CNA Classes in Kansas
12 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 6 cities in Kansas. Kansas requires 90 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by Headmaster LLP (D&SDT) using the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform.
Training Hours
90 hours minimum
Federal minimum: 75h
Exam Vendor
Headmaster LLP (D&SDT) using the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform
Headmaster testing fee of $38-$50 paid at the test site (varies — Donnelly College $38, Fort Hays Tech North Central $50; covers the combined written and skills competency evaluation), plus the $20 KDADS Health Occupations Credentialing application fee
Time to Certify
6-10 weeks from program start to registry listing
Minimum Age
17
Cost: $0-$1,700 depending on whether training is employer-sponsored, a community/technical college, or a private school
What makes Kansas different: Kansas requires 90 hours of training — 15 above the federal minimum — split into a two-part program where Part I (40 hours) qualifies you to work as a Trainee II for up to four months while you complete Part II and the state exam
CNA Classes by City in Kansas
Becoming a CNA in Kansas
Becoming a CNA in Kansas is overseen by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), specifically the Health Occupations Credentialing section based at 503 S Kansas Ave in Topeka. Kansas requires 90 hours of state-approved training — 15 hours above the federal minimum of 75 — split evenly between classroom education and supervised clinical practice in a licensed adult care home. The state contracts with Headmaster LLP (D&SDT) as the sole competency exam vendor using the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform.
Kansas is one of only a handful of states with a true two-part training pathway. After completing Part I (20 hours classroom + 20 hours lab/clinical), an RN can sign off on your Part I task checklist and you become eligible to work as a Trainee II in a licensed adult care home for up to four months while you complete Part II. This staged approach lets Kansas students earn a paycheck partway through training, which is uncommon — most states require the full curriculum and exam before any paid work is allowed.
Once you pass both portions of the Headmaster exam, KDADS adds your name to the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry, typically within 2-3 weeks. To stay active you must complete at least 8 hours of paid CNA work (not in a doctor's office or clinic) during each 24-month renewal cycle and submit the Employment Verification Form to KDADS. The renewal fee is approximately $135 paid to KDADS for a standard paper renewal. The state distinguishes CNAs from Certified Medication Aides (CMAs) and Home Health Aides (HHAs), all of which are credentialed through the same Health Occupations Credentialing office.
How to Become a CNA in Kansas
- 1
Confirm you meet Kansas's prerequisites
Most KDADS-approved programs require students to be at least 17 years old, able to read and write English, and physically able to perform basic patient-care tasks. You must be willing to undergo a Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) background check; certain felony convictions and any substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or exploitation on a state registry will disqualify you.
- 2
Enroll in a KDADS-approved Nurse Aide Course
Find a 90-hour nurse aide program approved by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. Approved providers include Washburn Tech, the Kansas community college system, many adult care homes, and select private schools. The program must be split 50/50 between classroom education and clinical practice in a licensed adult care home.
- 3
Complete Part I (40 hours) — qualifying for Trainee II status
Part I includes 20 hours of classroom and 20 hours of lab or clinical instruction, and covers 20 core CNA skills that an instructor evaluates using the Part I NATCEP Task Checklist. Once an RN signs off, you may be employed in a Kansas adult care home as a Trainee II for up to four months while you finish Part II.
- 4
Complete Part II (50 hours) and finish the full 90-hour curriculum
Part II adds 25 hours of advanced classroom instruction and 25 clinical hours in a licensed Kansas adult care home, covering documentation, dementia care, mobility, characteristics of aging, comfort, nutrition, first aid, and end-of-life care.
- 5
Register for the Headmaster (D&SDT) state competency exam
Register through TMU (TestMaster Universe), pay the $20 KDADS testing fee plus Headmaster site charges, and schedule both portions of the exam. The written test is multiple choice (oral version available on request); the skills test requires you to perform 5 randomly assigned skills in front of a nurse evaluator.
- 6
Pass both portions and submit the KDADS application
Pass both the knowledge and skills tests. Submit the $20 KDADS application fee and any supporting documents through Health Occupations Credentialing. Your name is typically added to the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry within 2-3 weeks.
- 7
Begin working — and renew every two years
Once you are listed on the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry you may work in any KDADS-licensed adult care home, nursing facility, hospital, or home health agency. To renew every 2 years you must complete at least 8 hours of paid CNA work (not in a doctor's office or clinic) and submit the Employment Verification Form to KDADS.
All CNA Programs in Kansas (12)
WSU Tech - South Campus
Wichita, KS
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 5 weeks daytime / 3 months evening
- Cost:
- $947
Bethel House Training Institute
Wichita, KS
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 90 hours (4-week day or 5-week evening hybrid)
- Cost:
- $800
WSU Tech - City Center Campus
Wichita, KS
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
- Duration:
- 5 weeks daytime / 3 months evening
- Cost:
- $947
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Kansas
Why does Kansas require 90 hours of CNA training when the federal minimum is 75?
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Kansas added 15 hours above the federal minimum to support a two-part program structure. Part I covers 40 hours of core skills and qualifies you for Trainee II employment in an adult care home; Part II adds 50 hours of advanced content and clinical work. KDADS believes the additional hours produce better-prepared aides for Kansas's predominantly long-term-care employment market.
What is a Trainee II in Kansas and when can I start working?
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After you complete Part I (40 hours) and an RN signs your Part I NATCEP Task Checklist, you can be employed in a licensed Kansas adult care home as a Trainee II for up to four months while you finish Part II and pass the state exam. This is one of the few state pathways that lets you earn wages before the full 90-hour curriculum and competency exam are complete.
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Kansas?
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Total costs typically range from $0 (employer-sponsored training) to about $1,700. Paid programs run roughly $500-$1,500, the KDADS testing fee is $20, the Headmaster exam site charges add roughly $75-$115 depending on location, and the KDADS initial application fee is $20. Many Kansas long-term care facilities cover all costs in exchange for a work commitment.
What is the minimum age to become a CNA in Kansas?
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Most KDADS-approved programs require students to be at least 17, though there is no single statewide age in statute and a few programs admit 16-year-olds with parental consent. Many employers separately require workers to be 18 before they can work unsupervised shifts due to Kansas labor laws. Always confirm the age policy with your specific training program and prospective employer.
Who administers the Kansas CNA exam?
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Kansas contracts exclusively with Headmaster LLP (D&SDT) for the nurse aide competency exam. Registration and scheduling are done through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) platform. The exam has a written (or oral) knowledge test plus a skills test of 5 randomly selected skills observed by a nurse evaluator at an approved testing site.
How often do I have to renew my Kansas CNA certification?
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Kansas CNA certification is renewed every 2 years through KDADS. To qualify for renewal you must have completed at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related work during the certification period — and those 8 hours cannot be in a doctor's office or clinic. Submit the Employment Verification Form to KDADS along with the renewal fee (approximately $135 for paper renewal).