The Manual Skill Test:

• The purpose of the Skill Test is to evaluate your performance when demonstrating MDH approved nurse aide skill tasks.
• You must bring a UNITED STATES (US) GOVERNMENT ISSUED, SIGNED, UNEXPIRED, PHOTO BEARING ID. Only original IDs are accepted. No photocopies, faxes or images are allowed
• Be sure you understand all instructions you read while in the waiting area before you begin your skill task demonstrations. You may not ask questions once the Skill Test begins, and the timer starts. Once the Skill Test begins, the RN Test Observer may not answer questions.
• Each of your randomly selected three (3) or four (4) tasks will have scenarios associated with them. The scenarios will be read to you by the RN Test Observer immediately before you are asked to do each task.
• You will be allowed a maximum of thirty (30) minutes to complete your three or four tasks. After fifteen (15) minutes have elapsed, you will be alerted that 15 minutes remain.
• Listen carefully to all instructions given by the RN Test Observer. You may request to have any of the scenarios repeated at any time during your Skill Test up until you run out of time or tell the RN Test Observer that you are finished with your skill task demonstrations.
• You must correctly perform all of the key steps (in bold font) and 80% of all non-key steps on each task assigned in order to pass the Skill Test.
• If you believe you made a mistake while performing a task, tell the RN Test Observer you would like to make a correction. You will need to correctly demonstrate the step or steps on the task you believe you performed incorrectly in order to receive credit for the correction.

Preparing for the skills test:
Watch free NA Skill videos at http://www.healthforceminnesota.org/students/students-nursing-assistant-skills-skill-videos.html (If you are asked to log in, enter Nursing as both the user name and password. N is capitalized in both.)

Review the following PRIOR to test day:

• Minnesota Mock Skills
• Candidate Handbook
• Skills Test Instructions

You have three (3) attempts to pass the knowledge and skill test portions of the exam within 24 months from your date of nurse aide training program completion. If you do not complete testing within 24 months from completion of training, you must complete a new Minnesota Department of Health approved training program in order to become eligible to further attempt Minnesota NA examinations.

Refund Policy - If you need to cancel or reschedule your exam, you must email Workforce Development Solutions 3 business days prior to the exam date. Late requests may not be accepted. “No-shows” will not receive a refund. If you fail to appear or have the correct documents, you or your company will be responsible for full payment regardless.

Cancelation Policy - While we regret having to do so, it is sometimes necessary to cancel exams with insufficient enrollment or last minute emergencies. If your exam is canceled, we will notify you and a refund will be processed. Please include your permanent cell and work numbers as well as an e-mail address at the time of registration.

COVID-19 Notice - The safety of students and employees remains the college's top priority. The college will continue to follow CDC and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines. We will be prepared to adapt our plans if the situation changes.

Registrants for the NA competency evaluation that are either employed by a nursing home or boarding care home as a nursing assistant or have been promised employment as a nursing assistant by one of these facilities prior to the date the evaluation fee is due, are NOT to pay for the competency evaluation.  The facility is federally mandated to pay for the competency evaluation fee. 

Nursing Assistants who receive an offer of employment as a nursing assistant from either of these facilities, not later than 12 months after successfully completing the nursing assistant course and competency evaluation, are entitled to a one-time reimbursement from the facility for the nurse assistant course, competency exam and related fees 90 days after the date of employment. For additional information on facility reimbursement policies, please click here. 

Questions or concerns can be directed to:
BreAnna Tracy, Administrative Assistant
Email: breanna.tracy@minnesota.edu

The skills test will be held at M State Detroit Lakes Campus
900 Hwy 34 East, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Room: F104
Campus Map

Important Information

• Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to check-in. **We schedule multiple test times per day to break up the waiting time for students, but there still is a wait time for skills testing. Students should plan to be at the test site for 1-3 hours from their scheduled test time**
• Late arrivals will not be allowed to test and will not receive a refund.
• No walk-in registrations will be accepted: you must register and pay for the exam in advance of the scheduled exam date.
• You must BRING ONE FORM OF IDENTIFICATION that meets the following MANDATORY requirements: US GOVERNMENT ISSUED, NON-EXPIRED, SIGNED, PHOTO-BEARING ID.  Examples are*:
  • Driver’s License
  • State Identification Card
  • US Passport
  • Work Authorization Card
  • Alien Registration Card
  • Military or Tribal IDs (that meet all requirements).
• *EXCEPTION: If you do not have a current, official US government issued identification form, then you must bring TWO (2) forms of CURRENT (not expired) Official, Signature Bearing identification with matching names on both ID's.  One of the two forms must be PHOTO-BEARING (photo copies will not be accepted).  Examples of proper identification, with matching names, include CURRENT ( non-expired):
  • School ID card with Photograph
  • signed Voter Registration Card
  • signed Credit/Debit (Bank) Card
  • signed Social Security Card
• TESTING ATTIRE: Full scrubs and closed-toed shoes. Please refer to the Candidate Handbook on the Minnesota web page at www.hdmaster.com for a list of other testing attire requirements regarding fingernails, jewelry, tattoos, piercings, etc.
• ELECTRONIC DEVICES: any electronic device of any type is not allowed to be on or near you in the skill testing room. Examples: cell phones, smart watches, activity trackers, tablets, etc. You may bring a basic watch with a second hand.
• IF YOU ARE LATE, DO NOT BRING REQUIRED MANDATORY ID, OR YOU ARE NOT IN MANDATORY TESTING ATTIRE (refer to the Candidate Handbook) YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TEST AND YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO-SHOW". No shows forfeit their testing fees and must repay to reapply for another test date.
• IF YOU NEED TO RESCHEDULE YOUR TEST DATE, YOU MUST RESCHEDULE AT LEAST 3 BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR TEST DATE by emailing BreAnna Tracy at breanna.tracy@minnesota.edu. 
• ADA accommodation requests must be submitted with required documentation and approved at least 14 days advance of your test date. Refer to the Candidate Handbook for ADA information.
• The testing site and testing teams are not responsible for your personal belongings.
• If you are unable to access your account, go to https://mn.tmutest.com, click Forgot Password and enter your Email. If you need further assistance, please call D&SDT-Headmaster at 888-401-0462.

If you are a challenge or test out candidate, you must complete form 1101 and email it to breanna.tracy@minnesota.edu immediately after completing your test registration and payment. Failure to do so will result in your test registration being canceled. Retakes do not need to complete this form as you have already been added to the TMU system.