How to Become a CNA in Wyoming

To become a CNA in Wyoming, you need to complete a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved training (including at least 16 supervised clinical hours), pass the NNAAP competency exam, and apply through the Wyoming State Board of Nursing (WSBN). Most people go from enrollment to certified in 10 to 14 weeks.

Wyoming has seven community colleges offering Board-approved CNA programs across the state, from Cheyenne to Powell. Whether you’re starting from scratch or transferring a CNA certification from another state, this guide covers every step: requirements, costs, exam format, reciprocity, renewal, and what you can expect to earn. Find your closest Wyoming CNA classes or explore CNA classes nationwide.

Requirement	Details
Minimum Training Hours	75 hours (at least 16 clinical)
Approved Programs	7 community colleges statewide
Competency Exam	NNAAP (written + skills)
Total Cost	$900-$1,700+
Timeline	4-8 weeks training + exam
Governing Body	Wyoming State Board of Nursing (WSBN)
Background Check	State + FBI fingerprint check required
Reciprocity	Available from all U.S. states/territories

Wyoming CNA Requirements at a Glance

Wyoming requires a minimum of 75 hours of state-approved CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care facility, according to the Wyoming State Board of Nursing. After training, you pass the NNAAP competency exam and apply for certification through the WSBN Nurse Portal.

The full process from enrollment to registry placement typically takes 10 to 14 weeks: 4 to 8 weeks of training, a short window for exam scheduling, and processing time for your application and background check. The minimum age to begin a Wyoming CNA program is 16, though most programs require applicants to be 18.

For a broader overview of the CNA training and certification process nationally, see our complete certification guide.

Your first step is choosing a training program. Wyoming has seven Board-approved options spread across the state.

CNA Training Programs in Wyoming

Training Hour Requirements

Wyoming requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care facility, per WSBN regulations. Some programs exceed this minimum. Depending on the college and format, courses run 6 to 14 weeks.

The 16 clinical hours must be completed at an approved long-term care (LTC) facility under supervision. You won’t be observing from the sideline. You’ll be completing actual patient care tasks with real residents. That hands-on exposure is the part of training that converts classroom knowledge into practical skill.

Approved Programs at Wyoming Community Colleges

Wyoming has seven community colleges offering Board-approved CNA programs. They span a state larger than all of New England combined, so the nearest option depends on where you live.

College	City	Estimated Cost	Duration	Format
Laramie County Community College (LCCC)	Cheyenne	~$1,200	Varies	Hybrid available
Casper College	Casper	~$1,400	8 weeks	In-person
Central Wyoming College	Riverton	Contact program	Varies	In-person
Eastern Wyoming College	Torrington	Contact program	Varies	In-person
Northwest College	Powell	Contact program	Varies	In-person
Sheridan College	Sheridan	Contact program	6 or 14 weeks	In-person
Western Wyoming Community College	Rock Springs	Contact program	Varies	In-person

Verified costs exist for LCCC (~$1,200 via lccc.wy.edu) and Casper College (~$1,400, which bundles books, CPR, testing, and TB testing). For the other five colleges, contact the program directly for current tuition and schedule.

For residents in Rawlins, Thermopolis, or Star Valley, the nearest program may require a 60- to 90-minute drive. Sheridan College serves the northern region and Western Wyoming Community College covers southwestern Wyoming. Our guide on how to choose a CNA program can help you weigh distance, cost, and schedule before you commit.

Wyoming’s rural facilities face the same staffing pressures that define healthcare across the rural West. As one long-term care worker in a rural community described:

“I (M24 LPN) work at a Long Term Care/Skilled Nursing Facility in a rural part of the country. I work a 12 hour night shift with around 24 patients and 2 CNAs.”

(Reddit user — r/nursing, 192 upvotes)

That staffing reality is precisely why Wyoming facilities need CNAs and why the seven community college programs across the state exist to train them.

Online and Hybrid Options

Wyoming does not offer a fully online CNA training program. Clinical hours must be completed in person at an approved long-term care facility. LCCC in Cheyenne offers a hybrid format where some classroom instruction is completed online, but clinical hours are always in person.

If you’re searching for online CNA classes and wondering whether Wyoming has a fully remote option, the answer is no. The hybrid format at LCCC is the closest available option, reducing required campus days without eliminating hands-on clinical work. Check each college’s website for current schedules, prerequisites, and enrollment deadlines before making a decision.

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Wyoming?

Becoming a CNA in Wyoming costs between $900 and $1,700+ from enrollment through certification, depending on the program you choose and whether you qualify for financial aid. That range covers every required expense: tuition, materials, exam, application, and background check.

Cost Breakdown

Expense	Amount	Notes
Training tuition	$600-$1,400	LCCC ~$1,200; Casper College ~$1,400
Textbooks/materials	$89-$117	Required at most programs
CPR certification	$50-$75	Required before clinicals
TB test	Varies	Required by most programs
Background check (program level)	$15-$20	At time of program enrollment
WSBN application fee	$60	Paid to Wyoming State Board of Nursing
State/FBI background check	$60	Fingerprint-based, paid at application
Competency exam (Prometric)	$115	Written + skills combined, first attempt
Total estimated	$900-$1,700+	Before financial aid

The lower end ($900) reflects the least expensive program with minimal additional fees. Casper College’s $1,400 total bundles books, CPR, testing fees, and TB testing, so while the tuition is higher, the all-in cost is clear.

The sticker shock is real. But Wyoming offers several paths that can bring that total down significantly.

Many Wyoming nursing homes and long-term care facilities will cover the cost of your CNA training and pay you an hourly wage while you learn. Ask local facilities about employer-sponsored training before paying out of pocket.

The Wyoming Works Grant alone covers career training tuition at any of the state’s community colleges. Combined with the Workforce Development Training Fund, some Wyoming residents can complete CNA training at little to no cost.

Financial Aid and Funding Options

Wyoming Works Grant — State-funded grant for career training at Wyoming community colleges. Covers tuition and fees for qualifying students. Apply through your community college’s financial aid office.

Workforce Development Training Fund (WDTF) — Through the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. May provide training at little or no cost. Check availability before assuming it doesn’t apply to you.

Wyoming Investment in Nursing (WyIN) — For students enrolled in nursing programs at Wyoming community colleges or the University of Wyoming. Check communitycolleges.wy.edu for eligibility requirements.

Federal Financial Aid — Pell Grant (up to $7,395/year for 2024-25) and FSEOG available through FAFSA for qualifying students at accredited programs. All seven Wyoming community colleges are accredited, so every program on the list above qualifies.

Employer-Sponsored Training — Some healthcare facilities in Wyoming hire nurse aides and pay for training. Ask local facilities whether they offer this arrangement before paying out of pocket.

Contact your chosen college’s financial aid office before your first class. Several of these programs can reduce your costs to near zero for qualifying students.

Wyoming CNA Certification Exam

After completing your training, you take the NNAAP (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program) CNA exam, which Wyoming administers through Headmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) and Prometric. Both components, written and skills, must be passed to receive certification. Wyoming uses Prometric for most candidates; see our full list of exam vendors by state for scheduling details.

Written (Knowledge) Test

The written exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, with 90 minutes to complete them. Topics include patient care, safety, infection control, communication, and basic nursing skills. An oral version (160 questions) is available for candidates who need it. The passing threshold is approximately 76%, meaning you need to answer at least 46 of 60 questions correctly.

Prepare with our free CNA practice exam to familiarize yourself with the question format before test day.

Skills Evaluation

The skills portion tests 5 randomly selected skills from the NNAAP list, with handwashing always included as one of the five. You have 25 minutes to complete all five. You won’t know which skills are selected until exam day, so practice every skill during training, not just the ones that feel comfortable.

The single most common reason candidates fail: forgetting hand hygiene at the start of a skill. Handwashing is a pass/fail checkpoint at the beginning of each demonstration. Review our CNA skills test guide for step-by-step breakdowns of each testable skill, and our CNA skills test series for full walkthroughs of every skill on the exam.

Wyoming gives you up to five attempts before retraining is required, so even if the first attempt doesn’t go as planned, you have room to regroup. For a proven study approach, see our guide on how to study for the CNA exam.

Retake Policy and Fees

Attempt	Cost
First attempt (both components)	$115
Knowledge retake only	~$33
Skills retake only	~$65
Maximum retake attempts	5 (then retraining required)

You can retake each component independently, according to Prometric’s Candidate Information Bulletin. Pass the written but fail skills, and you only retake skills. After five failed attempts total, you must complete a new state-approved training program before testing again. If your first attempt doesn’t go as planned, our guide on retaking the CNA exam covers what to change the second time.

How to Get Your Wyoming CNA License

Once you pass the NNAAP exam, the certification process runs through the WSBN Nurse Portal. Here’s the full sequence from exam pass to registry placement.

Application Steps

1. Create a WSBN Nurse Portal account — Go to wsbn.wyo.gov and create an account. This portal handles all Wyoming nursing certifications.
2. Submit your CNA application — Complete the application through the portal. Application fee: $60.
3. Submit fingerprint cards — Wyoming requires fingerprint cards for both state (DCI) and FBI background checks. Cost: $60. Local law enforcement agencies or approved vendors can take your prints.
4. Receive your 120-day temporary permit — After your application and fingerprint cards have been submitted and received by DCI/FBI for processing, WSBN issues a 120-day temporary CNA permit (WSBN licensing) so you can begin working while the background check completes. The permit does not issue until fingerprints are on file.
5. Await background check processing — Most applications complete within the 120-day permit window.
6. Receive registry confirmation — Once approved, your name appears on the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry, confirming your active certification status.

Total application costs after passing the exam: $120 ($60 application fee plus $60 background check), separate from exam and training costs.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Wyoming’s background check uses fingerprint cards submitted to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the FBI. Your training program or the WSBN Nurse Portal will provide submission instructions. The $60 fee covers both state and federal processing. Once certified, you’ll need to renew every two years through the WSBN Nurse Portal. The renewal section below covers Wyoming’s requirements in detail.

Transferring Your CNA License to Wyoming

Moving to a new state while your CNA certification is in limbo is stressful. Wyoming’s endorsement process is manageable if you follow the steps in order and start the most time-consuming step, verification from your current state, before completing the rest of the application.

Wyoming accepts CNA certification from all U.S. states, territories, and Washington D.C. through endorsement, according to WSBN licensing requirements. This section is the most detailed in this guide because “wyoming cna reciprocity” generates more searches per month than the primary keyword, and the current top result is a 572-word page that leaves most questions unanswered.

Eligibility Requirements

To transfer your CNA certification to Wyoming, you must meet all four criteria:

1. Active, unencumbered CNA certification from any U.S. state, territory, or Washington D.C.
2. No findings on any state nurse aide abuse registry
3. Ability to pass a Wyoming background check (fingerprint-based, state + FBI)
4. Proof of lawful presence in the United States

“Unencumbered” means your certification has no disciplinary actions, restrictions, or pending investigations attached to it. If your certification has any conditions, contact WSBN directly at wsbn.wyo.gov before applying.

Step-by-Step Endorsement Process

1. Create a WSBN Nurse Portal account — Go to wsbn.wyo.gov and create an account. This is the same portal used for all Wyoming nursing certifications.
2. Complete the CNA Endorsement Application — Fill out the endorsement (reciprocity) application through the portal. Select the CNA by endorsement option.
3. Request verification from your current state — Contact your current state’s nurse aide registry and request that they send verification directly to WSBN. This is the most common source of delays. Start it first, before completing the rest of your application.
4. Submit proof of lawful presence — Upload documentation of U.S. citizenship or immigration status through the portal.
5. Submit fingerprint cards — Complete state (DCI) and FBI fingerprint cards. WSBN provides submission instructions. Cost: $60.
6. Pay fees — Application fee: $60. Background check: $60. Total Wyoming fees: approximately $120. Your prior state may charge a separate fee for the verification letter.

Pro tip: Start Step 3 (verification request from your current state) the same day you create your Nurse Portal account in Step 1. State registries can take 2 to 6 weeks to process outbound verification requests, and that waiting period is the single most common bottleneck in the entire process.

If you’re transferring from a neighboring state, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, or Idaho, the process is identical. Wyoming does not have a separate fast-track for bordering states.

120-Day Temporary Permit

Wyoming issues a 120-day temporary CNA permit while your background check and state verification are processing, according to the WSBN licensing page. The permit issues after your application and fingerprint cards have been received by WSBN. You don’t have to wait for the full process to complete before starting a job. The permit is valid for 120 days from the issue date, enough time for most endorsement applications to finish processing.

Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

Verification delays from your prior state — Some state registries take 4 to 6 weeks to process outbound requests. You cannot control the other state’s timeline, but you can control when you start it. Submit the request on day one.

Incomplete applications — Missing fingerprint cards or proof of lawful presence are the two most common causes of holdups. Check every required document before submitting. A single missing item restarts the clock.

Fingerprint card errors — Smudged or illegible cards are rejected by the FBI and require resubmission. Use an authorized fingerprint vendor rather than self-submitting.

Wyoming CNA License Renewal

Whether you earned your certification in Wyoming or transferred it, renewal runs through the WSBN Nurse Portal on the same platform.

Renewal Requirements

Wyoming CNA certifications run on a two-year cycle: from odd-year January 1 through even-year December 31. The renewal window opens each October of the even-numbered year.

To remain active, you must:

1. Complete at least 24 hours of in-service education over the two-year cycle. This is typically provided by your employer as part of your job (facility-based training on infection control, patient rights, safety procedures, etc.). If you work full-time at a facility, your employer’s mandatory training likely covers this requirement automatically.
2. Perform paid nursing-related services during the renewal period. Federal OBRA rules require documented work as a nurse aide within the preceding 24 months.

The renewal fee is paid through the Nurse Portal when you submit your renewal application. Check wsbn.wyo.gov for the current fee amount.

If you work full-time, your employer’s in-service training and your documented work hours should satisfy both requirements. Keep records of your hours worked and training completed throughout the renewal period.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

Wyoming has no grace period for CNA renewal. If your certification expires, you cannot legally work as a CNA and must apply for reinstatement through WSBN, not a standard renewal, but reinstatement. The reinstatement process may require meeting current requirements, which could include additional training or reexamination depending on how long your certification has been lapsed.

Set a calendar reminder for October of even-numbered years. That is when the renewal window opens. Missing the deadline is not a minor inconvenience. It removes your ability to work until reinstatement is complete.

Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry

The Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry is the official database of all certified nurse aides in the state, maintained jointly by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing and the Wyoming Department of Health. Your name must appear on this registry before you can legally work as a CNA in Wyoming. Employers check the registry to verify certification status before hiring.

To look up a CNA’s certification, use the WSBN License Lookup tool at wsbn.wyo.gov. Enter the CNA’s name to verify active status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions. The lookup is free and requires no account registration. Keep your contact information and mailing address updated with WSBN so you receive renewal reminders each October.

The registry also includes the Wyoming nurse aide abuse registry, which flags individuals with substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property. This separate registry is checked during every Wyoming CNA hiring process and reviewed during reciprocity applications from other states.

CNA Salary and Job Outlook in Wyoming

CNAs in Wyoming earn a mean annual salary of $38,360, or approximately $18.44 per hour, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 OES data. That’s slightly below the national mean of $39,530. Wyoming has no state income tax, which means your effective take-home pay is higher than the headline number suggests compared to CNAs working in states with income taxes.

Location	Annual Salary	Hourly Rate
Wyoming statewide average	$38,360	$18.44
Northwest Wyoming nonmetro area	$37,790	~$18.17
Northeast Wyoming nonmetro area	$39,730	~$19.10
National average	$39,530	~$19.00

Regional figures from BLS OES nonmetropolitan area data for Wyoming. Wyoming has no state income tax, which means your effective take-home pay is higher than the headline number suggests compared to CNAs in states with income taxes.

Wyoming’s community college system also creates a clear advancement path: CNA to LPN to RN, all within the same seven colleges listed in the training section. You won’t need to leave the state or switch institutions to move up. With only 2,680 CNAs employed statewide and persistent staffing shortages at rural facilities, demand for qualified CNAs remains strong.

That combination of meaningful patient impact and a state that lets you keep more of your earnings is part of what makes Wyoming a practical place to start a CNA career. For more on what drives CNAs to choose Wyoming, see why become a CNA in Wyoming.