Wisconsin CNA Exam 2026: The Complete Nurse Aide Competency Guide
Wisconsin requires every paid nurse aide working in a federally certified nursing facility to complete a state-approved training program and pass the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Exam. The program is overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Office of Caregiver Quality and delivered by D&S Diversified Technologies LLP / Headmaster (D&SDT-Headmaster) through the Wisconsin TestMaster Universe (TMU) portal at wi.tmutest.com.
This 2026 guide walks through every step — training, TMU registration, fees, the 75-question knowledge test, the full 17-task skill list, registry maintenance, reciprocity, and salary — and links you to a 100% free Wisconsin-aligned practice course you can start in under a minute.
Wisconsin CNA Exam at a Glance
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Knowledge test | 75 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes |
| Audio (oral) option | First 67 items read aloud in headphones; last 8 are written paragraph scenarios; +$5 fee |
| Skill test | 3-4 tasks randomly selected from 17 published skills, 30 minutes total |
| Knowledge passing rule | Psychometric cut set by Headmaster |
| Skill passing rule | All key (critical) steps correct and at least 80% of all steps per task |
| Training requirement (WI Admin Code DHS 129) | 75 training hours minimum, including 16 clinical hours; first 16 hours must be classroom before any direct client contact |
| Typical WTCS program length | 120 hours (60 classroom/lab + 60 hands-on), 6-15 weeks |
| Test vendor | D&SDT-Headmaster via wi.tmutest.com |
| Registry | Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry (WNAR), hosted by Headmaster |
| Renewal cycle | Every 24 months — 8+ paid hours under RN/LPN supervision, logged in TMU |
| Combined fee (DHS-published) | $125 knowledge + skill, $130 audio + skill |
| Remote option | Remotely proctored knowledge exam available (see handbook page 40) |
| Handbook in force | Wisconsin Candidate Handbook V74, effective November 1, 2025 |
Step 1: Complete a DHS-Approved Wisconsin Training Program
Under Wis. Admin. Code DHS 129 a Wisconsin nurse aide training program must include at least 75 hours, with at least 16 hours of clinical experience and the first 16 hours provided in a classroom setting before any direct contact with clients. In practice, most candidates train through the Wisconsin Technical College System, where courses typically run the full 120 hours (roughly 60 classroom/lab + 60 hands-on) over 6-15 weeks.
Where to Find Approved Programs
DHS publishes an interactive map of every approved program. Common pathways include:
- Wisconsin Technical College System — Madison College, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Fox Valley Technical College, Northcentral, Western, Gateway, Chippewa Valley, Lakeshore, Moraine Park, Nicolet, Mid-State, Blackhawk, Southwest, Waukesha County, Northwood
- Long-term care employers that sponsor free training in exchange for a 6-12 month work commitment
- WisCaregiver Careers Program — free training through participating skilled nursing facilities; candidates may qualify for reimbursement when employed by a participating SNF within 12 months of completion
- High school health science academies (juniors and seniors aged 16+ may train and test)
- FSET and Job Center of Wisconsin tuition pathways
Waivers and Alternate Routes
You may challenge the competency exam without completing a full WI NATCEP if you are:
- A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse with a valid WI license
- A nursing student who completed a Fundamentals of Nursing course at an approved program
- A military medic, corpsman, or LVN with documented equivalent training (submit Military Training Verification form F-00657)
Apply through TMU with transcripts and identification.
Try a FREE Wisconsin CNA Practice Test
Our question bank mirrors the Headmaster blueprint — Safety, Infection Control, Personal Care, Basic Nursing Skills, Restorative Services, Mental Health, Resident Rights, Communication, and the full federal OBRA '87 framework.
Step 2: Register for the Exam Through TMU
- Go to wi.tmutest.com and create a candidate account (email address becomes your username)
- Complete your demographics
- Confirm your training program reported your eligibility
- Pay by credit card (self-pay) or use an employer-issued voucher
- Pick a test event and location
You must pass both components within one year of finishing training. Miss that window and Wisconsin requires you to complete another DHS-approved training program — there are no extensions.
2026 Fees
The Wisconsin DHS Competency Exam FAQ publishes the following schedule:
| Component | Fee |
|---|---|
| Knowledge only (written) | $32 |
| Oral / audio knowledge only | $37 |
| Skill test only | $93 |
| Knowledge + Skill combined | $125 |
| Audio + Skill combined | $130 |
Headmaster's WI homepage also posts a separate self-pay price ($35.70 knowledge, $40.95 audio, $102.05 skill) that reflects processing fees when a candidate pays directly rather than through an employer voucher. Always confirm the amount displayed in your TMU cart before submitting payment — that number governs.
Fees are non-refundable once you're scheduled in a test event. Rescheduling online is free if done at least three business days in advance.
Step 3: The Knowledge Test — 75 Questions, 60 Minutes
The Wisconsin knowledge exam is a single 75-item multiple-choice test drawn from federal OBRA '87 subject areas. All items are four-option multiple choice. There is no penalty for guessing — answer every question.
Subject categories (per Candidate Handbook V74):
- Role of the Nurse Aide
- Communication
- Client (Resident) Rights
- Psychosocial Care Skills — Mental Health & Social Needs
- Care of the Cognitively Impaired
- Basic Nursing Skills (vital signs, observation, hygiene)
- Personal Care Skills
- Restorative Services
- Safety / Emergency
- Infection Control
- Data Collection & Reporting
- Client (Resident) Care — clinical scenarios
Wisconsin does not publish a fixed per-category item count the way NNAAP states do. Item counts per category float within the Headmaster test plan, so master the whole blueprint rather than chasing the "heaviest" category.
Audio (Oral) Test Option
If English is your second language, or if you read slowly, request the audio version when scheduling. You hear items 1-67 over headphones (each played twice). The final 8 are paragraph-based scenarios you must read on screen. Audio testing adds $5 to the fee but does not change the passing standard.
Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam
As of the March 2026 handbook update, Wisconsin now offers a remotely proctored knowledge exam you can take from home. You still must appear in person for the skill test. See handbook pages 40-43 for webcam, attire, and room-scan rules.
Step 4: The Skill Test — 17 Published Tasks, 3 to 4 Drawn at Random
A trained Nurse Aide Evaluator pulls three or four skills at random from Wisconsin's published list of 17 skill tasks. You have 30 minutes total. To pass each task you must:
- Perform every key (critical) step correctly, and
- Earn at least 80% of all listed steps on that task
Miss one critical step — typically hand hygiene, identifying the resident, providing privacy, or placing the call light at the end — and the task fails even if you scored 95% on everything else.
The 17 Wisconsin Skill Tasks (Candidate Handbook V74)
| # | Task |
|---|---|
| 1 | Apply an Anti-embolic Stocking to a Resident's Leg |
| 2 | Assist a Resident to Ambulate using a Gait Belt |
| 3 | Assist a Resident who is Dependent with a Meal |
| 4 | Assist a Resident with a Bedpan (Modified) — hand washing required |
| 5 | Catheter Care for a Female Resident — hand washing required |
| 6 | Denture Care — Clean an Upper or Lower Denture |
| 7 | Don Isolation Gown and Gloves; Empty a Urinary Bag, Measure and Record Output; Doff Gown and Gloves — hand washing required |
| 8 | Dress a Bedridden Resident with an Affected (Weak) Side |
| 9 | Foot Care for One Foot |
| 10 | Modified Bed Bath — Whole Face and One Arm, Hand, and Underarm |
| 11 | Oral Care — Brush a Resident's Teeth |
| 12 | Perineal Care for a Female Resident — hand washing required |
| 13 | Position a Resident in Bed on their Side |
| 14 | Range of Motion for a Resident's Hip and Knee |
| 15 | Range of Motion for a Resident's Shoulder |
| 16 | Stand and Pivot Transfer a Weight-Bearing Resident from Bed to Wheelchair using a Gait Belt |
| 17 | Vital Signs — Count and Record a Resident's Radial Pulse and Respirations |
Note: Hand hygiene is embedded as a critical step inside several tasks (marked "hand washing required"). Mannequins are used only for catheter and perineal care; for every other task, a professional actor plays the resident.
Universal Critical Steps (apply to almost every task)
- Knock and greet the resident; introduce yourself by name and title
- Verify identity — check name on door/wristband or ask the resident
- Wash hands before touching the resident
- Explain the procedure in plain language (even if the actor stays silent)
- Provide privacy — close door and curtain
- Raise bed to working height; lock wheels
- Maintain safety and body mechanics throughout
- Lower bed when finished; place call light within reach on the unaffected side
- Wash hands again after the task
- Report and document to the nurse
Miss any of these and the entire task fails. Practice them until they are automatic.
Build Your Skills Checklist Knowledge
Our AI tutor walks you through each of the 17 published tasks with the exact key-step sequence Headmaster evaluators score against — and explains why each step matters.
6-Week Wisconsin CNA Study Plan
| Week | Focus | Daily Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Role of NA + Resident Rights + Communication | 30 practice questions/day |
| 2 | Safety + Infection Control + PPE skill drill (Task 7 isolation) | 30 questions + handwashing rehearsal aloud |
| 3 | Personal Care + Restorative Services (Tasks 8-12, 14-15) | Practice 5 personal-care tasks with a partner |
| 4 | Basic Nursing Skills + Vital Signs (Task 17) | Master radial pulse and respirations; 40 questions/day |
| 5 | Cognitive Impairment + Mental Health + Data Collection | Full 75-question timed practice exam |
| 6 | Final review + 3 timed practice tests | Mock skill test with timer; rehearse all 17 tasks |
Most candidates need 40-80 hours of focused review on top of their formal training program.
Wisconsin-Specific Pitfalls That Fail Candidates
Headmaster evaluators are strict on procedural sequencing. The failures below account for the majority of skill-test retakes statewide:
- Reading questions too fast — knowledge items often hinge on a single qualifier ("first", "best", "most appropriate"). Slow down on every "first/initial" prompt and look for the safety-priority answer
- Skipping the explain-the-procedure step because the actor stays silent — say it anyway; evaluators score what they hear
- Forgetting to lock wheelchair brakes before any transfer — automatic failure on Task 2 (ambulate) and Task 16 (stand-and-pivot transfer)
- Not changing gloves and washing hands between body areas during catheter or perineal care — the "hand washing required" label on Tasks 4, 5, 7, and 12 means evaluators are specifically watching for it
- Placing the gait belt under the armpits — it belongs on the waist over clothing, snug enough that two fingers fit underneath
- Counting respirations visibly — keep your fingers on the wrist as if checking pulse, then count for a full 60 seconds so the rate stays natural (Task 17)
- Letting the call light fall out of reach at the end of a task — place it on the unaffected side and verify the resident can press it
- Recording vitals before deflating the BP cuff fully — wait for the cuff to read 0 before stating the result aloud
- Using your fingernail instead of the finger pad during pulse — WI evaluators flag this as a dignity/safety violation
- Carrying contaminated linen across the room — use a leak-proof bag at the bedside and keep soiled linen away from your uniform
Test-Day Checklist
The Wisconsin Candidate Handbook lists what you must bring and what is forbidden. Show up unprepared and Headmaster will turn you away without a refund.
- Two forms of ID — one government photo (driver's license, state ID, or passport) plus one signed secondary (SSN card, employer badge, or credit card)
- Admission ticket from TMU with your candidate ID number
- Closed-toe non-slip shoes, scrubs or comparable clean clothing, hair tied back above the collar, no nail polish, no acrylic nails, fingernails trimmed short
- Wristwatch with a second hand — no smartwatches, no fitness trackers, no phone clocks
- Arrive 30 minutes early — late arrival forfeits your fee with no makeup option
- No phone, books, notes, gum, food, or beverages in the testing room; lockers are usually provided
- If sick, snowed in, or facing an emergency, call Headmaster the day before to reschedule without losing the fee (testing line 888-401-0462)
After You Pass: The Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry (WNAR)
Headmaster posts your WNAR record after you pass both components. Employers verify you at wi.tmutest.com using your name, SSN, or registration number. Wisconsin does not issue paper cards — your TMU record is the proof of certification.
Your federal eligibility to work in Medicare/Medicaid-certified facilities is valid for 24 months from your last successful test date. To stay active you must:
- Work at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide under RN or LPN supervision during each 24-month window (Wis. Stat. § 146.40 and 42 CFR Part 483)
- Log hours through the Employment tab in TMU 90 days before expiration; your employer confirms via emailed link
- Keep a clean record — substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, misappropriation, or exploitation are listed publicly on the WNAR and bar federal employment
Self-employment and private-duty work do not count for federal eligibility renewal.
If your 24-month window closes without qualifying hours, federal law does not allow extensions — you must retake both the knowledge and skill tests. Wisconsin does not require you to retrain. You may continue to work in hospitals and state-licensed (non-Medicaid) facilities while State-certified only.
Military Lapse Protection
Wisconsin Act 210 (effective June 1, 2012) extends certification for service members — and qualifying spouses — from 90 days to 180 days if the certification expires during active duty. Use form F-00657.
Reciprocity Into Wisconsin
Use WI CNA Reciprocity Form 9110WI through TMU. You'll upload:
- Proof of training (diploma, transcript, or letter from a state-approved program of at least 75 hours) or Employer Verification Form 9110WI-A showing 2,088 paid hours of nurse aide work in the previous 24 months
- Image of your Social Security card
- Image of a valid US government-issued photo ID
Eligibility routes (handbook-published):
- 120 hours / 32 clinical + passed a comparable competency exam → placed on WNAR after TMU transfer
- 120 hours / 32 clinical + comparable exam not verified → must pass the Wisconsin competency exam
- 75-119 hours of training + 2,088 paid hours in 24 months + comparable exam → may be placed on WNAR after employer verification
- 75-119 hours without qualifying employment → complete an approved 45-hour Bridge Program, then pass the WI exam
- Inactive on another state's registry → must pass the WI competency exam
- Alabama applicants trained more than 2 years ago → must include employment verification (state-specific rule)
Incomplete applications are invalid after 30 days. Grandparented status from before Jan 1, 2000 does not transfer.
Reciprocity Out of Wisconsin
Verify your WNAR eligibility is current, then apply directly through the destination state's registry. The receiving state pulls your federal eligibility from the Headmaster system — Wisconsin does not file outbound paperwork.
Wisconsin CNA Salary & Job Outlook
Figures below reflect April 2026 aggregator and BLS data for Wisconsin certified nursing assistants:
| Source | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| ZipRecruiter (WI average) | $20.25 | $42,125 |
| Indeed (WI average) | $21.44 | ~$44,600 |
| PayScale (Milwaukee) | $17.75 | ~$36,900 |
| BLS national average (CNA) | $18.96 | $39,430 |
Wisconsin projects roughly 2,400 CNA openings per year through 2030 to replace workforce attrition and meet aging-population demand. Medication Aide (MA) is the most common next step after two years as a nurse aide with 2,000+ direct-care hours — MAs earn $2-5/hour more in most long-term care facilities. CNA also remains the most common stepping stone into LPN (12-18 months at WTCS), ADN (2 years), or BSN (4 years) programs.
Pass the Wisconsin CNA Exam — Free, Today
Our Wisconsin-aligned course covers every Headmaster subject area, every one of the 17 testable skill tasks, and includes:
- 500+ practice questions matched to the Wisconsin Candidate Handbook V74 blueprint
- Step-by-step skill checklists with critical steps highlighted
- AI-powered explanations for any wrong answer
- Timed mock exams that match the 75-question, 60-minute format
- Updated April 2026 for the current handbook
No credit card. No paywall. Just pass.
Official Wisconsin CNA Resources
- Wisconsin DHS — Becoming a Nurse Aide
- Wisconsin DHS — Competency Exam FAQs
- Wisconsin DHS — Maintaining Registry Status
- Wisconsin DHS — Nurse Aide Registry FAQs
- Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry Lookup (TMU)
- Headmaster Wisconsin CNA Testing Hub
- Wisconsin Candidate Handbook V74 (PDF)
- WI Admin Code DHS 129 — Training Standards
- Headmaster testing: 888-401-0462 | Registry: 888-401-0465 | Email: wisconsin@hdmaster.com
- DHS Office of Caregiver Quality: 608-261-8319 | dhswidqa_natcep@dhs.wisconsin.gov
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