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Eligibility

You are eligible to take the examinations for certification as a nursing assistant or nursing assistant/home health aide in Minnesota if you qualify under one of the following routes:

1. NURSING ASSISTANT (NA) CANDIDATE
   You have completed a state-approved nursing assistant training program within the past two years. You must take the NA written (or oral) and skills evaluation tests.
    
2. NURSING ASSISTANT/HOME HEALTH AIDE (NA/HHA) CANDIDATE
   You have completed a state-approved nursing assistant/home health aide training program within the past two years. You must take the NA/HHA written (or oral) and skills evaluation tests.
    
3. HOME HEALTH AIDE (HHA) CANDIDATE
   Prove you have previously completed a state-approved nursing assistant training program, have taken and passed the NA examination, are on the MN Nursing Assistant Registry and have recently completed an approved home health aide program and are now seeking home health aide certification.  You must take only the NA/HHA written (or oral) evaluation test. 
    
4. TEST-OUT CANDIDATE (CHALLENGE) - Applies to NA Candidates Only
   You are a candidate who does not meet any of the three eligibility routes listed above. Examples are: 1) if you trained in another country; 2) if you have not taken a nursing assistant program; 3) if you have not worked as a nursing assistant in the last two years; 4) if you are from another state and do not qualify for reciprocity in Minnesota or are not in current status on transferring Registry; or 5) if you are a student nurse or graduate nurse candidate.  You must take the NA written and skills (or oral) evaluation tests.
    

Exam Scheduling & Registration

The state competency exam is offered at both the Faribault and the North Mankato Campuses. You must be registered for the exam no later than the Friday before the test.  Walk-in testing is not available.  On exam day, you will need to plan for approximately four hours from start to finish including some waiting time.  See upcoming exam dates.  

Register online with a credit card or request for company billing.  Additional registration information can be found on the Register tab.

Exam cost, which includes both the SCC administrative and Pearson VUE fees, are as follows:

• Nursing Assistant & Test-Out Challengers - $160
• Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide - $160
• Written/Oral Retake Test - $80
• Skills Retake Test - $80

Please note, on exam day you will need to bring:

• Two forms of current identification, both with a signature, one form with a picture - photocopies are not accepted and you are not allowed to test without the required ID
• A completed application (for new candidates in Routes 1, 2, 3) along with proof of completion of a nursing assistant and/or home health aide training program approved by the Minnesota Department of Health 
• Failing score report from the written or oral exam (for written/oral retake candidates)
• Two No. 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils)
• Watch with a second hand
• Your social security number - you do not have to have your card (Minnesota requires you to provide this number; it will become your nursing assistant certificate number and is used for  identification purposes.  Your Social Security number will be kept private.)
   

Preparing for the Exam

The exam consists of two parts, the written (or oral) and the skills evaluation, which are taken on the same day.  You must pass both parts in order to be certified and listed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry.  In most cases, your official test results will be faxed from Pearson VUE before you leave the test site.

Appropriate clothing for the skills exam includes loose fitting clothes that are easy to move around in.  Scrubs are optional.

To download a Candidate Handbook to study for the test or to take a Nurse Aide Practice Written Examination, visit the Pearson VUE website.

Information on the NA/HHA (Basic Nursing 101) class can be found on the Nursing Program page.