CNA in Montana 2026 June: Training, Certification, Salary, and Requirements
Get ready for your CNA in Montana 2026 June: Training, certification. Practice questions with step-by-step answer explanations and instant scoring.
Billings is Montana's largest city and its dominant CNA job market. Billings Clinic, Montana's largest physician-led health system and Level II trauma center, is the region's most significant CNA employer — offering competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and clear career advancement pathways from CNA to LPN to RN. SCL Health (now Intermountain Health) St. Vincent Healthcare, a major Catholic health system hospital in Billings, employs hundreds of CNAs across inpatient and long-term care settings. Riverstone Health (the public health authority for Yellowstone County) and numerous skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and home health agencies round out Billings' CNA market. City College at MSU Billings offers one of the most accessible DPHHS-approved CNA programs in Eastern Montana, with affordable community college tuition and multiple start dates. The American Red Cross — Montana Chapter also runs CNA training courses in Billings. CNA wages in Billings average $14–$17/hour, with Billings Clinic and Intermountain offering the highest rates at $16–$20/hour. Eastern Montana outside Billings — including Miles City, Glendive, Sidney, and Wolf Point — has smaller but high-demand CNA markets, particularly in rural critical access hospitals and Indian Health Service facilities on the Fort Peck, Fort Belknap, and Crow reservations. Rural CNA positions often include housing stipends or relocation assistance due to severe staffing shortages in these communities.
Montana Essential Checklist
- ✓Be at least 16 years old (verify minimum age with your specific DPHHS-approved program)
- ✓Provide valid government-issued photo ID (MT driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- ✓Complete a criminal background check through Montana DPHHS
- ✓Obtain negative TB test within the past 12 months (Mantoux PPD or QuantiFERON Gold)
- ✓Pass a physical examination by a licensed physician, APRN, or PA
- ✓Obtain current CPR/BLS certification (American Heart Association or American Red Cross)
- ✓Complete required immunizations (Hep B series, MMR, Varicella, Tdap, annual Flu)
- ✓Pass pre-enrollment drug screen if required by your specific program or clinical site
- ✓Enroll in and complete a DPHHS-approved 75-hour CNA training program
- ✓Complete minimum 16 hours of supervised clinical practice at a licensed MT facility
- ✓Receive program completion certificate from your DPHHS-approved training provider
- ✓Register for both D&S Diversified exam sections (written + clinical skills) in Montana
- ✓Pass written knowledge exam (70 questions, 70% minimum passing score, 105 minutes)
- ✓Pass clinical skills evaluation (5 randomly selected skills, all must be passed)
- ✓Wait for Montana DPHHS Nurse Aide Registry placement (2–4 weeks after exam passage)
- ✓Verify your active registry status online through the Montana DPHHS website
- ✓Renew every 2 years: provide proof of 8 hours paid nursing service within the renewal period
- ✓If applying to tribal/IHS facilities: confirm tribal enrollment or hiring preferences with specific facility HR
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.
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