Changes and Clarifications to the Knowledge Test for Nurse Aide Candidates

Posted on October 6, 2022 by Anna Mowry

As of Oct. 3, nurse aide candidates have a maximum of two hours to complete the knowledge test and have up to four chances to pass the knowledge test. We have answers to several frequently asked questions about the nurse aide test.

How far back are candidates eligible to take the fourth knowledge test?

Any candidate that has not successfully passed the knowledge test before Oct. 3 is eligible to take the knowledge test a fourth time. There is no time limit on candidate eligibility.

How long can candidates take advantage of the fourth knowledge test opportunity? Is this a permanent change?

MDH will monitor candidates' test performance and will re-evaluate in March 2023.

How long can candidates take advantage of the increased time allotment for the knowledge test? Is this a permanent change?

MDH will monitor testing scores and times and re-evaluate in October 2023.

Are there any other changes being made to the knowledge test besides time allotment and the fourth opportunity to pass the knowledge test?

The knowledge test will continue to consist of 70 questions. At this time, there are no additional changes to the knowledge test.

What can a nurse aide training program do to help their students pass the test?

Training programs can generate reports from Headmaster's TMU system to understand how their students are performing on the tests and determine where they may want to make changes. Learn more from the helpful guide on generating reports for nurse aide programs.

Where do I go if I have additional questions, feedback, or concerns?

For additional information, refer to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Nurse Assistant Training and Testing website or contact MDH at Health.NAR.coord@state.mn.us.