Which exam does Montana use?
Montana contracts with Headmaster to administer the state Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) certification exam. The exam is required for every candidate who has completed an approved nurse aide training program and wants to be listed on the Montana nurse aide registry. The exam is the same standardized test used across the vendor's roster of states, which means a candidate who studies the Headmaster content outline is studying the exact blueprint they will see on test day.
Headmaster (D&SDT-Headmaster) is the largest dedicated nurse aide testing vendor in the United States, operating in 24 states including Montana. The Headmaster exam uses a computer-adaptive written portion and a standardized clinical skills rubric. Candidates register on the Headmaster website and schedule their exam at a regional testing site.
Regardless of which vendor your state uses, every CNA exam has the same two-part structure: a multiple-choice written (or oral) knowledge test and a hands-on clinical skills evaluation. You must pass both parts to earn your Montana CNA certification, and the result is portable to most other states through reciprocity. For a deeper look at the vendor itself, see our Headmaster exam guide.
CNA exam format in Montana
The Montana CNA certification exam has two parts: a multiple-choice written test and a clinical skills evaluation. You must pass both to be added to the Montana nurse aide registry, and you can take them on the same day or schedule them separately depending on testing center availability.
Written (or oral) knowledge test
The written test contains 75 multiple-choice questions covering four major content areas:
- Role of the Nurse Aide — communication, client rights, legal and ethical behavior, member of the healthcare team
- Physical Care — activities of daily living, hygiene, nutrition, elimination, vital signs
- Psychosocial Care — mental health, cultural sensitivity, end-of-life care
- Safety — infection control, emergency procedures, body mechanics, restraints
You have 120 minutes to complete the written portion. A passing score is 70% or higher. You may request an oral version of the test if you have a documented reading disability or limited English proficiency; the oral version is delivered through headphones and includes all 75 questions read aloud.
Clinical skills evaluation
The clinical skills portion takes about 30-45 minutes and consists of 5 randomly assigned nursing skills performed in front of a Registered Nurse evaluator. In Montana, the skills are drawn from a pool of 18 approved procedures. Two skills — Hand Hygiene</em> and <em>Indirect Care — appear on every exam. The remaining skills are selected by the testing software immediately before your exam.
Each skill has a checklist of critical steps that must be performed correctly. Each skill has up to 2 critical steps; missing any one fails the exam regardless of overall performance. The full skills checklist is published in the Headmaster candidate handbook.
CNA training requirements in Montana
Before you can sit for the Montana CNA exam, you must complete an approved nurse aide training program. The Montana state board of nursing requires a minimum of 75 hours of instruction, which includes both classroom (or online) theory and hands-on clinical practice. Of those 75 hours, 16 hours must be supervised clinical practice in a licensed long-term care facility — usually a nursing home.
Approved training programs in Montana are offered by community colleges, vocational schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and a growing number of online-hybrid providers. To find an approved program, check the Montana state board of nursing website, your local community college catalog, or the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) eligible training provider list. Each program must include the same core curriculum: communication, infection control, safety and emergency procedures, basic nursing skills, personal care skills, mental health, and resident rights.
After you finish your training program, the program director must submit your completion roster to the Montana nurse aide registry. This typically takes 1-2 weeks. Once your training is verified in the registry, you can register for the certification exam through Headmaster.
If you have prior healthcare credentials — for example, an LPN, RN student, military medic, or home health aide experience — Montana may waive some or all of the training requirement. Check the Montana state board of nursing website for the current equivalency rules, and use our clinical skills walkthrough to brush up on the procedures you will be tested on.
How to apply for the Montana CNA exam
Once your training program submits your completion to the Montana nurse aide registry, follow these steps to register for the certification exam.
Step 1 — Create a Headmaster account
Go to https://www.hdmaster.com and create a candidate account. Use the same legal name that appears on your government ID — your admission letter is matched against your ID at the testing center, and any mismatch can delay check-in.
Step 2 — Verify your eligibility
Headmaster pulls your training completion from the Montana nurse aide registry. If your program has submitted your completion, you will see "Eligible" status in your account within 1-2 weeks of finishing your program. If you see "Pending" or "Not Found," contact your program director.
Step 3 — Choose a testing location
Headmaster operates a network of regional testing sites throughout Montana. Pick the site closest to you — popular locations fill up 2-3 weeks in advance, especially during peak graduation months.
Step 4 — Pay the $$100 exam fee
The Montana CNA exam fee is $100, paid by credit or debit card at registration. Some employers reimburse this fee; ask your training program if reimbursement is available.
Step 5 — Schedule and confirm
Pick a date and time. You will receive an admission letter by email — print it and bring it with you on exam day. If you need to reschedule, Headmaster requires at least 24-48 hours notice (check the candidate handbook for the exact policy).
Exam day checklist for Montana CNA candidates
The morning of your exam, give yourself plenty of time. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time to allow for check-in, ID verification, and locker assignment. Late arrivals may forfeit their fee and have to re-register.
What to bring
- Two forms of government-issued ID — one must be a photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID card)
- Your Headmaster admission letter (printed or on your phone)
- Payment receipt or confirmation number
- Scrubs in any solid color — most testing sites allow navy, ceil blue, or wine
- Closed-toe, non-skid shoes (typically white or black)
- A simple wristwatch with a second hand (no smart watches)
What to leave at home
- Cell phones, smart watches, and any electronic devices — testing centers have no secure storage
- Notes, textbooks, or study guides
- Food and drinks (water in a clear bottle is usually allowed)
- Scrubs with logos or identifying marks from your training program
During the exam
The written portion is timed at 120 minutes. Read each question carefully and eliminate obviously wrong answers before choosing. After the written portion, you will move to the skills lab. Listen to the RN evaluator's instructions carefully, introduce yourself to the "resident," explain each step as you perform it, and remember to knock before entering the resident's room.
CNA exam cost and fees in Montana
The base CNA exam fee in Montana is $100, paid directly to Headmaster. This covers both the written knowledge test and the clinical skills evaluation when scheduled on the same day. If you schedule them separately, each component typically carries its own fee — check the Headmaster candidate handbook for the latest breakdown.
On top of the exam fee, plan for training program tuition. CNA programs in Montana range from $400 to $1,800 depending on the provider — community colleges are usually cheapest, while accelerated bootcamps and private schools sit at the higher end. Many programs include the exam fee in their tuition.
Retake fees: if you fail one or both portions, Headmaster charges a retake fee per component. The fee is generally lower than the full exam fee. Some employers and scholarship programs will reimburse your first-attempt fee if you commit to working at their facility for a set period. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding is available in Montana for eligible candidates and can cover both training and exam costs.
How to prepare for the Montana CNA exam
Most candidates need 2-4 weeks of focused study after finishing their training program to feel fully prepared. Here is the study plan we recommend for Montana.
Week 1 — Review the content blueprint
Download the Headmaster candidate handbook and read the content outline cover to cover. Make a checklist of the 18 clinical skills — including the two always-tested skills, Hand Hygiene</em> and <em>Indirect Care — and start practicing the ones you feel weakest on.
Week 2 — Practice questions daily
Use our free CNA practice test bank to drill 75 multiple-choice questions per day. Read every explanation — even for questions you get right — so you understand the reasoning the vendor expects. Aim for a consistent score above 70% on practice tests before scheduling your exam.
Week 3 — Skills rehearsal
Practice each of the 18 clinical skills out loud with a study partner. Narrate every step, especially the critical ones. If you have access to a lab or mannequin at your training program, book practice time.
Week 4 — Full-length simulations
Take at least two full-length timed simulations in our exam simulator. Build your test-day stamina by sitting through the full 120-minute written portion without breaks.
Looking for state-specific practice? See our Montana CNA questions by topic page for the question count and difficulty distribution you can expect.