CNA in Montana 2026: Training, Certification, Salary, and Requirements
How to become a CNA in Montana. 75-hour DPHHS training, D&S Diversified exam, Montana DPHHS Nurse Aide Registry, tribal health facility jobs, Billings...
Montana Key Facts and Figures
Montana Important Details
Montana requires a minimum of 75 hours of DPHHS-approved nurse aide training — the exact federal minimum established under OBRA '87. Montana does not exceed the federal floor, making it one of the more accessible states for entry-level healthcare workers. Programs must be approved by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and must include classroom instruction, skills laboratory practice, and a minimum of 16 hours of supervised clinical training at a licensed nursing facility or healthcare setting. Accelerated full-time programs can complete in 2–3 weeks; part-time evening programs take 6–10 weeks. Tribal colleges and Indian Health Service facilities sometimes offer CNA training programs specifically designed for reservation communities.
- Total Required: 75 hours minimum
- Classroom Hours: At least 16 hours theory/classroom
- Clinical Hours: Minimum 16 hours supervised clinical
- Federal Minimum: 75 hours (Montana meets federal minimum exactly)
- Program Types: Community colleges, vocational schools, SNF-based, Red Cross
- Approval: All programs must be DPHHS-approved
Montana uses D&S Diversified Technologies to administer the CNA competency exam — not Prometric. This is a critical distinction for Montana candidates, as many national study guides and online resources reference Prometric. D&S Diversified administers both the written knowledge test (70 questions, 105 minutes, 70% minimum passing score) and the clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills from the standard NNAAP skill set, all 5 must be passed). After completing your DPHHS-approved training program, you register directly with D&S Diversified at their website. Testing is available at multiple sites in Montana including Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, and Butte. Candidates who fail one section may retake that section separately without retaking the other.
- Written Section: 70 questions, 105 minutes, 70% to pass
- Skills Section: 5 randomly selected skills, all must pass
- Exam Vendor: D&S Diversified Technologies (NOT Prometric)
- Test Sites: Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, Butte
- Scheduling: Register directly with D&S Diversified after program completion
- Fee: Approximately $85–$120 total for both sections
The Montana DPHHS Nurse Aide Registry is managed by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services — not the Montana Board of Nursing. This is a key distinction that confuses many candidates who look up their state board of nursing instead. DPHHS certifies nurse aides, maintains the registry, processes reciprocity applications, and maintains the abuse/neglect/exploitation findings registry. After passing both sections of the D&S Diversified exam, DPHHS typically processes your registry placement within 2–4 weeks. Registry status can be verified online through the DPHHS website. Employers are legally required to verify CNA registry status before hiring. Montana's registry is part of the national nurse aide registry network, which means out-of-state verified CNAs can transfer to Montana via the reciprocity process without retesting in most cases.
- Registry Manager: Montana DPHHS (not the Board of Nursing)
- Placement Timeline: 2–4 weeks after passing both exam sections
- Registry Lookup: Online via Montana DPHHS website
- Background Check: Montana DPHHS criminal background check required
- Abuse Registry: Separate abuse/neglect/exploitation registry maintained by DPHHS
- Renewal: Every 2 years — must show 8 hours paid nursing employment
Montana Costs and Pricing
Montana Step-by-Step Process
Find a DPHHS-Approved CNA Program in Montana
Complete Prerequisites and Enrollment
Complete 75-Hour DPHHS-Approved Training
Register for D&S Diversified Exam
Pass Both Exam Sections
Montana DPHHS Registry Placement
Begin CNA Employment in Montana
Montana Essential Checklist
Rural Montana Healthcare & Tribal Health Facilities — Unique CNA Opportunities
Montana is one of the most rural states in the continental United States, and this creates unique CNA employment opportunities found in few other states. Healthcare access challenges in rural Montana are severe — many counties have no hospital and rely entirely on critical access hospitals (CAHs) staffed in part by CNAs. The Montana DPHHS has designated numerous areas as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which triggers federal incentives for healthcare workers willing to serve these communities.
Tribal Health Facilities: Montana has seven federally recognized tribes: the Blackfeet Nation, Crow Nation, Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Fort Belknap Indian Community, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, and Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. Each maintains tribal health programs and many operate in partnership with the Indian Health Service (IHS). CNA positions at tribal health facilities and IHS Service Units offer:
- Competitive wages ($14–$19/hour) that often exceed comparable positions at rural non-tribal facilities
- Federal employee benefits for IHS-direct positions: health insurance, retirement (FERS), and paid leave
- NHSC Loan Repayment eligibility: CNAs at NHSC-approved sites may qualify for student loan repayment assistance
- Indian Preference hiring: Tribal members and Alaska Native individuals receive preference in tribal facility hiring under ISDEAA Title V
- Housing assistance at many remote tribal health sites — particularly on the Crow, Northern Cheyenne, and Fort Peck reservations
Rural Critical Access Hospitals: Montana has 54 licensed critical access hospitals — more than almost any other state. Rural CAHs in communities like Havre, Glasgow, Malta, Forsyth, Hardin, Ronan, and Dillon consistently advertise CNA positions with sign-on bonuses ranging from $1,500 to $3,500, housing stipends, and flexible scheduling. CNA-to-LPN bridge programs are frequently employer-sponsored at rural CAHs as facilities invest in workforce development to address chronic staffing shortages.
Montana Older Montanans Medicaid Waiver: Montana's home and community-based services waivers fund a large number of home health CNA positions statewide. The Big Sky Waiver and Community First Choice (CFC) programs allow elderly and disabled Montanans to receive CNA services at home instead of in nursing facilities, creating flexible, community-based CNA employment throughout rural Montana.
Montana Advantages and Disadvantages
- +Only 75 hours required — the federal minimum and one of the shortest CNA training requirements in the US; fastest path to certification
- +Montana DPHHS registry is straightforward to navigate online — lookups and status verification are accessible
- +D&S Diversified exam (same vendor as Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, Georgia) — extensive national prep resources match the MT exam format
- +Severe rural healthcare shortages create strong demand statewide — CNAs are actively recruited with bonuses and housing stipends
- +Tribal health and IHS positions offer federal-level benefits, loan repayment, and competitive wages rarely found in rural healthcare
- +Bozeman's rapid growth has pushed CNA wages above $15–$19/hour — Montana's fastest-growing and highest-paying non-hospital CNA market
- +Low cost of living — CNA salary of $28K–$34K goes further in Montana compared to coastal markets, especially outside Bozeman
- +Montana's scenic beauty and outdoor recreation culture appeal strongly to CNAs seeking work-life balance outside urban environments
- +Strong reciprocity framework — active MT CNA certification transfers easily to most states via DPHHS, expanding career mobility
- −Salaries ($28K–$34K) are at the lower end nationally — Billings and Bozeman pay better but still below coastal markets by $8,000–$15,000/year
- −Only 75 hours required — meets federal minimum only, which is the bare floor; some states require 120–175 hours for better preparation
- −Rural Montana counties have extremely limited CNA training programs and significantly lower wages ($12–$14/hour) in remote areas
- −Harsh winters and geographic isolation in much of the state create transportation challenges for clinical training and employment
- −Montana has limited public transit — CNAs almost universally need a personal vehicle, especially for rural or tribal health positions
- −D&S Diversified exam (not Prometric) — must use D&S-specific practice resources; many generic national CNA prep materials reference Prometric
- −DPHHS registry (not Board of Nursing) — candidates must navigate a less familiar agency than most national certification resources reference
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.