CNA Classes in Wisconsin
18 state-approved Certified Nurse Aide training programs across 7 cities in Wisconsin. Wisconsin requires 120 hours minimum at most technical colleges (Wisconsin's federal minimum is 75 hours, but the state's technical college system standard is 120 hours) of training, with the competency exam administered by D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS.
Training Hours
120 hours minimum at most technical colleges (Wisconsin's federal minimum is 75 hours, but the state's technical college system standard is 120 hours)
Federal minimum: 75h
Exam Vendor
D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS
$137.75 total ($35.70 written knowledge + $102.05 skills; audio version of knowledge exam is $40.95) - effective June 7, 2025 pricing
Time to Certify
6-12 weeks from enrolling in a program to appearing on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry
Minimum Age
16
Cost: $475-$1,500 depending on whether the student is sponsored by a skilled nursing facility (sponsored students cannot be charged tuition or test fees under Wisconsin law)
What makes Wisconsin different: Wisconsin uniquely prohibits skilled nursing facilities from charging employees (or pending hires) for any portion of nurse aide training or testing, and uses a hybrid system where Headmaster administers the competency exam while the DHS Office of Caregiver Quality maintains the registry.
CNA Classes by City in Wisconsin
Becoming a CNA in Wisconsin
Becoming a CNA in Wisconsin starts with a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Office of Caregiver Quality. The federal floor in Wisconsin is 75 hours, but most graduates actually train through the Wisconsin Technical College System, which delivers a 120-hour curriculum that exceeds federal standards and is widely accepted by hospitals, long-term care chains, and the WisCaregiver Careers program that subsidizes training in exchange for an employment commitment.
Wisconsin pairs Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) as the competency exam vendor with the Wisconsin DHS as the registry holder, which is unusual - many states bundle both functions with a single vendor. Testing is delivered through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) portal at wi.tmuniverse.com, where candidates schedule their Knowledge Exam and Skills Test, view scores, and manage retakes. Skilled nursing facilities are barred by Wisconsin law from charging employees (or pending hires) for any portion of training or testing.
Wisconsin certifications stay active as long as the nurse aide completes at least 8 paid hours of nursing-related work every 24 months under the supervision of an RN or LPN - one of the lowest work-hour thresholds in the country. If you lapse, you can be reinstated by retesting or by documenting 2,088 hours of qualifying work in the prior two years, a generous pathway designed to bring experienced caregivers back into the workforce.
How to Become a CNA in Wisconsin
- 1
Confirm eligibility and select a Wisconsin DHS-approved training program
Verify you can pass the Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, are at least the program's minimum age (typically 16 or 17), and choose a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Approved providers include the 16 Wisconsin Technical College System schools, skilled nursing facility-based programs, and DHS-listed community providers. Programs listed in the DHS NATCEP directory are guaranteed to meet the state's curriculum standards.
- 2
Complete the state-approved nurse aide training program
Finish at least the federally mandated 75 hours of instruction (most Wisconsin technical college programs run 120 hours), making sure your first 16 hours are classroom-based before any direct client contact and that you complete at least 16 supervised clinical hours in a licensed long-term care, hospital, or community setting. Curriculum must cover basic nursing skills, restorative services, personal care, mental health and social services, residents' rights, and infection control.
- 3
Submit a Caregiver Background Check (BID form, F-82064)
Before clinicals or employment, you must complete the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Background Information Disclosure form. Your training provider or employer initiates the search through the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the DHS Office of Caregiver Quality, and an FBI fingerprint check is required if you have lived outside Wisconsin in the past three years. The combined fingerprint and background check fee is roughly $38.
- 4
Register for the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Test through TMU
Once your instructor confirms training completion, create an account at wi.tmuniverse.com (the TestMaster Universe portal operated by D&SDT-Headmaster) to schedule your Knowledge Exam ($35.70 written or $40.95 audio) and Skills Test ($102.05). Test sites are located at technical colleges and approved regional centers across Wisconsin. Bring two forms of valid government-issued ID on test day.
- 5
Pass both the Knowledge Exam and the Skills Test
The Knowledge Exam is multiple-choice and can be taken in written or audio format - you must answer at least 75 percent correctly. The Skills Test requires you to perform five randomly selected hands-on tasks (always including handwashing and indirect care steps) and be scored as Pass on each. Headmaster posts results to TMU, and passing candidates are forwarded to the Wisconsin DHS for registry placement.
- 6
Get listed on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry
After both exam parts are passed, the Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality adds your name to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry, which is the legal authorization to work as a CNA in Wisconsin. There is no state registry fee. Status is typically reflected online within 7-10 business days, after which any employer can verify your active standing on the DHS website.
- 7
Maintain active certification every 24 months
Wisconsin nurse aides must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work under the supervision of a licensed nurse during each 24-month period. If you miss this work requirement, your name is moved to inactive status and you must retake and pass both portions of the competency test - or document 2,088 hours of past nurse aide work in the previous two years - to be reinstated.
Free CNA Programs in Wisconsin
1 program offers no-cost training (employer-paid, federally funded, or scholarship-based).
Accelerated CNA Programs (≤4 weeks)
3 fast-track options for students who want to start working quickly.
All CNA Programs in Wisconsin (18)
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Eau Claire, WI
Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 14 weeks or less
- Cost:
- $423
Aurora Health Care CNA Training Program
Milwaukee, WI
Nursing Assistant
- Duration:
- 120 hours / 15 days
- Cost:
- $600
Madison College - Truax Campus
Madison, WI
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 1 semester (3 credits)
- Cost:
- $726.99
Madison College - Goodman South Campus
Madison, WI
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 1 semester (3 credits)
- Cost:
- $726.99
Center for Healthcare Education and Simulation
Madison, WI
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 6-8 weeks (hybrid)
- Cost:
- Approximately $1,500
Neway Directions
Madison, WI
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- 3 weeks full-time / 6 weeks part-time
- Cost:
- $975
Quality CNA Training - Madison
Madison, WI
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Duration:
- Approximately 6 weeks
- Cost:
- $725
Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Wisconsin
How much does it cost to become a CNA in Wisconsin in 2026?
+
Out-of-pocket costs typically range from about $475 to $1,500. Wisconsin technical college tuition for the 120-hour Nursing Assistant diploma generally falls between $336 (Western Technical College) and $1,088 (Waukesha County Technical College), and the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Test costs $137.75 ($35.70 knowledge exam plus $102.05 skills test, or $142.95 with the audio version). The Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check adds roughly $38 for fingerprinting. Skilled nursing facility-sponsored candidates pay nothing under Wisconsin law.
Who administers the Wisconsin CNA competency exam?
+
D&SDT-Headmaster (also known as D&S Diversified Technologies) delivers Wisconsin's Nurse Aide Competency Test under contract with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Candidates register, schedule, pay, and view scores through the Wisconsin TestMaster Universe (TMU) portal at wi.tmuniverse.com. Headmaster can also be reached at (888) 401-0465 or [email protected]. The Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality, not Headmaster, holds the Nurse Aide Registry itself.
What is the WisCaregiver Careers program?
+
WisCaregiver Careers is a state-supported initiative that pays for nurse aide training and competency testing for individuals who agree to work in a Wisconsin-certified nursing home after certification. Participants receive a $500 retention bonus after completing 6 months of qualifying employment. The program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in partnership with skilled nursing facilities and technical colleges, and applications are processed through wiscaregivercna.com.
Is there a minimum age to become a CNA in Wisconsin?
+
Wisconsin's nurse aide regulations do not set a statewide minimum age, but practical access is governed by training providers and Caregiver Background Check rules. Most technical colleges require students to be at least 16, and applicants under 18 cannot be subjected to the full FBI fingerprint check until they turn 18, at which point a complete recheck is required to remain compliant with Wis. Admin. Code DHS 12 caregiver requirements.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Wisconsin?
+
Most Wisconsin students complete training in 4-8 weeks, with another 1-2 weeks to schedule and pass the competency exam. Accelerated programs at private providers run as short as 2-3 weeks, while semester-based technical college diplomas can stretch to 12-16 weeks. Once both exam parts are passed, the Wisconsin DHS typically updates the Nurse Aide Registry within 7-10 business days, so the total path from enrollment to legal work eligibility is usually 6-12 weeks.
What happens if I let my Wisconsin CNA certification expire?
+
Wisconsin nurse aides who fail to log at least 8 paid hours of supervised nursing work in any 24-month period are moved to inactive status on the Nurse Aide Registry. To reactivate, you must either retake and pass both the Knowledge Exam and Skills Test, or submit employer-verified documentation that you worked at least 2,088 hours as a nurse aide under an RN or LPN in the two years before your application. Wisconsin does not offer a separate refresher course pathway to reinstatement.