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How to get a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license in Michigan

Michigan licenses nursing assistants statewide through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems.1 For the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) — certificate of registration as a nurse aide you need 75 clock hours1 of education and a passing score on the Michigan nurse aide competency evaluation: written/oral exam and clinical skills demonstration2. The board lists $40 for the application2. You renew every 2 years1 and complete at least 12 hours of continuing education1.

Last checked · 4 official sources

Who issues it

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems

Training and experience

Training: 75 clock hours1

Exam

Michigan nurse aide competency evaluation: written/oral exam and clinical skills demonstration2

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $402

Renewal

Every 2 years1, at least 12 hours of continuing education1

From another state

License by endorsement2 Details

On this page
  1. Michigan nursing assistant licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license
  4. Requirements for a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license
  5. How much a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Moving to Michigan with a license from another state
  9. Certified Medication Aide (CMA)
  10. City and county rules
  11. Check a license or report a problem
  12. Laws and rules
  13. Rule changes since January 2024
  14. Common questions
  15. Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

Michigan nursing assistant licenses

Michigan issues 2 nursing assistant credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversTraining or experienceExamApplication or license fee
Certified Medication Aide (CMA) — Michigan medication aide certificationAdministers regularly scheduled medications to nursing home / skilled nursing facility residents under RN supervision; not controlled substances, injectables, first doses, or PRN (as-needed) medications; not the practice of nursing.3Experience 2,000 hours3Yes3$1603
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) — certificate of registration as a nurse aideProvides nursing or nursing-related services under facility policies and the resident's care plan and other delegated duties, unless overridden by a licensed health professional's order.1Training 75 clock hours1Yes1$402

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Michigan nursing assistant license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

How to apply

Renewal

How often
Every 2 years13

Who needs a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license

Provides nursing or nursing-related services under facility policies and the resident's care plan and other delegated duties, unless overridden by a licensed health professional's order.1

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • A graduate of a state-permitted training program may work as a temporary nurse aide for up to four months while awaiting the Headmaster test.2

Requirements for a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training
75 clock hours1
A state-permitted nurse aide training program of 75 hours: 16 classroom, 16 clinical and 43 hours of any mix of classroom, lab or clinical; 16 classroom hours before any resident contact; lab and clinical hours in person, classroom may be virtual.1
Who may teach it: LARA-permitted nurse aide training program with permitted nurse aide trainers; follows 42 CFR 483.152(b) and the state curriculum; proprietary programs also need a proprietary school license.1
Alternative: Out-of-state route: an active nurse aide certificate from another state whose training program the department recognizes, or completion of a recognized out-of-state training program plus Michigan's test.1
Exam
Michigan nurse aide competency evaluation: written/oral exam and clinical skills demonstration2
Given by: Headmaster, L.L.P.2
When you can take it: After completing a state-permitted nurse aide training program.2
Written/oral exam2
Clinical skills demonstration2
Retakes: Maximum 3 testing attempts; after 3 failures, complete another training program before retesting.1
Time limit: Pass within 24 months after completing training.1
Exam waived: No training or test for applicants with an active certificate from another state whose training program LARA recognizes.1
Background check
Findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriation are placed permanently on the registry (neglect may be petitioned for removal after one year).1
Social Security number
The registry records the aide's Social Security number.1
Also required
Training, testing and registration costs can be reimbursed for aides working in (or offered work by) a nursing home, county medical care facility or hospital long-term care unit, under federal rules; BCHS is not involved in reimbursement.2

How much a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$402Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health SystemsInitial certificate of registration (also reciprocity applicants)

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Headmaster, L.L.P.2, when you schedule.

How to apply

  1. Complete a Michigan-permitted 75-hour nurse aide training program (search programs on the BCHS registry site).2 nurseaideregistry.apps.lara.state.mi.us2
  2. Schedule and pass Headmaster's written/oral exam and clinical skills demonstration (max 3 attempts, within 24 months of training).2
  3. Create a MILogin account and request access to MI-NATES (Michigan Nurse Aide, Training, and Enforcement System).2 milogintp.michigan.gov2
  4. Submit the new nurse aide application in MI-NATES and pay the $40 registration fee; then print your certificate of registration.2
Temporary or provisional license
Temporary nurse aide: up to four months after graduating from a permitted program while awaiting the exam.2
Processing time
LARA processes a complete application within 30 calendar days.1

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires
Valid 2 years; renew online in MI-NATES no earlier than 45 days before expiry, attesting to at least 40 paid hours of nursing or nursing-related work in the last 24 months and (for expirations on or after March 23, 2026) 12 hours of CE per year; a renewal runs 24 months from the prior expiration date.1
Renewal fee
$402
Continuing education
At least 12 hours each renewal period1
Required topics
Must include abuse, neglect and care plan training.1
Approved courses
No provider approval rule in R 400.315; BCHS offers a free Care Plan Educational Video accepted for CNA CE (1 nursing contact hour).2
If it expires
Lapsed under 24 months: renew normally if the 40 hours of paid work fall within the 24 months before expiry; renewal runs 24 months from the old expiration date.2
Lapsed over 24 months, or no qualifying paid work in the last 24 months: removed from the registry and must retake training and the competency exam and apply as new.2

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Michigan Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) — certificate of registration as a nurse aide. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Michigan with a license from another state

These are the routes the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems publishes for the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license. The other nursing assistant licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
Reciprocity under MCL 333.21913 for CNAs in good standing who trained and tested in an approved state (programs consistent with federal rules, at least 75 training hours, no exemption from training hours or testing); apply in MI-NATES with the $40 registration fee.2
States on Michigan's list
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming2
This is the list of states whose licenses Michigan accepts for this route. It does not say those states accept a Michigan license.
Conditions
Training program consistent with federal rules2
At least 75 course hours before the competency exam2
The other state does not let candidates exempt out of training hours or testing2
Good standing in the other state2
Fee
$402

Certified Medication Aide (CMA)

Administers regularly scheduled medications to nursing home / skilled nursing facility residents under RN supervision; not controlled substances, injectables, first doses, or PRN (as-needed) medications; not the practice of nursing.3

Requirements

Education or training
Complete a BCHS-approved medication aide training program (curriculum based on the NCSBN Medication Aide curriculum linked by BCHS); permitted programs are listed by BCHS.3
Who may teach it: Only BCHS-permitted programs.3
Experience
At least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training3
At least 2,000 hours as a nurse aide in a nursing home or skilled nursing facility during the 2 years before applying.3
License you must hold first: Valid Michigan nurse aide certificate3
Exam
Michigan Medication Aide competency examination3
Given by: Headmaster, L.L.P.3
Also required
A medication aide may practice only under supervision of a registered nurse (MCL 333.21905(2)), who must meet the delegation duties in R 338.10104.3

Fees

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$1603Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health SystemsInitial certification (paid in MI-NATES)
Exam fee$1753–Each examination

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

  1. Hold an active Michigan CNA certificate and log at least 2,000 hours as a nurse aide in a nursing home/SNF in the last 2 years.3
  2. Complete a BCHS-permitted medication aide training program.3
  3. Pass the Headmaster medication aide competency exam ($175 per examination).3
  4. Apply in MI-NATES (via MILogin) and pay the $160 registration fee.3 milogintp.michigan.gov2

Renewal

When it expires
Renew in MI-NATES no earlier than 45 days before expiry; the renewal runs 24 months from the prior expiration date; the certificate lapses the day after expiry if not renewed.3
Renewal fee
$1603
If it expires
Lapsed under 24 months: standard renewal. Lapsed over 24 months: removed from the registry; retake an approved training course and the competency exam and apply as new.3

From another state

Route
Reciprocity agreements
What the board says
Applicants who completed a medication aide training program in Indiana, Ohio or Wisconsin may take the Michigan competency exam; once passed, they need an active Michigan CNA, the 2,000-hour attestation (out-of-state work counts) and the $160 fee.3
Training programs from
Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin3
This list is about where you trained, not a list of licenses Michigan accepts.
Conditions
Valid Michigan CNA certificate3
Attest to 2,000 CNA hours in a nursing home/SNF in the prior 2 years (out-of-state employment accepted)3
Fee
$1603

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Certified Medication Aide (CMA) — Michigan medication aide certificationNo local license: LARA BCHS certifies medication aides statewide.3

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) — certificate of registration as a nurse aideNo local license: LARA's Bureau of Community and Health Systems certifies nurse aides statewide.4

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a nursing assistant in Michigan, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Michigan is on the Michigan license lookup page.

File a complaint
michigan.gov2

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • March 23, 2026: CNA continuing education (12 hours a year incl. abuse, neglect and care plans) required for certificates expiring on or after March 23, 2026.2
  • September 26, 2024: LARA BCHS took over the Medication Aide Registry from Headmaster (MI-NATES).3

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license in Michigan?

The rules set 75 clock hours1 before you can be licensed. On processing, the board says: LARA processes a complete application within 30 calendar days.1

Can I transfer my nursing assistant license to Michigan?

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems publishes this route for the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license: license by endorsement2. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license in Michigan?

Every 2 years1. Continuing education: at least 12 hours1. The renewal fee is $402.

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. Mich. Admin. Code R 400.301 to R 400.357 Nurse Aide, Nurse Aide Trainer, and Nurse Aide Training Program…Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules (Michigan Administrative Code)Dated March 23, 2023Checked November 7, 2026
  2. Nurse Aide Registry (BCHS)Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health SystemsChecked November 7, 2026
  3. Certified Medication Aides (BCHS)Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health SystemsChecked November 7, 2026
  4. Nurse and Medication Aide Certification (BCHS)Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health SystemsChecked November 7, 2026