May 12, 2026
Free North Dakota CNA Practice Test 2026 — 72-Question HDmaster Exam
North Dakota CNA exam facts for 2026: 75-hour training, HDmaster vendor, a 75% passing score (not 70%), a 12-category test plan, $250 fee, and free practice questions.
North Dakota CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every North Dakota CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that North Dakota'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 North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
• Written exam: 72 questions, 90 minutes
• Skills exam: 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills, 30 minutes, 80% per task
• Passing score: 75% — higher than the 70% most states require
• Exam fee: $250 for the first attempt (knowledge and skills combined); retakes are billed separately ($95 written, $195 skills)
• Registry: North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry
If you've studied using a generic "70 questions in 2 hours, 70% to pass" practice test, recalibrate — North Dakota's real exam is 72 questions in 90 minutes with a 75% passing bar.
North Dakota CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in North Dakota, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the North Dakota Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) on behalf of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.
North Dakota 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 to be listed on the North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written exam is 75%.
North Dakota CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
North Dakota doesn't use the national NNAAP content outline — HDmaster, the vendor, uses its own 12-category North Dakota-specific test plan. Notably, North Dakota names one category differently from every other HDmaster state on this site: "Growth & Development Across the Ages" instead of "Aging Process and Restorative Care." The 72 questions break down as:
• Basic Nursing Skills (11 questions)
• Role and Responsibility (11 questions)
• Safety (8 questions)
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills (6 questions)
• Personal Care (6 questions)
• Resident Rights (6 questions)
• Care Impaired (5 questions)
• Disease Process (5 questions)
• Infection Control (5 questions)
• Mental Health (4 questions)
• Data Collection (3 questions)
• Growth & Development Across the Ages (2 questions)
Basic Nursing Skills and Role and Responsibility 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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North Dakota HDmaster Testing Locations
The North Dakota CNA written exam is administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) at testing centers in the state:
• Fargo
• Bismarck
• Grand Forks
• Minot
• West Fargo
• Williston
• Dickinson
• Mandan
To find the nearest testing center and available exam dates, visit hdmaster.com and search for North Dakota nurse aide. Fargo and Bismarck have the most testing availability — candidates in western North Dakota should register early.
North Dakota 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 a common reason North Dakota candidates fail the skills evaluation.
The North Dakota Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available on the HDmaster website and lists every possible skill task.
How to Prepare for the North Dakota CNA Exam
North Dakota'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 North Dakota content areas — don't assume one category dominates.
2. Prioritize Basic Nursing Skills and Role and Responsibility — the two largest categories, tied at about 15% each — 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 North Dakota's 75% passing bar.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no account required.
After You Pass — North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the North Dakota exam, your name is added to the North Dakota Nurse Aide Registry. North Dakota employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your North Dakota 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 North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services website.
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