City College at Montana State University Billings
Billings, MT
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 85 hours
- Cost:
- $998
CNA Classes in Montana
6 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 6 cities in Montana. Montana requires 75 hours minimum of training, with the competency exam administered by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster).
Training Hours
75 hours minimum
Exam Vendor
D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)
$128 total ($20 written or $31 oral + $77 skills test, per Headmaster Montana TMU portal)
Time to Certify
8-12 weeks
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $500-$1,800 including tuition and exam fees
What makes Montana different: Montana keeps its CNA pathway at the 75-hour federal floor while adding modern conveniences: every application, renewal, and update flows through the online BOUNDS portal maintained by DPHHS.
CNA Classes by City in Montana
Becoming a CNA in Montana
Montana keeps its CNA training requirement at the federal floor of 75 hours, but the state has invested heavily in digital infrastructure for the credential. The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Office of Inspector General operates the Certification Bureau, which runs every application, renewal, and registry update through the BOUNDS online portal at mt-reports.com. Paper applications are no longer accepted, which has shortened processing times significantly compared with other rural states.
Testing is contracted to D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster), the same vendor used in Maine, Idaho's reciprocity reviews, and several other Mountain West states. Headmaster operates test sites across Montana including Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula. The written exam can be taken in English with an oral version available for candidates who prefer audio delivery, and the skills test is administered by a Nurse Aide Evaluator using standardized NNAAP-style skills.
Montana CNAs work in a varied landscape. Frontier-designated counties have critical access hospitals where CNAs may rotate between long-term care and acute beds, while urban hubs like Billings and Missoula employ thousands of aides across hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities, and senior living communities. Indian Health Service and tribal facilities on Montana's reservations also recruit CNAs heavily, often with hiring bonuses and relocation support.
How to Become a CNA in Montana
- 1
Verify you meet Montana's entry requirements
You should be at least 16 to start a Montana Nurse Aide Training Program. You must be able to read, write, and understand English well enough to chart and follow medical instructions, and you must be free of crimes involving moral turpitude such as fraud, theft, or patient abuse. Review the DPHHS Certification Bureau guidance so you understand any disqualifying findings before you pay tuition.
- 2
Complete a DPHHS-approved 75-hour training program
Montana follows the federal floor of 75 total training hours but breaks it into 50 hours of classroom and lab work and 25 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care facility. Programs are offered through Montana State University, Montana Tech, the University of Montana Bitterroot College, Helena College, Flathead Valley Community College, and a number of hospital and tribal training programs. Tuition runs roughly $400 to $1,500, often reimbursed by employers.
- 3
Complete background check and BOUNDS application
Once you finish your training program, log in to the DPHHS BOUNDS portal and complete the online Montana CNA by Exam Application. You pay a $20 background check fee with eCheck, credit card, or debit card. The state runs your criminal history check, and your training provider uploads your verification of training so DPHHS can authorize you to test.
- 4
Schedule the Headmaster written and skills exam
After DPHHS authorizes you, create or access your Headmaster TMU account to schedule both portions of the Montana CNA exam. The written test has 70 questions over 105 minutes with a 70 percent minimum passing score. The oral version costs slightly more if you need it. The skills test asks you to perform five randomly assigned NNAAP-style skills, and you must pass all five plus the mandatory handwashing demonstration.
- 5
Pass both exam sections
Both the written and skills tests must be passed to be listed on the registry. If you fail one section you can retake that section without retesting the other. Headmaster reports passing results to DPHHS, which adds you to the Montana Nurse Aide Registry. Total exam costs are approximately $20 for the written, $77 for the skills evaluation, with an oral upgrade fee of $11 if needed.
- 6
Get listed on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry
After both sections are passed, DPHHS adds your name to the Montana Nurse Aide Registry, which is searched at mt-reports.com through the BOUNDS portal. Your certificate is mailed and you can begin working in any Medicare/Medicaid-certified facility in Montana the moment your status appears as active in the public registry.
- 7
Renew online every two years
All Montana CNA renewals are completed through the BOUNDS portal - paper renewals are no longer accepted. You must have worked at least eight paid CNA hours within the past 24 months and submit your renewal during the 90-day window before expiration. There is no DPHHS renewal fee, although you will pay the background check fee if a new check is triggered.
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
1 fast-track option for students who want to start working quickly.
All CNA Programs in Montana (6)
Highlands College of Montana Tech
Butte, MT
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 4-5 weeks
- Cost:
- $1,450
Helena College University of Montana
Helena, MT
Certified Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 6 weeks (75 hours)
- Cost:
- $585
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Montana
How many training hours does Montana require to become a CNA?
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Montana requires the federal minimum of 75 hours total, divided into 50 hours of classroom and lab instruction and 25 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care setting. That keeps Montana's pathway among the fastest in the country, although individual programs may exceed the minimum.
What is the BOUNDS portal and do I have to use it?
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BOUNDS is the online portal run by DPHHS at mt-reports.com for all Montana nurse aide actions. You must use BOUNDS to submit your initial application, pay the background check fee, renew your certification, change your address, and look up other CNAs. Paper applications are no longer accepted, and renewals will not be accepted by email.
How much does the Montana CNA exam cost?
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Headmaster charges approximately $20 for the written knowledge test or $31 for the oral version, and $77 for the manual skills evaluation. Combined with the $20 DPHHS background check fee paid through BOUNDS, your direct out-of-pocket exam and application costs are roughly $117 to $128. Tuition is separate and varies by program.
Can I challenge the Montana CNA exam without completing a training program?
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Yes. DPHHS allows individuals who have completed equivalent training - typically nursing students, military medics, or out-of-state aides - to challenge the exam. You still complete the BOUNDS Montana CNA by Exam Application, pay the background check fee, and pass both the written and skills tests administered by Headmaster.
How do I renew my Montana CNA certificate?
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Renewal happens entirely online through BOUNDS, opening 90 days before your expiration date. You must document at least eight hours of paid CNA employment in the past 24 months. There is no DPHHS renewal fee, although you may pay the $20 background check fee if a new check is required.
Does Montana accept CNA certifications from other states?
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Yes. Montana offers an Interstate Endorsement pathway through the BOUNDS portal. You submit verification of your current out-of-state certification, proof of recent paid work, and a state background check. Headmaster does not require you to retest if your originating state's certification is in good standing and your training program met federal requirements.