How to become a CNA in North Dakota.
North Dakota 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
- Varies
- Exam fee
- 48
- Programs
Step by step
Five steps to your North Dakota certification
- 1
Meet the entry requirements
Training programs must screen applicants before training and send findings (convictions related to aide duties, registry findings) to DHHS for review before enrollment (NDAC 33-43-01-03) Most programs also ask for photo ID, a TB test, and proof of immunizations.
- 2
Finish a state approved training program
North Dakota 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 48 approved programs in North Dakota - 3
Pass the state competency exam
The exam has a written or oral knowledge test and a hands on skills test, run by Headmaster. 3 attempts to pass both parts from the training completion date, then retrain
- 4
Get listed on the nurse aide registry
Once you pass, your name goes on the North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry. Employers check the registry before they hire you.
Search the ND registry - 5
Keep your certification active
Every 24 months; must have done at least 8 hours of nursing or nursing-related services for pay in a continuous 24-month period, or retrain/retest. No fee for CNA renewal.
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
By endorsement: aides who met another state's requirements, have current registry status, and no validated findings are entered on the ND registry (NDAC 33-43-01-09).
Paying for training
Vouchers, employers, grants, and scholarships cover nurse aide training in North Dakota.
CNA funding in North Dakota →North Dakota CNA requirements
- Credential
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Training hours
- At least 75 hours
- Clinical hours
- At least 16 hours
- Exam provider
- Headmaster
- Fee details
- Neither the Headmaster ND candidate handbook (April 2025, v6) nor the ND HHS pages list exam fee amounts. The handbook says the audio knowledge test costs extra. By rule (NDAC 33-43-01), initial CNA registry listing and renewal carry no fee. An aggregator quotes a $250 combined fee (unverified, not used).
- Retakes
- 3 attempts to pass both parts from the training completion date, then retrain
- Background check
- Training programs must screen applicants before training and send findings (convictions related to aide duties, registry findings) to DHHS for review before enrollment (NDAC 33-43-01-03)
- Online classroom
- Online classroom allowed, with state conditions
- Regulator
- North Dakota Health and Human Services
Checked September 2026 against official state and exam provider sources: ndlegis.gov, hhs.nd.gov, hdmaster.com. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the state or your program before you pay.
Becoming a CNA in North Dakota, answered.
How many hours of training do you need to be a CNA in North Dakota?
North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Headmaster runs the North Dakota nurse aide competency exam.
Can you take CNA classes online in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota?
By endorsement: aides who met another state's requirements, have current registry status, and no validated findings are entered on the ND registry (NDAC 33-43-01-09).
How do you renew a CNA certification in North Dakota?
Every 24 months; must have done at least 8 hours of nursing or nursing-related services for pay in a continuous 24-month period, or retrain/retest. No fee for CNA renewal.
How do I pay for CNA training in North Dakota?
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 North Dakota.
Compare approved programs, then get matched to funding that pays for it.