Need Nursing Assistant Testing? Apply Now to Become an In-facility Test Site
Posted on July 3, 2025 by Anna Mowry
The Minnesota Department of Health is expanding in-facility testing to add additional test sites for nurse aide candidates. Applications will be accepted until July 11.
What is in-facility testing?
With in-facility testing, providers with nurse aide training programs can have the option to test nurse aide candidates in their settings where training occurs. In-facility testing is a common model for nurse aide testing and can be a convenient option for nurse aide candidates, training programs, and employers.
Benefits of in-facility nurse aide testing include:
- Reduced candidate drive time and distance to the testing center
- Increased candidate comfort level of testing at a familiar location
- Decreased wait time to secure a testing seat
- Reduced wait time to be placed on the registry and enter the workforce
- Recruitment opportunity for providers to connect with external nurse aide candidates
Who is eligible to become an in-facility test site?
Approved MDH Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) involving federally-certified providers that meet one of the following criteria:
- Nurse aide training program operated by a federally certified nursing home.
- Corporate nurse aide training program for multiple nursing homes of the same corporation.
- Nurse aide training program operated by an assisted living facility that is under the same umbrella ownership of a nursing home, usually on the same campus and provides supervised practical training in a federally certified nursing home.
In-Facility testing does not include approved training programs operated by colleges within the facility, colleges, high schools, independent free-standing programs, and assisted living facilities that train staff for their licensed-only facility.
More information
- If your facility is interested in in-facility testing, please review the details of the In-Facility Nurse Aide Testing page before completing the application.
- Apply at the Health Regulation Division website. If you determine you meet all the requirements to become a test site, complete all fields listed and submit to MDH.
- Frequently Asked Questions and resources are available on the In-Facility Nurse Aide Testing Resources page.
- MDH will be accepting applications to be a test site from June 16 to July 11. You must apply by July 11 at 11:59 p.m. to be considered for a Nurse Aide In-Facility Testing Site. MDH will review and notify interested facilities within 30 days via email if you have been approved to become a testing site.
Contact information
For questions on this form and process, please contact MDH at health.nar.coord@state.mn.us.
Tags: nurse aide, testing, cnas, test site, in-facility
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