CNA Requirements in Utah
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Utah: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Utah CNA Training ProgramsUtah CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
Training Hours
100 hours minimum at a UNAR-approved program
(Federal minimum: 75)
Time to Certification
4-8 weeks from program enrollment to registry listing
Exam Vendor
D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU)
Becoming a CNA in Utah
Utah is one of the most centrally administered CNA systems in the country - the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR), operating from the UT Health Technology Certification Center in Kaysville, partners with D&SDT-Headmaster to deliver training program approval, testing, certificate issuance, registry maintenance, and renewal under a single TMU portal at ut.tmutest.com. This consolidation makes the process traceable and standardized but means every candidate, instructor, and employer must hold a TMU account.
Utah requires 100 training hours - 25 hours above the federal minimum - structured to give Utah CNAs more dementia care, restorative service, and infection prevention instruction than what OBRA mandates. The state expects 100 percent of approved programs to be UNAR-listed, and Utah's network of state-funded technical colleges (the Utah System of Technical Colleges, or UTech) makes affordable training broadly accessible across the Wasatch Front, Southern Utah, and rural counties.
Utah is distinctive for its 200-hour paid work requirement at every two-year renewal cycle - one of the highest in the United States and roughly 25 times the federal floor that most states adopt. The policy is intended to ensure active practice and currency, and CNAs who fall short must either retest through Headmaster or complete a UNAR-approved refresher course to be reinstated on the registry.
Detailed Utah CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Utah Department of Health and Human Services / Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR)
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Utah.
Education Requirement
Utah does not require a high school diploma or GED to sit for the CNA exam, but UNAR-approved programs expect students to read, write, and communicate in English at the level needed to interpret care plans and complete documentation.
Training Hours
100 hours minimum at a UNAR-approved program required.
Typically 60 hours classroom and skills lab + 40 hours supervised clinical practice (some UNAR-approved programs use a 76/24 split with additional simulation time)
Background Check
Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) and FBI fingerprint background check, plus screening against the UNAR abuse and neglect registry and the federal OIG exclusion database
Competency Exam
Administered by D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU). Two-part state competency evaluation: a 75-question written Knowledge Exam and a hands-on Manual Skills Exam (3-4 randomly assigned skills) scored on the TMU rubric
Cost: $110 total for both the written Knowledge Exam and the Manual Skills Exam combined
Application Fee
No separate state application fee — the $110 Headmaster TMU fee covers exam and UNAR certificate processing for first-time candidates
Total Cost Estimate
$500-$1,500 including UNAR-approved program tuition, the $110 Headmaster exam, BCI fingerprinting fees, and certificate processing
Where You Can Work
Skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, hospitals, hospice and home health agencies, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and Utah Medicaid Personal Care Services settings
What's Different About Utah
Utah requires 100 training hours (25 above the federal minimum) and is the only state that consolidates testing, registry maintenance, and certificate issuance with a single vendor (Headmaster/UNAR) operating out of a state-aligned office in Kaysville, Utah.
How to Become a CNA in Utah: Step by Step
Confirm Utah eligibility and select a UNAR-approved program
Confirm you are at least 16 years old, can pass a Utah BCI and FBI fingerprint background check, and have no substantiated findings on the UNAR abuse registry. Choose a UNAR-approved Nurse Aide Training Program from the official list at utahcnaregistry.com. Approved providers include Davis Technical College, Salt Lake Community College, MTECH, Snow College, Bridgerland Technical College, Utah Tech University, and several facility-based programs.
Complete 100 hours of UNAR-approved training
Finish at least 100 hours of instruction split between classroom theory, supervised skills lab practice, and clinical hours in a UNAR-approved long-term care setting. Curriculum covers basic nursing skills, mental health and social services needs, restorative care, residents' rights, dementia and Alzheimer's care, infection control, and Utah-specific abuse and neglect prevention. Programs typically run 4-6 weeks full time.
Submit fingerprints for BCI and FBI background check
Schedule a Utah BCI fingerprint appointment - most candidates use the Utah Department of Public Safety LiveScan vendors. Results are tied to your TMU account by your training program, and you cannot be placed on the registry with an unresolved disqualifying finding such as a felony conviction for abuse, neglect, theft from a vulnerable adult, or specified sexual offenses.
Create a TestMaster Universe (TMU) account and schedule both exams
Your training instructor enters your information into TMU, which creates your Utah candidate profile at ut.tmutest.com. From there you pay the $110 exam fee, choose test dates, and select a Utah testing location - tests are offered statewide at technical colleges, community colleges, and approved skilled nursing facilities. Bring two valid forms of ID on test day, one of which must be government-issued photo identification.
Pass the written Knowledge Exam and Manual Skills Exam
The Knowledge Exam is 75 multiple-choice questions covering Utah-specific care standards and core CNA competencies. The Manual Skills Exam requires you to perform 3-4 randomly selected hands-on skills (always including handwashing and indirect care) in front of a UNAR-approved evaluator. Both exams must be passed within 12 months of completing training, and candidates receive up to three attempts before being required to retrain.
Receive your Utah CNA certificate from UNAR
After UNAR verifies passing scores on both exams, you are added to the Utah Nursing Assistant Registry and your name is searchable at ut.tmutest.com/search. UNAR mails an official certificate and wallet card to your address on file within 7-10 business days. Employers in Utah are required by R432-45 to verify your active certification through the registry before hiring you.
Renew every two years with 200 paid work hours
Utah CNAs must renew certification every 24 months and document at least 200 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services under licensed nurse supervision within the prior two years - this is one of the highest work-hour thresholds in the country. Renewal is completed through TMU; certificates that expire without meeting the 200-hour requirement require either retesting or completion of a UNAR-approved refresher to restore active status.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UNAR and how does it differ from the Utah Department of Health?
UNAR (Utah Nursing Assistant Registry) is the state-designated body that approves training programs, contracts with Headmaster for testing, issues certificates, and maintains the registry of Utah CNAs. UNAR operates under the authority of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and Utah Administrative Code R432-45, with its day-to-day office in Kaysville. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services holds statutory rulemaking authority, but UNAR handles direct candidate and employer interaction.
How much does the Utah CNA exam cost?
The Utah CNA exam costs $110 total through D&SDT-Headmaster, covering both the 75-question written Knowledge Exam and the hands-on Manual Skills Exam. Fees are paid through the candidate's TMU account at ut.tmutest.com. Retake fees apply per section if you fail an attempt, and BCI fingerprinting and certificate issuance add roughly $35-$50 to total out-of-pocket costs.
How long does it take to become a CNA in Utah?
Most Utah candidates complete the 100-hour UNAR-approved training program in 4-6 weeks, then take 1-2 weeks to schedule and pass the Headmaster exams. UNAR issues certificates and wallet cards within 7-10 business days after passing, so the full path from enrollment to legal CNA work is generally 4-8 weeks. Davis Technical College, MTECH, and several community colleges offer evening and weekend cohorts that may extend the timeline.
Does Utah accept CNA reciprocity from other states?
Yes. Active CNAs in good standing from any state with at least 75 hours of training may apply for Utah certification through reciprocity without retraining or retesting, provided they have no substantiated findings on their home-state abuse registry or the UNAR abuse registry. Applicants submit a reciprocity packet through TMU, complete Utah BCI and FBI fingerprinting, and pay the standard certificate fee.
What are Utah's renewal requirements?
Utah requires CNAs to renew every 24 months and provide proof of at least 200 paid hours of nursing or nursing-related work under licensed nurse supervision within the prior two years - one of the strictest paid work requirements in the country. Renewal is completed through the TMU portal. CNAs who cannot meet the 200-hour requirement must either retake the Headmaster exam or complete a UNAR-approved refresher course to be reinstated.
Can I work in Utah while waiting to take the Headmaster exam?
Yes, but only for up to four months under Utah's federal-conforming nurse aide provisional rule. Once you finish UNAR-approved training, a skilled nursing facility may employ you as a nurse aide for a maximum of 120 days while you complete the written and skills exams. If you do not pass both by day 120, your employer must remove you from nurse aide duties until you complete the competency evaluation.
Free Study Materials for the Utah CNA Exam
The D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) exam used by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services / Utah Nursing Assistant Registry (UNAR) tests both knowledge and hands-on skills. Use these free study guides to prepare for the topics most commonly tested in Utah:
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and biohazard handling for the Utah CNA exam.
Basic Nursing Skills
Vital signs, intake/output, positioning, transfers, and range of motion — the largest block on the D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) skills test.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, toileting, and incontinence management — heavily tested D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) skills in Utah.
Safety & Emergencies
RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, and seizure care — required knowledge for Utah CNA candidates.
Communication Skills
SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents — tested throughout the D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) exam.
Patient Rights
OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, advance directives, and freedom from restraints — graded on every Utah CNA practical exam skill.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and documentation rules used on the Utah exam.
Body Systems & Conditions
Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine basics, plus pressure-injury staging — frequently tested on the Utah written exam.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, and postmortem care for Utah CNAs working in long-term care.
Mental Health & Dementia
Delirium vs dementia, sundowning, validation therapy, and de-escalation — frequently tested on the D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) written exam in Utah.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles every Utah CNA must know before working.
Test yourself for the Utah CNA exam
Free D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) Practice Tests
The D&SDT-Headmaster (TestMaster Universe / TMU) written exam used in Utah 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.
Ready to Start Your Utah CNA Career?
Find approved training programs, free study materials, and license verification tools for Utah.