Nurse Aide Testing for candidates who have recently completed a Minnesota-approved training course and candidates challenging the test without training.
There are two parts to the Minnesota Nurse Aide Competency Exam, the knowledge test (online) and the skills test (in-person). Candidates must pass both tests in order to receive the certificate and to be listed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry. The tests do not have to be taken in a set order, however you must complete both tests within two years of your first test date.
Registering for a Test
All candidates must register online to be included in a test date with Minnesota State rSchoolsToday.
If you are new to this system, you have to register as a new user and set up a username and password at https://mnscu.rschooltoday.com/public/viewmyaccount. Once you have an account, you will easily be able to register in the future for future training and events. If your employer is covering the costs of your tests, please contact Kristianne Boroski at WDS@northlandcollege.edu.
Register for each test as listed. Note the test type, date, time and campus location. Headmaster, utilizing TMU software, is the testing vendor for the Minnesota Nurse Aide Competency Exam. Northland Community & Technical College is the test site.
Knowledge Test
The knowledge test is ONLINE, do not come to campus for this test. Candidates have a maximum of two (2) hours to answer seventy (70) multiple-choice questions in English. Two web-enabled devices are required. Candidates will check-in with a smartphone or similar ‘video conferencing app’ (Zoom)-enabled device to communicate with the test proctor and monitor the test environment. The candidate will also use a computer, laptop, or tablet to access TMU Minnesota at https://mn.tmutest.com/ and complete the test. An oral/audio test option is also available, which candidates must select in their TMU profile prior to testing.
Skills Test
The skills test is IN-PERSON at the campus hosting the test event. Candidates demonstrate up to four (4) randomly selected nurse aide skill tasks for an RN Test Observer. You will have a maximum of thirty (30) minutes to complete these tasks with a live actor or manikin, as specified by the skill. Please review the Minnesota Mock Skills on Headmaster’s website for an updated list of the skills currently tested. The complete list of skill tasks is listed in the Minnesota Candidate Handbook.
​​​​** Please note candidates are not to register for a session with a Test Observer who was involved in their training. Please contact wds@northlandcollege.edu to confirm eligibility.
TMU Minnesota
This registration is a request to test only. When you register and pay here for a knowledge and/or skills test with Northland Community & Technical college, we will verify your TMU profile. TMU is a web-based application where candidates manage their profile, take the knowledge test, and receive their test results. Candidates who have completed a Minnesota training program within the last 24 months, will have an initial TMU profile created by their instructor. Testing sites will initiate profiles for Challenge candidates. Both candidate types are responsible to login and complete their demographic profile.
When the demographic profile is complete, you are then scheduled to the test event in TMU. You are not confirmed as scheduled for testing until you receive the TMU confirmation email with final instructions, date and time. Please monitor your inbox and junk/spam folders. You will also receive a text if you listed a text-capable phone number in your TMU record.
Test-Out / Challenge Candidates:
If you have not completed a Minnesota State-approved nurse aide training program within the last two (2) years, you are still eligible to test as a Challenge candidate. To be scheduled for a test event, complete and return the 1101MN Test-Out or Challenge Candidate Application to WDS@northlandcollege.edu immediately after completing this registration and payment. This information is required for Northland to create your initial TMU profile. You will still need to complete the demographic profile in TMU to be scheduled into a test event. Failure to do so will result in your test registration being canceled.
What to Expect After Registration:
- Again, this registration is the payment and request to test only.
- Minnesota-trained candidates, also logon at https://mn.tmutest.com/ and verify your profile is complete.
- Challenge candidates, please also return the completed 1101MN Test-Out or Challenge Candidate Application to WDS@northlandcollege.edu immediately after completing this registration and payment.
- Candidates are not confirmed to test until the TMU profile is complete and the event is locked.
- Test events are locked 48-hours prior to testing. Changes are not possible after the event is locked.
- You will receive a confirmation email with specific testing information. Please monitor your inbox and junk/spam folder. You will also receive a text if you listed a text-capable phone number in your TMU record.
- For the knowledge test, plan a test location with stable internet and test your Zoom-enabled device.
- For the skills test, confirm your test location and required attire.
Candidate Handbook
The candidate handbook is available on Headmaster's Minnesota Webpage. Learn about updates that have been made to testing procedures, knowledge exams, skills exams, and more.
Test cancelation policies:
- If you need to cancel for any reason, you must do so at least 3 business days before the test date by emailing WDS@northlandcollege.edu to be eligible for a refund. See the Scheduled/Reschedule chart below.
- Please email minnesota@hdmaster.com if you need immediate exam assistance or call 1-800-393-8664. Failure to do so may result to you be counted as a no show for testing. No shows do not receive any type of refund as we are still charged for your test seat.
- Headmaster does not offer same day testing services. Please keep in mind if you should have any last-minute emergencies and want to be taken out of your scheduled test in TMU.
Below is a chart based on Headmaster TMU testing services and your scheduled exam:
| Scheduled test date is on: |
Reschedule before 7:00 PM CTS: |
| Monday |
The previous Thursday |
| Tuesday |
The previous Friday |
| Wednesday |
The previous Monday |
| Thursday |
The previous Tuesday |
| Friday |
The previous Wednesday |
| Saturday |
The previous Thursday |
| Sunday |
The previous Thursday |
What to Expect After Testing:
- Logon to TMU for test results after 7:00 pm the business day after your event. See the Candidate Handbook for specific directions.
- When you pass your test, you can search for your name on the Minnesota registry at https://narlookup.web.health.state.mn.us/. This may take up to 10 business days from the date of your second passed test. Please contact the Minnesota Department of Health for any updates or questions about your certification number.
- If you fail a test, you will need to register for a new test date with the same process and pay again.
- If one test is passed and one test is failed, you only need to retake the failed test. When both tests are passed, Headmaster will send your information to the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry.
Registrants for the Minnesota Nurse Aide Competency Exam 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. Please contact your facility Human Resources department for further information.
Nurse Aides 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 contact the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry and your facility Human Resources.
For testing questions, please contact:
Kristianne Boroski at WDS@northlandcollege.edu
For updates and announcements regarding Minnesota Nurse Aide training and testing, please see the MDH website.
For information about transferring a Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry to another state, contact that state's Department of Health. For example, find information about North Dakota's Registry
at https://services.ndhhs.gov/nurseaide/apply/.
