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Free Minnesota CNA Exam Prep

Minnesota Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (CNA)

Prepare for the Minnesota CNA exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.

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Your Study Path

Minnesota CNA License: Complete Roadmap

Follow this path to organize your licensing and exam preparation

1

Complete CNA Training

Complete an MDH-approved nurse aide program with at least 75 clock hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training with a live person, unless using a test-out/challenge route.

0
hours
2

Basic Nursing SkillsYou are here

Prioritize Basic Nursing Skills, the largest official knowledge area with 15 of 70 questions.

30
hours
3

Infection Control & Safety

Study Infection Control and Safety, which contribute 8 questions each, or 16 of the 70 knowledge questions combined.

20
hours
4

Complete the Remaining Nine Areas

Review Care Impaired (6); Resident Rights and Role and Responsibility (5 each); five 4-question areas; and Mental Health (3).

20
hours
5

Practice Exams & Skills Review

Practice the 70-question, two-hour knowledge format and rehearse the skills rules: 3 or 4 tasks in 30 minutes, all key steps, and at least 80% of non-key steps on each task.

20
hours
Estimated total study time
90 hours
That's about 9 weeks at 10 hours/week

Can You Take the Minnesota CNA Exam?

Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements

Age
No minimum testing age is stated in the current MDH/Headmaster candidate handbook
Education
No high school diploma or equivalent is stated as a testing prerequisite
Background Check
Not a registry-testing requirement; the Nurse Aide Registry does not maintain background-check records
Fingerprinting
Not listed as a testing prerequisite; employer or training-program requirements may differ
Additional Requirements
  • •Complete an MDH-approved program of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, or use an eligible test-out/challenge route
  • •Pass the 70-question knowledge exam with 74% or better and pass the separate manual skills exam
  • •Pass within four knowledge attempts and three skills attempts during the applicable 24-month testing cycle
  • •Training, expired-registry, and test-out/challenge candidates must take both the knowledge and skills exams

Minnesota CNA Quick Facts

Time to Get Licensed

Both components must be passed in the applicable 24-month testing cycle

From start to license in hand

Exam Provider

Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies)

Remote Testing Available
Schedule Your Exam

Retake Policy

Four knowledge attempts and three skills attempts are allowed within 24 months of training completion or the first challenge attempt. Exhausting either limit requires a new MDH-approved program before retesting.

Total Cost Breakdown

Exam FeeVaries by test site; current MDH in-facility pricing is $60 knowledge and $100 skills
Application FeeNo separate registry processing fee; confirm any test-site administrative charges
Background CheckNot part of the registry competency exam fee; employer or program requirements vary
Pre-License EducationTraining costs vary by site; eligible nursing-home employees or offerees may not be charged
Total Estimated CostVaries by training site, testing channel, and employer or facility sponsorship
Why Choose Us

Free Minnesota CNA Prep Tools

Reported exam pass rate: No single statewide pass-rate figure is stated in the handbook; MDH publishes program-level test data. These figures describe exam candidates, not OpenExamPrep user outcomes. Check the exam sponsor’s website for published statistics.

495+ Practice Questions

Practice by topic with detailed answer explanations

AI Tutor Explains Mistakes

Understand why answers are wrong, not just which ones

Independent Study Resources

Check the exam sponsor for current requirements

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What You'll Study

5 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide

Minnesota CNA Exam Details

Minnesota Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (CNA)

Administered by Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) / Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)

Official Source
Knowledge: 74% (at least 52/70); skills: all key steps and 80%+ of non-key steps on each task
Passing Score
70
Questions
Knowledge:
Minutes
Varies by test site; current in-facility pricing is $60 for knowledge and $100 for skills
Exam Fee
Study time: Varies by training and prior experience; MDH does not publish a standard study-time recommendation
Prerequisites: Complete an MDH-approved nurse aide program of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, or qualify to test out/challenge
Valid for: Registry status remains active with at least 8 hours of paid nursing-assistant work every 24 months

Exam Content Breakdown

Based on the official Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) / Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) content outline

Aging Process and Restorative Care (4 questions)5.7%

Aging across the lifespan and maintaining residents' physical, mental, and psychosocial function

Basic Nursing Skills (15 questions)21.4%

Core acts and activities needed to perform entry-level nurse aide work safely

Care Impaired (6 questions)8.6%

Adapting care for residents whose physical or mental limitations require different or additional assistance

Communication (4 questions)5.7%

Verbal, nonverbal, written, spoken, and sensory communication

Data Collection (4 questions)5.7%

Acquiring, handling, recording, and routing resident information

Disease Process (4 questions)5.7%

Disease stages and theory, including detection, prevention, and treatment concepts

Infection Control (8 questions)11.4%

The nature and causes of infection, prevention, and correct infection-control methods

Mental Health (3 questions)4.3%

Residents' mental processes and states, mental well-being, and workplace interactions

Personal Care (4 questions)5.7%

Personal activities and care performed by the nurse aide for residents

Resident Rights (5 questions)7.1%

Residents' legal rights and the facility's and nurse aide's duties to protect them

Role and Responsibility (5 questions)7.1%

The nurse aide's basic workplace role and responsibilities

Safety (8 questions)11.4%

Safety of residents, nurse aides, other personnel, equipment, and the facility

What's Included

5 Chapters

Complete exam coverage

Practice Quizzes

With detailed explanations

Free to Start

No credit card required

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What's Next After the Minnesota CNA?

After passing the Minnesota CNA, you can pursue these career paths

Minnesota CNA Exam FAQ

Official Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) / Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Resources

Verify information with these official sources

More Free Resources

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Ready to Start Your Free Minnesota CNA Prep?

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