CNA in Michigan 2026: Training, Certification, Salary, and Requirements
Michigan CNA: 75 hours training, Prometric exam, LARA Nurse Aide Registry. Salary $30K–$38K. Going PRO talent fund covers free training. Detroit, Grand Rapids,
Michigan Key Facts and Figures
Michigan Important Details
Michigan state law under MCL 333.21720 sets the minimum CNA training requirement at 75 hours — equal to the federal OBRA minimum. However, many LARA-approved programs at community colleges and vocational schools offer 80–120 hour curricula to better prepare candidates for the Prometric clinical skills exam. Training must be completed at a LARA-approved program and include classroom instruction in basic nursing skills, anatomy, infection control, resident rights, personal care, and emergency procedures, plus supervised clinical practice at a licensed nursing facility. Henry Ford College, Lansing Community College, Grand Rapids Community College, and Kellogg Community College are among the most reputable LARA-approved programs in the state.
- Minimum Total Hours: 75 hours
- Classroom Instruction: 16 hours minimum
- Clinical/Lab Hours: 16+ hours supervised
- Federal Minimum: 75 hours (MI meets minimum)
- Most MI Programs: 75–120 hours depending on school
Michigan uses Prometric to administer the CNA competency evaluation — the same vendor used by New York, Texas, and many other large states. The written (or oral) section covers 70 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, testing knowledge of basic nursing care, infection control, safety, rights of residents, and personal care skills. The clinical skills evaluation requires demonstrating 5 randomly selected nursing procedures in front of a trained evaluator. Test sites are located throughout Michigan — including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint, and Kalamazoo. Candidates have up to 3 attempts within 24 months of completing LARA-approved training.
- Written Exam: 70 questions, 90 minutes
- Skills Evaluation: 5 randomly selected skills
- Passing Score: 70% written; all 5 skills passed
- Exam Vendor: Prometric (same as federal NNAAP)
- Attempts: 3 within 24 months of training completion
LARA (Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) is unique among state healthcare regulators: it is a single state agency that oversees licensing for ALL healthcare professions in Michigan — from CNAs and RNs to physicians, pharmacists, and physical therapists. This means that Michigan CNA registry issues, renewals, and abuse findings are all handled through the same LARA portal that manages every other healthcare license in the state. LARA's online registry lookup at michigan.gov/lara allows the public to verify any CNA's active certification status, search by name or license number, and view any abuse or neglect findings recorded on a CNA's registry entry.
- Governing Body: Michigan Dept. of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
- Registry Name: LARA Nurse Aide Registry
- Registry Lookup: michigan.gov/lara — online search
- Abuse Flags: Substantiated abuse/neglect findings posted publicly
- Renewal: Every 24 months via LARA online portal
Before beginning clinical rotations at a Michigan licensed nursing facility, candidates must complete a background check through the Michigan State Police ICHAT system or FBI fingerprinting (required at most programs), TB testing (Mantoux PPD or QuantiFERON Gold blood test), CPR/BLS certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross, and a physical examination. Many LARA-approved programs arrange background checks and TB testing as part of the enrollment process. LARA checks the Nurse Aide Abuse Registry before issuing any certificate — a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect disqualifies a candidate from certification.
- Background Check: Michigan ICHAT or FBI fingerprint check
- TB Testing: PPD or QuantiFERON Gold within 12 months
- CPR/BLS: American Heart Association or Red Cross
- Age Minimum: 16 years (some programs require 18)
- Health Physical: Required by most clinical sites
Michigan CNA Programs by Region
Detroit and Metro Detroit — including Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties — is Michigan's largest and highest-paying CNA market. Henry Ford Health (6 hospitals, 250+ care sites) is the dominant employer, with Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Henry Ford Macomb, and Henry Ford West Bloomfield offering competitive CNA wages and tuition assistance programs. Beaumont Health (now part of Corewell Health after the 2022 merger) operates 8 hospitals across the Detroit metro, including flagship campuses in Royal Oak and Dearborn. Detroit Medical Center (DMC), now a Tenet Healthcare system, employs large numbers of CNAs across its 8 hospitals including Detroit Receiving Hospital and Sinai Grace. Training programs in the Detroit area include Henry Ford College (Dearborn — LARA-approved, affordable tuition), Wayne County Community College District, Baker College, and Oakland Community College. CNA wages in Detroit metro average $15–$19/hour, with unionized hospital positions reaching $20–$24/hour. Detroit is a CNA free classes hub — Going PRO-funded employer training at Henry Ford Health and Corewell is available for qualified candidates. SEIU Healthcare Michigan represents CNAs at several Detroit-area facilities, providing union wage floors and benefits.
CNA Salary in Michigan by Setting
How to Become a CNA in Michigan
Find a LARA-Approved CNA Training Program
Complete Prerequisites and Background Check
Complete 75+ Hours of Training
Register with Prometric for the MI CNA Exam
Pass the Prometric CNA Competency Exam
Get Added to LARA Nurse Aide Registry
Begin Employment in Michigan
Michigan Going PRO Talent Fund — Free CNA Training
The Going PRO Talent Fund, administered by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), is one of the most impactful workforce development programs in the country for healthcare workers. Going PRO awards grants directly to employers to fund training for current or newly hired employees — including CNA training programs. This means Michigan residents can access fully funded 75-hour CNA training at major healthcare employers across the state at zero personal cost.
How It Works for CNA Candidates:
- Step 1: Identify Michigan healthcare employers that are Going PRO grantees (Henry Ford Health, Corewell Health, Ascension Michigan, McLaren, and hundreds of SNFs and home health agencies participate)
- Step 2: Apply for a CNA or patient care technician position — many employers hire candidates into paid training programs funded by Going PRO
- Step 3: Complete the employer's LARA-approved 75-hour training program while being paid hourly wages — no tuition, no loans
- Step 4: Sit for the Prometric exam (often employer-paid through Going PRO funding)
- Step 5: Join the LARA Nurse Aide Registry and begin your CNA career — often at the same employer who trained you
Where to Find Going PRO CNA Programs: Visit michigan.gov/leo and search the Going PRO grantee list, or contact HR departments at major Michigan health systems directly. Michigan Works! Service Centers (statewide network of 17 agencies) also connect job seekers with Going PRO-funded opportunities. The free CNA classes guide covers additional pathways for no-cost certification.
Note: Going PRO grants are awarded annually in competitive rounds. Availability varies by employer and region. Not all healthcare employers are active grantees in every cycle — contact employers directly to confirm current Going PRO availability.
Michigan CNA Certification Checklist
Michigan Advantages and Disadvantages
- +Going PRO Talent Fund offers fully free CNA training at major employers — one of the best no-cost pathways in the US
- +Only 75 hours of training required — federal minimum, allowing the fastest possible entry to certification
- +Henry Ford Health, Corewell Health, and Michigan Medicine are top-tier employers with competitive wages and strong benefits
- +LARA is a centralized, competent licensing authority — single portal for all healthcare licensing, renewals, and registry lookups
- +Detroit metro CNA wages ($16–$24/hr at unionized facilities) exceed the national median
- +Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor) offers tuition assistance for CNAs pursuing LPN or RN advancement
- +Strong CNA-to-RN bridge programs at Lansing CC, GRCC, Henry Ford College, and Washtenaw CC
- +Michigan Medicaid (MiChoice Waiver) funds substantial home health employment statewide — stable funding base
- −Detroit metro has among the highest property crime rates in the US — CNAs must consider commute safety
- −Michigan winters are severe — impacting reliable commuting for CNAs working night shifts in SNFs and hospitals
- −Going PRO funding is competitive and not guaranteed every year — employer availability varies by funding cycle
- −Rural Northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula CNAs earn $13–$16/hr — below state and national averages
- −Flint and Saginaw markets remain economically distressed — fewer advancement opportunities vs. Detroit/Grand Rapids
- −LARA registry processing can take 2–4 weeks, delaying employment start date
- −Michigan SNFs average below-national-median staffing ratios — CNA patient loads can be high at understaffed facilities
- −Limited public transit in many Michigan cities forces car ownership for most CNA roles outside Detroit
CNA in Michigan Questions and Answers
About the Author
Registered Nurse & Healthcare Educator
Johns Hopkins University School of NursingDr. Sarah Mitchell is a board-certified registered nurse with over 15 years of clinical and academic experience. She completed her PhD in Nursing Science at Johns Hopkins University and has taught NCLEX preparation and clinical skills courses for nursing students across the United States. Her research focuses on evidence-based exam preparation strategies for healthcare certification candidates.