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

North Dakota nursing assistant licenses

North Dakota issues 4 nursing assistant credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the North Dakota 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.

1. Every license level (all 4)

Requirements

Background check

Applicants with convictions substantially related to aide duties or registry findings may be refused entry to training or testing; the department may deny registration for such convictions. Applications ask personal background questions.⁴
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹

How to apply

Apply online

services.ndhhs.gov⁵⁶

Renewal

Renew online

services.ndhhs.gov⁷

2. Every license level except Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

Processing time

3-5 business days for complete applications.²³

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

Renewal fee

$25⁸¹

If it expires

Practising with an expired registration: if expired 30 days or less you must stop work until renewal is complete; if expired more than 30 days to 6 months the state survey agency and employer are also notified and you must stop work; if expired more than 6 months the registry status is no longer recognized and you must apply again as an initial applicant.¹

From another state

3. Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and Nurse Aide (NA) - registered, not certified

Requirements

Social Security number

SSN is recorded on the registry (not released publicly); renewal login uses the last 4 digits.¹

4. Medication Assistant I (MA I; ND HHS pages also say "Medication Aide I") and Medication Assistant II (MA II; ND HHS pages also say "Medication Aide II")

Requirements

Exam

Program theory test(s) and clinical skills checklist¹
Given by: The approved training program (no state vendor exam)¹
Retakes: One retake; after a second failure additional instruction is required.¹
Time limit: up to 6 months¹

Social Security number

SSN of each student is submitted by the program.¹

Also required

Underlying registration must stay current (MA I: CNA or NA; MA II: CNA).¹

How to apply

1. Complete a department-approved medication assistant program.²
2. Apply online and pay the $25 non-refundable fee by credit card.²

Renewal

When it expires

Renews on the same date as the underlying CNA (or NA) registration.¹

Required topics

Continued competency verified by a licensed nurse; employment verification.⁸

Who needs a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license

Nursing or nursing-related services to residents, with selected nursing interventions delegated by a licensed nurse.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• A person enrolled in an approved CNA training program may work under licensed-nurse supervision for up to four months before registration.¹
• Licensed health professionals, unlicensed assistive persons under N.D.C.C. 43-12.1 (ND Board of Nursing), and unpaid volunteers are outside the registry rules.⁹

Requirements for a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 75 clock hours¹
Complete a department-approved CNA training program of at least 75 hours (for nursing-facility employees, 16 classroom hours before any hands-on resident contact; at least 16 hours supervised practical training) plus the competency evaluation, or the competency evaluation alone.¹
Who may teach it: Program must be approved by the ND HHS Health Facilities Unit (list on its website); aides employed by or with a job offer from a nursing facility cannot be charged for training.¹⁰
Alternative: Competency evaluation only (test-out) is allowed.¹
Alternative: A former employee hired by a facility within 12 months of training is reimbursed pro rata (federal rule wording that programs must share).¹¹

Exam

North Dakota CNA competency evaluation: written or oral test plus manual skills demonstration¹
Given by: D&SDT-Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies)¹¹
When you can take it: After completing an approved training program, or directly (competency evaluation only).¹
Written or oral knowledge test¹
Manual skills demonstration of randomly selected tasks¹
Retakes: No more than three attempts; after a third failure you must complete an approved training program before testing again.¹
Time limit: Facility employees must finish the 75-hour program within four months of first employment as a nurse aide.¹
Exam waived: No test for CNAs endorsed from another state with current registry status and no findings.¹

How to apply

1. Choose a CNA training program approved by the ND HHS Health Facilities Unit (download list) or plan to test out.¹⁰
2. Take the Headmaster (D&SDT) competency evaluation: written/oral test and skills demonstration (see the Candidate Handbook).¹¹
3. Submit the CNA application with proof of completion; the department places you on the registry as a certified nurse aide (no fee).¹
4. Check your status or print a registration card on the Nurse Aide Registry Online Services site (no card is mailed).⁶

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary registration; enrolled trainees may work up to four months under licensed-nurse supervision.¹

Processing time

Complete applications processed within 3-5 business days; passing competency results entered within 14 days; online test results take 7-10 business days.⁴

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 24 months¹

When it expires

Flexible expiry based on your last day worked; renew online with employer verification of nursing-related work in the past 24 months.¹²

Required topics

Work requirement: at least 8 paid hours of nursing or nursing-related services under a licensed nurse in the previous 24 months; the employment section must be completed by the employer.¹³

If it expires

Without 8 paid hours in 24 months you must complete a new training/competency evaluation to renew.¹
Practising with an expired registration: if expired 30 days or less you must stop work until renewal is complete; if expired more than 30 days to 6 months the state survey agency and employer are also notified and you must stop work; if expired more than 6 months the registry status is no longer recognized and you must apply again as an initial applicant.¹

Moving to North Dakota with a license from another state

These are the routes HHS publishes for the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) license.

Medication Assistant I

Settings where a licensed nurse is not regularly scheduled; not nursing facilities or acute care (including clinics).¹

Requirements

Education or training

Must be a current CNA or Nurse Aide; complete a department-approved MA I program (theory plus supervised clinical); clinical portion within 6 months of theory.¹
Who may teach it: Program approved by the department and developed/supervised by a registered nurse.¹

How to apply

1. Hold current CNA (or, for MA I only, Nurse Aide) registry status.¹²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Medication Assistant II

Same settings as MA I plus nursing facilities; not acute care settings including clinics.¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 40 clock hours¹
Must be a current CNA; complete a department-approved MA II program: 40 hours theory, 8 hours laboratory, 32 hours clinical; clinical within 6 months of classroom.¹
Who may teach it: Program approved by the department and developed/supervised by a registered nurse.¹

How to apply

1. Hold current CNA registry status (only a CNA can be an MA II).¹²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Nurse Aide (NA)

Nursing or nursing-related services in a health care facility or other setting that is not a nursing facility or home health agency (e.g. clinic, outpatient provider, individual home); delegated tasks only on the specified client.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Nurse aide training under a licensed-nurse instructor covering infection control, safety, vital signs, ADLs, decision-making, client rights, communication and cognitive impairment, plus competency evaluation (or competency evaluation alone).¹
Who may teach it: Training under a qualified instructor (licensed nurse); competency evaluation by a licensed nurse or employer.¹

Exam

Nurse aide competency evaluation (by licensed nurse or employer)¹
Given by: Licensed nurse or employer (no state vendor)¹
Passing score: No unsatisfactory rating in any required area.¹
Retakes: Not more than three opportunities; then training is required.¹

How to apply

1. Complete nurse aide training and a competency evaluation with a licensed nurse or employer.¹
2. Apply online with documentation of competency and pay the $25 non-refundable fee by credit card.³

Renewal

When it expires

Renew on or before September 30 of the second year and every two years after; online renewals open July 1 - September 30; renewal needs competency verification within the past 12 months.¹⁴

Required topics

Competency verification within the past 12 months.¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)No local license: registration is on the statewide ND HHS Nurse Aide Registry.¹

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

services.ndhhs.gov¹⁵

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• N.D.C.C. ch. 23-44 (Nurse aide registry)
• N.D. Admin. Code ch. 33-43-01 (Nurse aide training, competency evaluation, and registry)
• 42 CFR 483.150-483.158 (nurse aide training, competency evaluation and registry)

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

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