Nurse Aide Registry
Nurse Aide Training and Testing
A list of approved training and test sites can be found at: Locating Minnesota's Nurse Aide Training/Testing Sites
Study Materials for the Test
A candidate handbook which gives an overview of the test, including skills that may be tested, is available through an approved test site. This handbook and a sample written test are also available on the D&S Minnesota Nurse Aide page.
Prohibition of Charges
A Nurse Aide who is employed by or has received an offer of employment from a certified nursing home or boarding care home as a Nurse Aide prior to beginning a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) may not be charged for any portion of the training program and the competence evaluation.
The cost of training and testing varies by training sites. Please contact the training site for the cost of their training and testing programs.
Reimbursable Expenses
Nurse aides who pay for the cost of their training and testing prior to employment are eligible for reimbursement. The Nurse Aide has one (1) year from passing the test and placement on the Registry to turn in receipts requesting reimbursement. The facility has 90 days to reimburse the Nurse Aide. If the Nurse Aide does not remain employed as a Nurse Aide for 90 days, the nursing home is under no obligation to reimburse the Nurse Aide. The first nursing home the Nurse Aide stays at for a least 90 days would then be responsible to reimburse the Nurse Aide if it has been 1 year or less since completion of the test. Only certified nursing homes or boarding care homes are required to reimburse a Nurse Aide.
Time Frame for Testing, 24 Month Test Cycle
You have four (4) attempts to pass the knowledge exam and three (3) attempts to pass the skills exam either:
- within 24 months of your date of training program completion
- or from the first (skills or knowledge) test attempt as a challenge candidate
If you have exhausted your knowledge OR skill attempts prior to the 24-month cycle ending, you MUST complete another MDH-approved training program BEFORE you are eligible to re-test.
If 24-month testing cycle has expired and candidate DID NOT exhaust all testing attempts in the 24 month testing cycle, the candidate can either:
- Complete new training program OR
- Test as a challenge candidate
Candidates CANNOT use previous successful test results for the new testing cycle. When a new training program is completed, this will void all past training and testing attempts.
Example:
On 3/1/24, candidate passes challenge knowledge attempt and fails skill attempt.
On 3/10/24, candidate fails 2nd skills attempt.
On 8/1/24, candidate enrolls in training program.
On 8/31/24, candidate completes training program. The 24-month cycle starts over.
Candidate must test for both knowledge and skills now that they have completed a new training program, as this new training program voids all past training and testing.
Candidates who have cheated on either the knowledge or skills exam will be exempt from any testing opportunities for 45 calendar days.