CNA Requirements in Montana
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Montana: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Montana CNA Training ProgramsMontana CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
Training Hours
75 hours minimum
Time to Certification
8-12 weeks
Exam Vendor
D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)
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.
Detailed Montana CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Office of Inspector General, Certification Bureau
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Montana.
Education Requirement
Applicants must be able to read, write, and understand English; a high school diploma or GED is not formally required by DPHHS but is preferred by most training programs.
Training Hours
75 hours minimum required.
50 classroom and lab hours + 25 hours supervised clinical practice in a long-term care setting
Background Check
Montana state criminal history check coordinated through DPHHS; fingerprint-based federal check may be required depending on findings, with a $20 background-check fee
Competency Exam
Administered by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster). Two-part Headmaster exam: a 70-question written knowledge test (or oral version) with a 105-minute time limit and a manual skills evaluation of five randomly selected skills, all of which must be passed
Cost: $128 total ($20 written or $31 oral + $77 skills test, per Headmaster Montana TMU portal)
Application Fee
$0 - no DPHHS application fee; only the $20 background check fee is collected at application
Total Cost Estimate
$500-$1,800 including tuition and exam fees
Where You Can Work
Nursing facilities, hospitals, critical access hospitals, assisted living homes, Indian Health Service facilities, home health agencies, hospice agencies, and adult foster care homes
What's Different About Montana
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.
How to Become a CNA in Montana: Step by Step
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many training hours does Montana require to become a CNA?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.
Free Study Materials for the Montana CNA Exam
The D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) exam used by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Office of Inspector General, Certification Bureau tests both knowledge and hands-on skills. Use these free study guides to prepare for the topics most commonly tested in Montana:
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and biohazard handling for the Montana CNA exam.
Basic Nursing Skills
Vital signs, intake/output, positioning, transfers, and range of motion — the largest block on the D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) skills test.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, toileting, and incontinence management — heavily tested D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) skills in Montana.
Safety & Emergencies
RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, and seizure care — required knowledge for Montana CNA candidates.
Communication Skills
SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents — tested throughout the D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) exam.
Patient Rights
OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, advance directives, and freedom from restraints — graded on every Montana CNA practical exam skill.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and documentation rules used on the Montana exam.
Body Systems & Conditions
Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine basics, plus pressure-injury staging — frequently tested on the Montana written exam.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, and postmortem care for Montana CNAs working in long-term care.
Mental Health & Dementia
Delirium vs dementia, sundowning, validation therapy, and de-escalation — frequently tested on the D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) written exam in Montana.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles every Montana CNA must know before working.
Test yourself for the Montana CNA exam
Free D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) Practice Tests
The D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) written exam used in Montana has 60 scored multiple-choice questions. Drill our free NNAAP-style practice tests until you can consistently score above 80%, then walk into the testing center confident.
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Find approved training programs, free study materials, and license verification tools for Montana.