Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Michigan
- Training hours
- 75 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $215
- Exam
- Knowledge/Audio Exam and Skill Test (combined)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems (BCHS) — Nurse Aide Registry
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Pass a criminal background check. BCHS's own registry page states explicitly: 'There is no age requirement for training and testing, only employment' (employment of minors is governed separately by Michigan's Youth Employment Standards Act). Background check: under MCL 333.20173a, covered facilities (nursing homes, county medical care facilities, hospices, hospitals with swing-bed services, homes for the aged, home health agencies) may not employ or grant clinical privileges to an individual with disqualifying convictions, and must submit fingerprints for a Michigan State Police / FBI criminal history check before employment — this is a facility-level statutory check rather than one BCHS administers as part of registry certification itself. [3]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 75 hours of training at a state-approved program. A minimum of 75 course hours in a state-permitted nurse aide training program is required prior to taking a competency evaluation examination; Michigan does not allow candidates to exempt out of the training hours or testing. There is no age requirement for training and testing itself — only for employment (see prerequisites). [1]
- 3
Knowledge/Audio Exam and Skill Test (combined)
Pass the Knowledge/Audio Exam and Skill Test (combined) (fee: $175). Written (or audio) multiple-choice knowledge exam plus a hands-on skills demonstration; scheduled and paid together for first-time test takers. Both components are billed as a single $175 first-attempt package. A candidate has 3 attempts to pass the knowledge and skill portions within 24 months; failing 3 attempts on either portion requires completing a new LARA-approved training program before testing again. A graduate of a permitted training program can work as a temporary nurse aide for up to 4 months while awaiting testing. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems (BCHS) — Nurse Aide Registry with the $40 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems (BCHS) — Nurse Aide Registry issues your Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) for Michigan.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $40 |
| License fee [1] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [1] | $40 |
| Knowledge/Audio Exam and Skill Test (combined) [2] | $175 |
The $40 registration fee (paid via the MI-NATES system) covers both new applications and reciprocity applications; there is no separate 'license' fee beyond this registration fee. Renewal fee has been $40 since March 7, 2024 (previously $20). Exam fees are billed separately by D&SDT-Headmaster and are listed under exams.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 12 continuing education hours required per cycle.
A renewal certificate is valid for 24 months from the prior certificate's expiration. To renew, a nurse aide must acknowledge at least 40 hours of paid nursing/nursing-related work in the prior 24 months and pay the $40 renewal fee. Effective March 23, 2026, an attestation of at least 12 hours annually of continuing education (must include abuse, neglect, and care-plan training, per Rule 400.315) is also required. If a certificate lapses more than 24 months past expiration, the individual must retake training and the competency exam as a new initial applicant.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides (unlike the RN/LPN Nurse Licensure Compact). Michigan grants reciprocity under Section 333.21913 of the Michigan Public Health Code to candidates who trained and tested in a state that 'meets or exceeds' Michigan's requirements (a 40-state approved list is published, including a minimum-75-hour training requirement with no exemptions). Approved-state candidates apply via the MI-NATES system and pay the standard $40 registration fee; candidates who did not train/test in an approved state are not eligible for reciprocity. Michigan no longer processes outbound reciprocity paperwork for its own active CNAs — other states must verify status via the BCHS online registry.
10 state-approved training providers in Michigan — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $40
- $175
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of CNA training does Michigan require?
At least 75 course hours in a state-permitted nurse aide training program. There's no minimum age to take the training or the exam — age requirements apply only to employment as a nurse aide.
Who administers the Michigan nurse aide exam?
D&S Diversified Technologies LLP / Headmaster LLP, under contract with LARA-BCHS. The exam combines a knowledge/audio portion and a hands-on skill test, billed together as a $175 first-attempt package.
How often do I need to renew my Michigan CNA certificate?
Every 24 months. You must acknowledge at least 40 hours of paid nursing-related work in that period, and — effective March 23, 2026 — attest to at least 12 hours of continuing education annually. The renewal fee is $40.
Can I transfer my CNA certification from another state to Michigan?
Yes, if you trained and tested in one of the states Michigan recognizes as meeting or exceeding its requirements (a published list of about 40 states). You apply through MI-NATES and pay the standard $40 registration fee.
Sources
- [1] michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bchs/nurse-aide-registry — accessed 2026-07-10
- [2] hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/michigan/forms/MI%20Candidate%20Handbook%201-2025.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
- [3] legislature.mi.gov/mileg.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10