May 12, 2026
Free Wisconsin CNA Practice Test 2026 — 75-Question HDmaster Exam
Wisconsin CNA exam facts for 2026: 75-hour training, HDmaster vendor, a 75-question/60-minute exam with a 12-category test plan (not the standard NNAAP 6), $144.70 fee, and free practice questions.
Wisconsin CNA Exam — Key Facts (2026)
Here is what every Wisconsin CNA candidate needs to know before sitting for the exam — note that Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)
• Written exam: 75 questions, 60 minutes — not the 70-question/2-hour format most states use
• Skills exam: 3 to 4 randomly selected nurse aide skills (1 of 4 mandatory tasks + 2-3 random), 30 minutes, 80% per task
• Passing score: 71% — slightly higher than the 70% most states require
• Exam fee: $144.70 for the first attempt (knowledge and skills combined); an audio knowledge exam adds $5
• Registry: Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by DHS
If you've studied using a generic "70 questions in 2 hours, 70% to pass" practice test, recalibrate — Wisconsin's real exam is 75 questions in 60 minutes with a 71% passing bar.
Wisconsin CNA Certification Overview
To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Wisconsin, you must complete a state-approved CNA training program and pass the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by HDmaster (D&S Diversified Technologies) on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
Wisconsin requires a minimum of 75 hours of CNA training — the federal minimum.
The exam has two parts:
• A written (or audio) knowledge test: 75 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 Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written exam is 71%.
Wisconsin CNA Written Exam — What Is Tested
Wisconsin doesn't use the national NNAAP content outline — HDmaster, the vendor, uses its own 12-category Wisconsin-specific test plan. The 75 questions break down as:
• Basic Nurse Skills (10 questions)
• Personal Care (8 questions)
• Safety (8 questions)
• Care Impaired (8 questions)
• Infection Control (7 questions)
• Resident Rights (7 questions)
• Communication (5 questions)
• Role and Responsibility (5 questions)
• Aging Process and Restorative Care (5 questions)
• Data Collection (4 questions)
• Disease Process (4 questions)
• Mental Health (4 questions)
There's no single dominant category like the 45% Physical Care Skills weighting most states use — Basic Nurse Skills is the largest at about 13% of the exam, but coverage is spread fairly evenly across all twelve areas.
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Wisconsin HDmaster Testing Locations
The Wisconsin CNA written exam is administered at HDmaster testing centers throughout the state:
• Milwaukee
• Madison
• Green Bay
• Kenosha
• Racine
• Appleton
• Waukesha
• Oshkosh
• Eau Claire
• Janesville
To find the nearest HDmaster center and available exam dates, visit hdmaster.com and search for Wisconsin nurse aide. Milwaukee and Madison have the most testing availability.
Wisconsin CNA Skills Test — What to Expect
The clinical skills evaluation is held at an HDmaster skills testing site. You will be assigned one of four mandatory tasks as your first skill, plus 2 to 3 more randomly selected tasks, for 3 to 4 total. You get 30 minutes to complete them and must score 80% on each task without missing any key steps.
Handwashing is embedded in each mandatory task — perform it correctly at the start and end of each demonstration. Incomplete hand hygiene is the most common reason Wisconsin candidates fail the skills evaluation.
The Wisconsin Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available on the HDmaster website at hdmaster.com and lists every possible skill task.
How to Prepare for the Wisconsin CNA Exam
Wisconsin's written exam first-attempt pass rate is approximately 70–75%, despite a 71% passing bar that's slightly higher than most states.
1. Take a full 75-question diagnostic practice test before studying. Review your scores across all twelve Wisconsin content areas — don't assume one category dominates.
2. Prioritize Basic Nurse Skills, Personal Care, Safety, and Care Impaired — the four largest categories — but budget real study time for the smaller ones too, since Wisconsin's spread is far more even than most states.
3. Practice under timed conditions — 60 minutes for 75 questions.
4. Target 85% on practice tests before your real exam — a real buffer above Wisconsin's 71% passing bar.
CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free NNAAP-style practice test with 500+ questions — no signup required.
After You Pass — Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry
After passing both parts of the Wisconsin exam, your name is added to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry maintained by DHS. Wisconsin employers must verify registry status before hiring nurse aides in licensed facilities.
Your Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Department of Health Services website.
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