May 12, 2026
Free CNA Practice Test Montana 2026 — NNAAP Exam Prep Guide
Everything Montana CNA candidates need to know — exam format, HDmaster testing locations, training requirements, and free NNAAP practice tests to help you pass on your first try.
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, including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice. Most approved programs meet or exceed this requirement.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or oral) knowledge test: 70 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours
• A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills
You must pass both parts to be listed on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score is 70%.
Montana CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
The Montana written exam uses the NNAAP format. All 70 questions come from six content areas:
• Physical Care Skills (45%) — bathing, grooming, feeding, transfers, positioning, catheter care, elimination
• Safety & Emergency Procedures (14%) — fall prevention, RACE fire protocol, Heimlich maneuver, seizure response
• Infection Control (14%) — handwashing, PPE donning and doffing order, isolation precautions
• Resident Rights (11%) — OBRA regulations, right to refuse care, privacy, abuse reporting
• Psychosocial Care Skills (8%) — therapeutic communication, dementia care, end-of-life support
• Role of the Nurse Aide (8%) — scope of practice, documentation, chain of command
Montana's rural geography means many CNAs work in small critical access facilities where they must be skilled across all care domains.
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.
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Montana CNA Skills Test — What to Expect
The clinical skills evaluation is held at an HDmaster skills testing site. You will demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills before a trained evaluator.
Handwashing is evaluated with every skill — perform it at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is the most common reason Montana candidates fail the skills test.
Commonly tested skills include:
• Handwashing
• Measuring and recording blood pressure
• Providing perineal care for a female resident
• Transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair using a gait belt
• Positioning a resident in Fowler's position
• Providing passive range of motion for the hip and knee
• Making an occupied bed
The Montana Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available on the HDmaster website.
How to Prepare for the Montana CNA Exam
Montana's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%. Structured practice testing is the most reliable preparation method.
1. Take a full diagnostic 70-question practice test before studying.
2. Prioritize Physical Care Skills — 45% of the exam.
3. Study Infection Control and Safety together — PPE order and RACE protocol are heavily tested.
4. Run at least one full timed 2-hour practice test before exam day.
5. Target 80% on practice tests before your real exam.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free 70-question NNAAP 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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