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Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Exam
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for Wisconsin Nurse Aide Exam, with direct links to official sources.
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QuestionsKnowledge Exam: 75 multiple-choice questions (an audio version is available to anyone, with the first 67 questions read aloud); Skills Test: 3 or 4 randomly assigned skill tasks (one mandatory task plus two or three randomly selected tasks)
Testing timeKnowledge Exam: 60 minutes for the 75 questions; Skills Test: no more than 30 minutes for the three or four tasks; plan to be at the test site up to 4 hours if taking both components on-site
ScoringPass both components: Knowledge Exam requires 71% or better; Skills Test requires correctly performing all key (bolded) steps and 80% of the non-key steps in each assigned task
Exam feeUSD 144.70 Knowledge Exam plus Skills combined (USD 150.15 with the audio version of the Knowledge Exam); USD 37.49 Knowledge Exam only; USD 42.94 audio Knowledge Exam only; USD 107.21 Skills only — fees effective June 7, 2026, payable by Visa or MasterCard before scheduling
Prep options
Study resources for Wisconsin Nurse Aide Exam
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- Wisconsin DHS
- Category
- Nurse Aide & Nursing Assistant
- Current version
- Current Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Exam per the DHS-approved test plan; candidate handbook Version 75, with updates (including a fee increase) effective for testing June 7, 2026
- Where it applies
- US-WI, United States
- Exam languages
- English
- Testing provider
- D&SDT-Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies LLP) under contract with Wisconsin DHS, delivering testing and the registry on the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform at wi.tmutest.com
- Format
- Computer-based Knowledge Exam (electronic testing in TMU at test sites, or a remotely proctored knowledge exam via Zoom) plus an in-person Skills Demonstration before an RN Test Observer
- Availability
- Scheduled test events reserved through TMU at wi.tmutest.com (reschedulable at no cost up to one business day before the event); candidates may self-schedule or be scheduled by their training program
- Results
- Official test results available in the candidate's TMU account after 7:00 PM Central Time on the day tests are scored, with official scoring, release of results, and registry placement no later than the next business day for successful candidates
- Remote testing
- Varies by jurisdiction
Exam structure
Two components, both required: (1) a 75-question multiple-choice Knowledge Exam delivered electronically in TMU, drawn from 12 DHS test-plan subject areas (Aging Process and Restorative Care 5, Basic Nurse Skills 10, Care Impaired 8, Communication 5, Data Collection 4, Disease Process 4, Infection Control 7, Mental Health 4, Personal Care 8, Resident Rights 7, Role and Responsibility 5, Safety 8); (2) a Skills Demonstration Exam of 3 or 4 randomly assigned tasks — the first always one of four mandatory tasks (bedpan, female catheter care, isolation gown/gloves with urinary-bag measurement, or perineal care, each with required handwashing), plus 2-3 random tasks from the published skills listing — performed before an RN Test Observer
Where rules vary
Wisconsin's state-administered nurse aide competency exam, required for placement on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry to work as a CNA in Wisconsin; out-of-state candidates either apply by reciprocity or must retrain and test in Wisconsin.
Eligibility
Must have successfully completed a DHS-approved nurse aide training program (at least 75 hours including at least 16 hours of clinical) or hold a DHS-issued approval-to-test (alternate routes such as nursing students/graduates via waiver application); scheduling and passing are required within one year of training completion
Retake policy
If either component is failed, the candidate must reapply (and repay) to retake the failed component; unlimited attempts are allowed within one year of the training program completion date, after which another DHS-approved training program is required; failed skill tasks reappear on the retest