 24 months of finishing training, then retrain
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry (NMNAR), Certified Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the NM registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 24 months; must have worked at least 8 hours for pay doing nursing-related services in the previous 24 months. Renew online at nm.tmutest.com; $25 self-pay fee plus GRT (no fee for state-funded facilities). 30-day grace period after expiration.
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
Out-of-State Reciprocity application through nm.tmutest.com. Must be current and in good standing on another state's registry. HCA decides eligibility. HCA page says there is no fee.
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in New Mexico.
CNA funding in New Mexico →New Mexico CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- At least 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Exam fee
- $140 ($40 knowledge, $100 skills)
- Fee details
- All fees also carry the 4.875% NM Gross Receipts Tax. Audio (oral) knowledge test is $45 ($40 + $5). Retakes are charged at the same per-part price. The state pays test fees for candidates employed by, or offered a job at, a Medicaid-certified nursing facility.
- Deadline to test
- Must pass both parts within 24 months of finishing training, or retrain
- Retakes
- 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skills parts within 24 months of finishing training, then retrain
- Minimum age
- 16
- Background check
- Caregivers Criminal History Screening Program: criminal background check, plus health screening (TB test, immunizations) according to HCA
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- New Mexico Health Care Authority
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: hca.nm.gov, ecfr.gov, hdmaster.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in New Mexico, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in New Mexico?
New Mexico requires at least 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 New Mexico?
Headmaster runs the New Mexico nurse aide competency exam. The exam fee is $140.
Can you take CNA classes online in New Mexico?
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 New Mexico?
Out-of-State Reciprocity application through nm.tmutest.com. Must be current and in good standing on another state's registry. HCA decides eligibility. HCA page says there is no fee.
How do you renew a CNA certification in New Mexico?
Every 24 months; must have worked at least 8 hours for pay doing nursing-related services in the previous 24 months. Renew online at nm.tmutest.com; $25 self-pay fee plus GRT (no fee for state-funded facilities). 30-day grace period after expiration.
How do I pay for CNA training in New Mexico?
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 New Mexico.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.