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Minnesota Nurse Aide Competency Exam (CNA)
The Minnesota CNA competency evaluation is the two-part examination individuals must pass to be listed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry: a 70-question multiple-choice knowledge test (two hours, 74% to pass — 52 of 70 correct, available in English, Spanish, Somali, or Hmong with an audio/read-aloud version and a remotely proctored option at participating sites) and a manual demonstration skill test of three or four randomly assigned tasks (30 minutes, all key steps plus 80% of non-key steps). The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) selected D&S Diversified Technologies (D&SDT)-Headmaster as the test contractor (testing on the Headmaster platform began February 1, 2022); candidates schedule through the TMU system at MDH-approved test sites (MN State colleges or in-facility sites).
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QuestionsKnowledge test: 70 multiple-choice questions (selected from subject areas per the MDH-approved Minnesota test plan, with an audio/read-aloud version available). Skill test: three or four randomly selected demonstration tasks
Testing timeKnowledge exam: two hours; Skill test: 30 minutes (per part; candidates taking both components on-site should plan for up to five hours worst-case)
ScoringKnowledge test: 74% or better to pass (52 of 70 questions correct, effective August 5, 2024). Skill test: must correctly perform all of the key (bolded) steps and achieve 80% or higher on the non-key steps of each assigned task
Exam feeNo statewide fee is published by MDH or D&SDT-Headmaster; testing fees are set by the test site. MN State: fee information comes from the chosen test site. In-Facility: fees must be paid in the candidate's TMU account (Visa/MasterCard) before scheduling; some training programs pre-pay for graduating students; failed portions must be paid again before a retake
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- Minnesota MDH
- Category
- Nurse Aide & Nursing Assistant
- Current version
- Current specification; no public version label (Minnesota Department of Health-approved Minnesota test plan; Candidate Handbook Version 8.0, updated June 11, 2026; D&SDT-Headmaster has been MDH's test contractor since February 1, 2022)
- Where it applies
- US-MN, United States
- Exam languages
- English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali
- Testing provider
- D&S Diversified Technologies LLP (D&SDT-Headmaster)
- Format
- Computer-based knowledge test delivered through the TMU system on Internet-connected computers at MDH-approved test sites, or as a remotely proctored knowledge exam from home at participating sites; in-person manual skill demonstration observed by an RN Test Observer (skills are always in person)
- Availability
- Scheduled test events at MDH-approved test sites statewide through a two-server TMU system: MN State (mn.tmutest.com) for Minnesota State colleges and In-Facility (mr.tmutest.com) for MDH-approved facility test sites; once a candidate has tested in one server they must complete all attempts in that server. Test sites choose whether the knowledge test is offered on-site or virtually; the skill test is in person
- Results
- Official results posted to the candidate's TMU account after 7:00 PM CT on the business day following the test event; results not released by phone or postal mail; knowledge diagnostics and per-task skill results with missed steps are shown in TMU
- Remote testing
- Varies by jurisdiction
Exam structure
Two-part competency examination: (1) a 70-item multiple-choice knowledge test delivered on the computer, available in English or an MDH-approved alternate language (Spanish, Somali, Hmong) with in-exam language toggling, and as an audio version read aloud through wired headphones; (2) a manual demonstration skill test of three or four randomly selected tasks with scenarios read by an RN Test Observer immediately before each task. Candidates must pass both parts to be listed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry
Where rules vary
Minnesota's own state nurse aide competency evaluation, required for listing on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry and for employment as a nurse aide in Minnesota nursing homes and certified boarding care homes. Candidates from other states enter via the interstate endorsement process on the MDH registry webpage, not via this exam.
Eligibility
Three eligibility routes: (1) completed a state-approved nurse aide training program within the past 24 months (takes both parts); (2) previously completed a state-approved program, passed both parts, and is on the registry with an expired status (takes both parts); (3) test-out/challenge candidates who meet neither route (e.g., trained in another country, never completed a program, or not worked as a nurse aide in the last 24 months) — takes both parts, scheduling through a chosen test site
Retake policy
Four attempts to pass the knowledge exam and three attempts to pass the skill test within a 24-month cycle (from training program completion, or from the first attempt as a challenge candidate). Exhausted attempts require completing another MDH-approved training program before retesting. Failed portions must be paid again before rescheduling. Cheating exempts a candidate from testing for 45 calendar days