May 12, 2026
Free Mississippi CNA Practice Test 2026 — 70-Question HDmaster Exam
Mississippi CNA exam facts for 2026: 75-hour training, HDmaster vendor, a 73% passing score (not 70%), a 12-category test plan, $135 fee, and free practice questions.
Mississippi CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every Mississippi CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that Mississippi's written exam format is genuinely different from the generic NNAAP template:
• Training required: 75 hours (federal minimum)
• Exam vendor: HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies), on behalf of the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH)
• Written exam: 70 questions, 60 minutes
• Skills exam: 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills, 30 minutes, 80% per task
• Passing score: 73% — higher than the 70% most states require
• Exam fee: $135 for the first attempt (knowledge $35 + skills $100); an audio knowledge exam adds $10
• Retake limit: up to 3 attempts at each portion, within 24 months of training completion (or within 120 days of hire date for facility-trained candidates)
• Registry: Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by MSDH
If you've studied using a generic "70 questions in 2 hours, 70% to pass" practice test, recalibrate — Mississippi's real exam gives you only 60 minutes and requires a 73% passing score.
Mississippi CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Mississippi, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the Mississippi Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) on behalf of the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).
Mississippi requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training — the federal minimum.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or audio) knowledge test: 70 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes
• A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills
You must pass both parts to be listed on the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written exam is 73%.
Mississippi CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
Mississippi doesn't use the national NNAAP content outline — HDmaster, the vendor, uses its own 12-category Mississippi-specific test plan. The 70 questions break down as:
• Basic Nursing Skills (11 questions)
• Infection Control (10 questions)
• Safety (9 questions)
• Communication (6 questions)
• Personal Care (5 questions)
• Resident Rights (5 questions)
• Disease Process (5 questions)
• Role and Responsibility (5 questions)
• Data Collection (4 questions)
• Mental Health (4 questions)
• Aging Process and Restorative Care (3 questions)
• Care Impaired (3 questions)
There's no single dominant category like the 45% Physical Care Skills weighting most states use — Basic Nursing Skills and Infection Control are the largest at around 15% and 14%, but coverage is spread across all twelve areas.
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Mississippi HDmaster Testing Locations
The Mississippi CNA written exam is administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) at testing centers throughout the state:
• Jackson
• Gulfport
• Southaven
• Hattiesburg
• Biloxi
• Meridian
• Tupelo
• Olive Branch
• Pearl
• Ridgeland
To find the nearest testing center and available exam dates, visit hdmaster.com and search for Mississippi nurse aide. Jackson and the Gulf Coast have the most testing availability.
Mississippi CNA Skills Test — What to Expect
The clinical skills evaluation is held at an HDmaster skills testing site. You will demonstrate 3 to 4 randomly selected skills — fewer than the 5 most states require — before a trained RN evaluator. You get 30 minutes to complete your assigned tasks and must score 80% or better on each one, without missing any key steps.
Handwashing is evaluated with every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is the most common reason Mississippi candidates fail the skills evaluation.
The Mississippi Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available on the HDmaster website and lists every possible skill task.
How to Prepare for the Mississippi CNA Exam
Mississippi's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%, despite a 73% passing bar that's higher than most states.
1. Take a full 70-question diagnostic practice test before studying. Review your scores across all twelve Mississippi content areas — don't assume one category dominates.
2. Prioritize Basic Nursing Skills, Infection Control, and Safety — the three largest categories — but budget real study time for the smaller ones too, since Mississippi's spread is far more even than most states.
3. Practice under timed conditions — 60 minutes for 70 questions.
4. Target 85% on practice tests before your real exam — a real buffer above Mississippi's 73% passing bar.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no signup required.
After You Pass — Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the Mississippi exam, your name is added to the Mississippi Nurse Aide Registry maintained by MSDH. Mississippi employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your Mississippi CNA certification is valid for 24 months. To maintain active status, you must work as a nurse aide for at least 8 hours for pay during each renewal period. Lapsed certifications require retaking the competency exam.
Registry status can be verified through the MSDH website.
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