How to Become a CNA in Montana

Most Montana CNA programs take 3 to 8 weeks to complete. CNA training in Montana requires a minimum of 75 hours, including at least 25 hours of supervised clinical practice, followed by the Headmaster competency exam and a BOUNDS portal application. This guide covers everything you need: program options with real total costs, exact exam details, how to get on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry, and the nursing student shortcut that most competitors ignore entirely.

Montana CNA Certification at a Glance

Detail	Montana Requirement
Training hours	75 minimum (most programs offer 100-120)
Program length	3-8 weeks
Training cost	$625-$1,500 (varies by program)
Exam fees	$97 total ($20 knowledge + $77 skills)
Exam vendor	D&SDT-Headmaster
Passing scores	75% knowledge, 80% skills
Registry	BOUNDS portal (online only)
Certification valid for	24 months
Oversight	Montana DPHHS

Most Montana CNA programs take 3 to 8 weeks to complete. The state requires a minimum of 75 training hours, including at least 25 hours of supervised clinical practice, followed by the Headmaster competency exam (Montana DPHHS).

Below you’ll find program costs broken down to the dollar, a step-by-step registry application walkthrough, and the nursing student certification shortcut. If you want to understand what a CNA does day to day before committing, that resource is a good starting point.

Montana CNA Training Requirements

Montana requires a minimum of 75 training hours to become a CNA, including at least 25 hours of supervised clinical practice (Montana DPHHS). Every program must be DPHHS-approved.

That 75-hour floor matches the federal OBRA minimum established under 42 CFR § 483.152. It’s the national baseline, not a uniquely thin standard. Most Montana programs run 100-120 hours because they cover material beyond the minimum skills checklist and give you more supervised time with patients.

More clinical hours means more comfort on the job and better preparation for the skills test.

What the 75-Hour Minimum Actually Means

The 75 hours divides into two categories: classroom/lab instruction and supervised clinical practice. At least 25 of those hours must be spent in a healthcare facility under direct supervision. The remaining 50 hours are classroom and skills lab work.

Programs exceeding 75 hours are putting additional time into clinical rotations, extended lab practice, or deeper content coverage. That extra time benefits you when the evaluator is watching.

Online vs. In-Person Training

You can complete the classroom theory portion of CNA training online through some Montana programs. Highlands College of Montana Tech in Butte and Montana Health Network in Miles City both offer hybrid formats with online theory and in-person clinicals.

All clinical hours must be completed in person at an approved healthcare facility. There is no fully online CNA program in Montana. If a program advertises itself as fully online, clarify how clinical hours are handled before you enroll.

The bigger question for most people isn’t the hour count. It’s which program to choose and what it will actually cost.

Approved CNA Training Programs in Montana

Montana has DPHHS-approved CNA programs across the state. The table below compiles publicly available details. Where a program does not publish specific information online, the column notes “Contact program.” Call before enrolling to confirm current costs and format.

Program	City	Tuition	Exam Fee Included?	Format	Hours	Clinical Placement
Montana Health Network	Miles City	$475	Yes ($150 exam)	Online theory + in-person clinical	—	Student-coordinated
Highlands College / Montana Tech	Butte	$1,450	Contact program	Hybrid	—	Program-arranged
UM Bitterroot College	Hamilton	$1,500 all-inclusive	Yes	In-person, rolling enrollment	—	Program-arranged (10+ sites)
Flathead Valley CC	Kalispell	Contact program	No	In-person	105	Program-arranged
City College at MSU Billings	Billings	Contact program	No	In-person	—	Program-arranged
Miles Community College	Miles City	Contact program	No	—	—	—
Stone Child College	Box Elder	Contact program	No	—	—	—

For a complete directory of approved programs, see the DPHHS Approved CNA Training Programs list. You can also browse Montana CNA programs for contact details for each school.

Understanding What’s Included in Tuition

The cost gap between programs isn’t just about price. It’s about what each price covers.

UM Bitterroot College in Hamilton charges $1,500 all-inclusive: tuition, curriculum materials, scrubs, BLS certification, and the exam fee are all covered. Montana Health Network in Miles City charges $625 total ($475 course + $150 exam fee), but you’re responsible for arranging your own clinical placement. Neither is automatically the better deal. That depends on your location, whether you already have BLS certification, and whether you can find a healthcare facility to host your clinical hours.

Here are the costs that most program tuition figures don’t include:

Additional Cost	Typical Amount	Notes
Background check	$20-$40	Required before clinicals. Verify current fee and process at the Montana DOJ CHOPRS portal
Immunizations	$50-$150	TB test, Tdap, Hep B series if not current
BLS/CPR certification	$40-$75	Included in UM Bitterroot’s tuition; most others charge separately
Scrubs	$30-$60	Included in UM Bitterroot; most others do not include

Background check requirements vary by program and employer. Some programs require only a name-based check for enrollment; long-term care employers may require a more extensive screening. Certain criminal convictions can disqualify you from working in healthcare facilities under Montana law. If this applies to you, contact your program and the Montana DPHHS CNA office before enrolling.

A program listed at $625 can run $785 or more after background check, BLS, and scrubs. Build the full picture before you pick based on sticker price alone.

Choosing a Program if You’re in a Rural Area

Montana’s geography creates real access challenges. If you’re in eastern Montana, options thin out significantly.

Miles City has two options: Montana Health Network and Miles Community College. Montana Health Network’s online theory plus in-person clinical model was built for exactly this situation. You complete coursework online, then arrange in-person clinical hours at a local approved facility. The trade-off is that you coordinate your own clinical site rather than having the program arrange it.

If you’re near Billings, City College at MSU Billings is a DPHHS-approved in-person option. For help evaluating your choices, see our guide on how to choose a CNA program.

Once you’ve completed your training program, the next step is the state certification exam.

Montana CNA Exam: What to Expect

Montana’s CNA exam is administered by D&SDT-Headmaster and has two parts: a knowledge test and a skills demonstration. You must pass both to get certified (D&SDT-Headmaster). For a deeper dive into preparation, our CNA exam guide covers the full testing process.

Knowledge Test

The knowledge test is 72 multiple-choice questions. You need at least 75% to pass, which is 54 out of 72 correct. Questions cover topics from your training: infection control, patient safety, activities of daily living, communication, and patient rights.

An oral exam option is available for $31 instead of the $20 written version. If you’d rather practice before test day, use our free CNA practice exam to gauge where you stand.

Skills Test

You’ll perform 3 to 4 nursing skills randomly selected from the tested skill list. An evaluator watches you complete each one and scores every step. You must finish every critical step on the checklist AND score at least 80% on the remaining steps.

Skills include handwashing, vital signs measurement, patient transfers, and personal care tasks. For a breakdown of what evaluators look for during each skill, see the CNA skills test breakdown.

Exam Fees

Component	Fee
Knowledge test (written)	$20
Knowledge test (oral)	$31
Skills test	$77
Total (written + skills)	$97
Retake – knowledge	$20/attempt
Retake – skills	$77/attempt

Retake Policy and Challenge Test

You can retake each component up to 3 times within 6 months of completing your training. Pass one component and fail the other? You only retake the failed portion. For full retake details, see our guide on retaking the CNA exam.

The challenge test is a separate pathway: Montana lets you sit for the Headmaster exam without completing a training program, but you get exactly one attempt. Fail either component and you must enroll in a DPHHS-approved program before retesting. This option exists for people with healthcare experience who believe they can pass without formal training.

Scheduling Your Exam

You cannot schedule your exam until your instructor submits your training completion to the Headmaster (TMU) system. Once your hours are verified, you will receive login credentials from Headmaster. Log in to mt.tmutest.com to pay your fees and choose a test date. Bring two forms of ID on test day (one with a photo). Schedule as early as possible. Testing slots in rural areas fill quickly, especially in summer when multiple programs finish at once.

How to Get on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry

Passing the exam does not automatically place you on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry. You need to complete one more step: the CNA by Exam Application through Montana’s BOUNDS portal.

Create an account at mt-reports.com using a unique email address. Complete the CNA by Exam Application and submit it through the portal. Processing takes 10 to 14 days after submission (Montana DPHHS).

You cannot legally work as a CNA in Montana until your name appears on the registry. Don’t skip this step.

For a complete walkthrough of the BOUNDS portal, including how to check your certification status, troubleshoot common issues, verify another CNA’s credentials, and renew your listing, see our complete Montana Nurse Aide Registry guide.

Transferring Your CNA to Montana (Interstate Endorsement)

If you’re searching for Montana CNA reciprocity, you’ve found the right section. Montana calls this process “Interstate Endorsement,” but it works the same way: your existing CNA certification transfers to Montana without retaking the exam. The state never uses the word “reciprocity” in its official materials, which is why the DPHHS website can feel confusing when you search for it.

Requirements

• A current, active CNA certification in at least one U.S. state or territory
• Your CNA certificate number from your current state
• Access to the BOUNDS portal with a unique email address

Application Process Through BOUNDS

1. Go to the BOUNDS portal at mt-reports.com
2. Create an account using a unique email address
3. Select “CNA Interstate Endorsement Application”
4. Enter your current CNA certificate number and originating state
5. Submit the application. There is no fee

The transfer is free. Montana does not charge a state fee for interstate endorsement. Once DPHHS processes your application, your name will appear on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry.

Renewing Your Montana CNA Certification

To keep your certification active, you must work at least 8 hours as a paid CNA under the supervision of a licensed nurse every 24 months. You report this through the BOUNDS portal. There is no renewal fee in Montana, but if you let your certification lapse without meeting the work requirement, you must retake the training and exam.

Check your current certification status and expiration date in the BOUNDS portal at mt-reports.com. If your certificate has expired or gone inactive, review the reinstatement instructions on the Montana DPHHS CNA page before accepting CNA work.

CNA Salary in Montana

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montana CNAs earn an average of $42,020 per year ($20.20 per hour). The state employs approximately 4,800 CNAs. Those are the official numbers.

BLS data shows the statewide average, but what do Montana CNAs actually take home? The range depends heavily on where you work and what kind of facility:

“Most places are between $17 and $20 in SW Montana. I’m on the lower end but looking into travel work which is $25 on the lowest end I’ve seen but more like $30 on average.”

(Reddit user, r/cna)

That salary range tracks with BLS data for southwest Montana, and the travel CNA premium is worth noting if you have flexibility in where you work.

Hospital CNAs in Montana tend to earn more than the statewide average, and shift differentials can make a meaningful difference in your actual paycheck:

“21.75 at a hospital in Montana, any extra shifts I pick up tack on 11$ an hour and then there are 2/3$ night and weekend shift differentials that all stack up”

(Reddit user, r/cna)

Those stacking differentials are common at Montana hospitals. A base rate of $21.75 with an extra-shift bonus and night/weekend differentials can push your effective hourly rate well above $25.

Long-term care facilities in Montana typically pay $17-$18/hr, at the lower end of the BLS range. Hospital positions pay more and offer differential structures that significantly increase take-home. Travel CNA assignments in Montana pay $25-$30/hr for those with schedule flexibility. For a fuller picture, see our piece on why becoming a CNA in Montana is worth it.

Career Advancement from CNA in Montana

CNA certification opens two clear paths in Montana’s healthcare system.

The first is CNA to LPN. Licensed Practical Nurse programs in Montana typically run 12 to 18 months. Your CNA experience gives you clinical familiarity with patient care routines, medication administration context, and documentation practices that most LPN students encounter for the first time.

The second is CNA to RN. Several Montana colleges offer RN programs. Your certification and patient care hours strengthen a nursing school application in ways that academic credentials alone don’t.

For readers weighing long-term career stability, CNA work falls squarely in the category of why CNA is one of the most AI-proof careers in healthcare.

There’s another path worth knowing about, especially if you’re already enrolled in a Montana nursing program.

The Nursing Student Shortcut

If you’re enrolled in a nursing program at one of 11 Montana colleges, you can get your CNA certification by completing specific fundamentals courses. No separate CNA training program. No Headmaster exam.

This pathway exists because nursing fundamentals courses cover all CNA competencies and more. Montana DPHHS recognizes this and allows qualifying nursing students to apply directly to the registry (Montana DPHHS).

Qualifying Colleges and Courses

College	Qualifying Course(s)
Carroll College	NU201
Flathead Valley Community College	NRSG130 or NRSG232
Helena College (UM)	NRSG130 or NRSG232
Miles Community College	NRSG234
Montana State University Bozeman	NRSG116 or NRSG327/328
MSU Northern	NRSG232
MSU Billings	NRSG232
Great Falls College MSU	NRSG232 or NRSG130
Montana Tech Butte	NRSG210
Salish Kootenai College	NSGD221 or NURS305
University of Montana Missoula	NRSG232
University of Providence Great Falls	NSRG313

If your college is on this list and you’ve completed or are enrolled in one of these courses, you qualify.

How to Apply

1. Complete the qualifying course at your college
2. Create an account on the BOUNDS portal at mt-reports.com
3. Select “Nursing Student Application”
4. Submit the application through the portal
5. Send your official transcript to [email protected]

You save the cost of a separate CNA training program ($625-$1,500) and skip the Headmaster exam entirely. Many nursing students use this to work as CNAs during school, earning income and building clinical experience before they finish their degree.