CNA Requirements in Wisconsin
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Wisconsin: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Wisconsin CNA Training ProgramsWisconsin CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
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: 75)
Time to Certification
6-12 weeks from enrolling in a program to appearing on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry
Exam Vendor
D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS
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.
Detailed Wisconsin CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Wisconsin.
Education Requirement
Wisconsin does not impose a statewide high school diploma or GED requirement, but most state-approved training providers require students to be at least 16 or 17 and to demonstrate basic reading, math, and English proficiency before enrollment.
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) required.
Approximately 60 hours classroom/lab + 60 hours clinical at technical colleges; state minimum requires at least 16 classroom hours before any client contact and at least 16 clinical hours in a licensed setting
Background Check
Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, including a Department of Justice criminal history search, Wisconsin Department of Health Services misconduct registry check, and an FBI fingerprint-based background check for applicants who have lived outside Wisconsin in the last three years
Competency Exam
Administered by D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS. Two-part state competency evaluation: a Knowledge Exam (written or audio multiple-choice) and a hands-on Skills Test on five randomly selected nurse aide skills
Cost: $137.75 total ($35.70 written knowledge + $102.05 skills; audio version of knowledge exam is $40.95) - effective June 7, 2025 pricing
Application Fee
$0 (no state application fee to be added to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry after passing the exam)
Total Cost Estimate
$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)
Where You Can Work
Skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF-IID), hospitals, hospice programs, home health agencies, adult day care centers, and assisted living settings regulated by Wisconsin DHS
What's Different About Wisconsin
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.
How to Become a CNA in Wisconsin: Step by Step
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Free Study Materials for the Wisconsin CNA Exam
The D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS exam used by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) tests both knowledge and hands-on skills. Use these free study guides to prepare for the topics most commonly tested in Wisconsin:
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and biohazard handling for the Wisconsin CNA exam.
Basic Nursing Skills
Vital signs, intake/output, positioning, transfers, and range of motion — the largest block on the D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS skills test.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, toileting, and incontinence management — heavily tested D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS skills in Wisconsin.
Safety & Emergencies
RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, and seizure care — required knowledge for Wisconsin CNA candidates.
Communication Skills
SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents — tested throughout the D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS exam.
Patient Rights
OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, advance directives, and freedom from restraints — graded on every Wisconsin CNA practical exam skill.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and documentation rules used on the Wisconsin exam.
Body Systems & Conditions
Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine basics, plus pressure-injury staging — frequently tested on the Wisconsin written exam.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, and postmortem care for Wisconsin 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 (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS written exam in Wisconsin.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles every Wisconsin CNA must know before working.
Test yourself for the Wisconsin CNA exam
Free D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS Practice Tests
The D&SDT-Headmaster (delivers testing); Pearson VUE historically supported registry services for Wisconsin DHS written exam used in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.