Des Moines Area Community College - Ankeny Campus
Ankeny, IA
Nurse Aide (CNA) Certificate
- Duration:
- 76 hours
- Cost:
- $638
CNA Classes in Iowa
12 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 7 cities in Iowa. Iowa requires 75 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (with Credentia available for the Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam).
Training Hours
75 hours minimum
Exam Vendor
TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (with Credentia available for the Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam)
Approximately $165 total ($50 written at an Iowa community college or $50-$70 online + $115 skills at a community college; Health Tech Associates skills test runs about $135)
Time to Certify
5-9 weeks from program start to Direct Care Worker Registry listing
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $0-$1,400 depending on whether training is employer-sponsored, a community college program, or a private provider
What makes Iowa different: As of January 2026, Iowa community colleges serve only as testing sites and proctors — registration, payment, and exam records are now handled centrally by TestMaster Universe/Headmaster rather than by each college
CNA Classes by City in Iowa
Becoming a CNA in Iowa
Becoming a Certified Nurse Aide in Iowa is regulated by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), which approves all Nurse Aide Training Programs, oversees the Direct Care Worker Registry, and as of January 2026 contracts with TestMaster Universe/Headmaster as the central testing administrator. Iowa requires the federal minimum of 75 hours of training — with roughly 45 classroom/lab hours and at least 30 clinical hours — which is identical to neighboring Missouri and Nebraska but well below California's 160-hour standard.
Iowa is unusual among Midwestern states in that DIAL itself does not charge an application fee for initial registry placement; your costs are training tuition (often $0 at employer-sponsored programs or roughly $400-$1,200 at a community college) plus the TMU exam fees of approximately $50-$70 for the written portion and $115-$135 for the skills portion. The cheapest, most common pathway is to complete a community college NATP and then test at that same college's testing site. Many Iowa long-term care facilities also sponsor free training in exchange for a 3-12 month work commitment.
Once you have passed both portions of the exam, your results flow to DIAL and your name is added to the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry, typically within 7-14 days. From that point you are authorized to work as a CNA in any Iowa-licensed nursing facility, hospital, home health agency, or hospice. Iowa CNA status itself does not expire, but you must complete at least 8 hours of paid nursing services every 24 months or your registry status will lapse — a meaningfully lower work threshold than the 100-hour-per-cycle requirement in some other states.
How to Become a CNA in Iowa
- 1
Confirm you meet Iowa's eligibility requirements
You must be at least 16 years old, free of any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on any state registry, and willing to complete a criminal background check through DIAL. You must also provide proof of vaccination or signed waivers for Hepatitis B, COVID-19, influenza, and tuberculosis before clinical hours begin.
- 2
Enroll in a DIAL-approved Nurse Aide Training Program (NATP)
Find a Nurse Aide Training Program approved by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. Approved providers include Iowa's 15 community colleges, many nursing facilities, and select private schools. The program must provide at least 75 hours of instruction, with roughly 45 hours of classroom/lab work and at least 30 hours of supervised clinical training in a licensed care setting.
- 3
Complete training and have your instructor enter you into TMU
Pass all classroom modules and demonstrate the required clinical skills. Your instructor will enter your record into the TestMaster Universe (TMU) testing platform, which then emails you instructions to set up your account, choose a testing site, and schedule both portions of your competency evaluation.
- 4
Schedule and pay for your competency exam
Through TMU, schedule your written and skills tests. As of January 2026 the written exam can be taken at an Iowa community college ($50), online via TestMaster's Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam ($50), or through Credentia ($70). The skills test is taken in person at a community college ($115) or at Health Tech Associates (about $135).
- 5
Pass both portions of the Iowa competency evaluation
The knowledge exam is a multiple-choice test; the skills test asks you to perform 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills under a nurse evaluator's observation using the printed checklist criteria. You have 24 months from program completion to pass both portions, or you must retrain.
- 6
Get listed on the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry
After you pass both portions, your scores and personal information are submitted automatically to DIAL. DIAL then adds your record to the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry, usually within 7-14 days. You can verify your status at dia-hfd.iowa.gov.
- 7
Begin working as a CNA in Iowa
Once your status shows Active on the Direct Care Worker Registry, you may legally work as a CNA in any Iowa-licensed nursing facility, hospital, home health agency, or hospice. To stay active you must complete at least 8 hours of paid nursing services every 24 months — your employer reports this directly to the registry.
Free CNA Programs in Iowa
1 program offers no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based).
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
1 fast-track option for students who want to start working quickly.
All CNA Programs in Iowa (12)
Western Iowa Tech Community College
Sioux City, IA
Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certificate
- Duration:
- 76 hours
- Cost:
- $880
Iowa Western Community College
Council Bluffs, IA
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 79 hours
- Cost:
- $595
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, IA
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks / 80 hours
- Cost:
- $1,500
Broadlawns Medical Center TEACH/TECH Apprenticeship
Des Moines, IA
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- Basic and Advanced CNA training (75/150 hours)
- Cost:
- Free (paid apprenticeship)
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Iowa
What are the minimum requirements to become a CNA in Iowa?
+
You must be at least 16 years old, complete a DIAL-approved Nurse Aide Training Program of at least 75 hours (about 45 classroom/lab + 30 clinical), pass the two-part TestMaster Universe (TMU) competency exam, complete a DIAL criminal background check, and provide proof of vaccination or signed waivers for Hepatitis B, COVID-19, influenza, and tuberculosis. A high school diploma is not required by DIAL.
Do I need a high school diploma or GED to become a CNA in Iowa?
+
No — the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing does not require a high school diploma or GED for CNA certification. Individual training programs (especially some community colleges) may set their own admission standards, but the state itself has no education prerequisite, which makes the CNA credential one of the most accessible healthcare entry points in Iowa.
Who administers the Iowa CNA exam after the January 2026 changes?
+
As of January 2026, Iowa's competency exam is administered centrally through TestMaster Universe/Headmaster (TMU). Iowa community colleges still serve as testing sites and proctors for both the written and skills portions, but registration, payment, and exam records are now handled through TMU rather than by individual colleges. The Remotely Proctored Knowledge Exam is also available online through TMU or Credentia.
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Iowa?
+
Total costs typically range from $0 (employer-sponsored training) to about $1,400. Community college NATPs run roughly $400-$1,200, the written exam is $50 at a community college or $50-$70 online, and the skills exam is $115 at a community college or about $135 at Health Tech Associates. DIAL does not charge a separate application fee for initial registry placement.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Iowa?
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Most candidates complete the entire process in 5 to 9 weeks. Full-time programs can finish 75 hours in 3-4 weeks; part-time evening or weekend programs run 6-10 weeks. After passing the exam, TMU transmits your results to DIAL and your name typically appears on the Direct Care Worker Registry within 7-14 days. You must pass both exam portions within 24 months of completing training or you'll need to retrain.
Can I work as a CNA in Iowa before I'm listed on the registry?
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Yes, under federal OBRA rules you may work as a nurse aide trainee for up to four months after completing an approved NATP while you complete the competency exam and registry placement. Most Iowa employers will hire you immediately after program completion with a clear plan to test, but you must appear on the Iowa Direct Care Worker Registry with Active status within those four months to continue working.