How to get a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate in Montana

Montana nursing assistant licenses

Montana issues 3 nursing assistant credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Rules shared by several license levels

These rules are the same for several of the Montana nursing assistant licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Every license level except Certified Nursing Assistant (certificate issued by the Department of Public Health and Human Services)

Requirements

Background check

Background check required⁵
Fingerprints required⁵
State and federal fingerprint check; the applicant pays the background-check fees.⁵

Who needs a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate

Work that does not need this license:

• Montana nursing law exempts nursing tasks that licensed nurses delegate to unlicensed persons under Board of Nursing rules.⁶

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Federal rule (applies in Montana nursing facilities): a facility may use a person as a nurse aide for no more than 4 months full-time before they complete a state-approved training and competency evaluation program.¹

Requirements for a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate

Education or training

At least 75 clock hours¹
State-approved nurse aide training and competency evaluation program. Federal minimum: at least 75 clock hours including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training, and 16 hours of specified training before any direct resident contact.¹

Exam

Written or oral examination¹
Skills demonstration of randomly selected nurse aide tasks¹
Retakes: Federal rule: at least three opportunities to pass; the state may cap attempts but not below three.¹

Background check

Federal registry rule: findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property are recorded on the nurse aide registry.¹

How to apply

1. Complete a Montana state-approved nurse aide training program (federal minimum 75 hours incl. 16 supervised practical).¹
2. Pass both parts of the competency evaluation: written or oral test and skills demonstration.¹
3. Your passing result is entered on the Montana nurse aide registry (federal rule: within 30 days).¹

Renewal and continuing education

If it expires

Federal rule: if you go 24 consecutive months without paid nursing or nursing-related work, you must complete a new training and competency evaluation program or a new competency evaluation.¹

Licensed Medication Aide I (LMA I)

Gives prescribed medications by standardized procedures in a licensed assisted living facility, under the general supervision of an RN or LPN, within limits set by board rule.²

How to apply

1. Apply to the Montana Board of Nursing and submit fingerprints for the state and federal background check.⁵

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Licensed Medication Aide II (LMA II)

Gives medications by standardized procedures in a long-term care facility licensed for skilled nursing care, only with a licensed RN or LPN on the premises; may not give PRN medications, injections (except prelabeled, predrawn insulin), tube or nasogastric medications, calculate doses or take verbal medication orders.³

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

Required⁴

Education or training

100 clock hours⁴
Board-specified medication aide II training program: 100 hours of classroom instruction, laboratory skills and supervised medication administration (basic pharmacology and safe medication administration).⁴

Experience

At least 1,000 hours of on-the-job training⁴
Employment as a CNA in a skilled-nursing long-term care facility.⁴

Exam

Board-approved medication aide II competency examination⁴
Passing score: At least 80% proficiency⁴

How to apply

1. Hold a DPHHS CNA certificate, CPR certificate and high school diploma/equivalent, and work at least 1,000 hours as a CNA in a skilled nursing facility.⁴
2. Complete the board-specified 100-hour training program (or hold an equivalent medication aide license from another state).⁴
3. Pass the board-approved competency exam (80%).⁴
4. Apply to the Montana Board of Nursing with written evidence of each requirement and submit fingerprints for the state and federal background check.⁴

Renewal

When it expires

Renewal requirements are set by board rule and include continuing education, keeping the CNA and medication aide II certification, and current CPR.⁷

Continuing education

At least 6 hours each renewal period⁴

Required topics

Pharmacology and medication administration (6 hours a year)⁴

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

City and county rules

Certified Nursing Assistant (certificate issued by the Department of Public Health and Human Services)No local license: the credential is statewide.⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 42 CFR 483.151-483.158
• MCA 37-8-423(2) (references the DPHHS CNA certificate)
• MCA 37-8-102(4)
• MCA 37-8-422
• MCA 37-8-425
• MCA 37-8-434
• MCA 37-8-423
• MCA 37-8-424
• MCA 37-8-426

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming