May 12, 2026
Free Montana CNA Practice Test 2026 — 72-Question HDmaster Exam
Montana CNA exam facts for 2026: 75-hour training, HDmaster vendor, a 72-question/90-minute exam with a 12-category test plan, a 6-month retake window, and free practice questions.
Montana CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every Montana CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that Montana's written exam format and retake window are both genuinely different from the generic NNAAP template:
• Training required: 75 hours (federal minimum)
• Exam vendor: HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies), on behalf of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS)
• Written exam: 72 questions, 90 minutes — not the 70-question/2-hour format most states use
• Skills exam: 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills, 80% per task
• Passing score: 75% — higher than the 70% most states require
• Exam fee: $97 for the first attempt (knowledge $20 + skills $77); an audio knowledge exam adds $11
• Retake limit: up to 3 attempts, all within 6 months of training completion — a much shorter window than most states
• Registry: Montana Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by DPHHS
If you've studied using a generic "70 questions in 2 hours, 70% to pass" practice test, recalibrate — Montana's real exam is 72 questions in 90 minutes with a 75% passing bar, and your retake window closes in just 6 months.
Montana CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Montana, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the Montana Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) on behalf of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).
Montana requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training — the federal minimum.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or audio) knowledge test: 72 multiple-choice questions, 90 minutes
• A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills
You must pass both parts — within 6 months of completing training — to be listed on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written exam is 75%.
Montana CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
Montana doesn't use the national NNAAP content outline — HDmaster's Montana-specific test plan breaks the 72 questions into 12 content domains:
• Basic Nursing Skills (11 questions)
• Infection Control (11 questions)
• Safety (8 questions)
• Personal Care (7 questions)
• Communication (6 questions)
• Care Impaired (5 questions)
• Disease Process (5 questions)
• Resident Rights (5 questions)
• Role and Responsibility (5 questions)
• Mental Health (4 questions)
• Data Collection (3 questions)
• Older Adult Growth & Development (2 questions)
Basic Nursing Skills and Infection Control tie for the largest share at about 15% each — there's no single 45%-of-the-exam category like the generic NNAAP template.
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Montana HDmaster Testing Locations
The Montana CNA written exam is administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) at testing centers in the state:
• Billings
• Missoula
• Great Falls
• Bozeman
• Butte
• Helena
• Kalispell
• Havre
To find the nearest testing center and available exam dates, visit hdmaster.com and search for Montana nurse aide. Billings and Missoula have the most testing availability — candidates in rural areas should register early given limited testing slots.
Montana 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 before a trained RN evaluator and must score 80% or better on each task, 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 a common reason Montana candidates fail the skills test.
The Montana Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available on the HDmaster website and lists every possible skill and required step.
How to Prepare for the Montana CNA Exam
Montana's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%, despite a 75% passing bar that's higher than most states.
1. Take a full 72-question diagnostic practice test before studying. Review your scores across all twelve Montana content areas — don't assume one category dominates.
2. Prioritize Basic Nursing Skills and Infection Control — the two largest categories — but budget real study time for the smaller ones too.
3. Practice under timed conditions — 90 minutes for 72 questions.
4. Target 85% on practice tests before your real exam — a real buffer above Montana's 75% passing bar.
5. Don't delay — you only have 6 months from training completion to pass both portions, one of the shortest windows of any state.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no account required.
After You Pass — Montana Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the Montana exam, your name is added to the Montana Nurse Aide Registry maintained by DPHHS. Montana employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your Montana 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 Montana DPHHS website.
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