Compare state-approved CNA training by total cost, format, and path to the MN registry
Paying tuition at a school and training free through an employer can lead to the same Minnesota nursing assistant credential, but only if the course is state-approved. Federal rules require at least 75 hours of training, which makes the steps to become a CNA a fast, low-cost way into healthcare. That also attracts programs that won't qualify you for the exam.
Three things get skipped elsewhere: verifying approval, the full cost beyond tuition, and employer-paid training. The schools here are within commuting range of Brooklyn Park, including Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Center, and Minneapolis.
Hybrid delivery has become a normal part of nurse aide training in Minnesota, yet it stops well short of a fully online path to certification. You can complete some theory online, but no online CNA programs are entirely online, because hands-on training has to happen in person.
Minnesota Department of Health guidance sets approved CNA programs in Minnesota at a minimum of 75 clock hours: at least 59 hours of curriculum instruction and at least 16 hours of supervised practical training.1 Online learning can count toward the instruction hours only if the school tracks and documents your participation.1 Self-reported hours do not count.1 The 16 practical hours must involve performing tasks on a live person under an RN or LPN.2 Lab practice alone does not satisfy them.3 The department's 2026 guidance does allow remote technology for direct observation of skills, provided the observer can see everything an in-person observer would.3
Accelerated courses, often three to four weeks, pack theory, lab, and clinical into a short window. They suit people who can set work aside for a few weeks. Semester-length college courses spread the same required hours over months, which usually fits a job or childcare schedule better.
Treat any "online CNA certification" ad as a red flag unless the school names its in-person clinical site.
In Minnesota, nursing assistant training programs are approved by the Minnesota Department of Health through the Nurse Aide Registry. Approved programs are called NATCEPs,1 and the current list is published online as the MDH-approved-site lookup. This is separate from the Minnesota Board of Nursing, which handles practical, professional, and advanced-practice nursing programs in Minnesota.2
Approval matters because it determines whether you can sit for the state competency exam and be placed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry. Approval status can change, so recheck the official list right before you enroll. If a listing is missing or ambiguous, contact MDH at [email protected] before paying tuition.
Program tuition varies by school and is not included in the donut below. These are the out-of-pocket add-ons many schools leave out of the advertised price: the Minnesota background study, fingerprint photo fee, and CPR/BLS certification. Ask each school for a written list of what its tuition includes.
Yes, free CNA training exists in Minnesota, and most of it runs through employers rather than tuition waivers. There are three main routes: facility-paid training, reimbursement after you are hired, and workforce grants.
Under federal rule 42 CFR 483.152, a nursing facility cannot charge a nurse aide for any part of a training program if the aide is employed by, or has an offer from, that facility when training begins.1 If you are hired within 12 months of finishing training, the facility must reimburse your costs on a pro rata basis during employment.1 It is not a lump-sum payment after graduation, and the rule may not cover every ancillary expense, such as testing or uniforms.
Workforce funding is separate. CareerForce and WIOA may help eligible workers, and approved courses are marked "W-E."2 Dislocated Worker funds are aimed at people laid off through no fault of their own. Eligibility is not automatic, and no current CNA-specific grant is guaranteed.3 The Hennepin County Office of Workforce Development in Bloomington (952-703-7730) can explain what applies to you.4
Before accepting facility-sponsored training, ask whether it comes with a work-commitment clause and what happens if you leave early.
Minnesota's nurse aide testing recently changed hands, and the new vendor shapes every step after class ends. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) now uses D&S Diversified Technologies, operating as Headmaster.3
Approved training runs at least 75 hours.1 A 2026 summary reports at least 16 of those are supervised clinical hours,2 and MDH's own pages confirm that figure.1 Fast track CNA programs get you to the exam sooner than a semester-length course. Either way, allow extra time to book your test and for registry listing after you pass.
The knowledge test is multiple-choice, taken virtually or in person depending on the site.3 The skills test is hands-on and in person.3 Fees vary by school. Alexandria Technical & Community College lists $270 combined ($100 knowledge, $170 skills).4 Minnesota West lists $250 for 2026-2027 classes, with $110 and $140 retakes and a $250 no-show fee.5 Confirm current amounts before you register.
MDH reports four chances at the knowledge test and three at skills.6 Alexandria describes three each within 24 months of finishing training,4 so check your candidate handbook. Once the 24-month window closes, you must complete a new approved program before testing again.
MDH posts quarterly test data, including Q1 and Q2 2026, on its Nurse Aide Registry pages.6 Check those files directly for pass rates. You are listed on the registry only after passing both exams,3 and employers look you up by certificate number.1
Below are the top CNA programs serving Brooklyn Park students, ranked by cost, outcomes, and program fit. The list covers schools within a 75-mile radius, so some options require a longer commute. Confirm state approval on the Minnesota Department of Health list before enrolling.
| Rank | School | Location | Net price | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hennepin Technical College | Brooklyn Park, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | Brooklyn Park commuters wanting hybrid classes | |
Hennepin Technical College is the local option in Brooklyn Park, with day and evening sections at the Brooklyn Park campus. The nursing assistant course combines online theory with in-person labs and clinical hours and meets Minnesota's 75-hour training requirement. It can also serve as a prerequisite for the Practical Nursing program.
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| #2 | Anoka Technical College | Anoka, MN | $17,000/yr (est. net price) | North metro students needing campus labs | |
Anoka Technical College is a nearby metro option with a campus-based nursing assistant and home health aide certificate. Students train in supervised labs and clinical settings, covering basic nursing, personal care, restorative services, and resident rights. The program meets federal and Minnesota Board of Nursing requirements. ACEN accredited
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| #3 | St Cloud Technical and Community College | Saint Cloud, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | Central Minnesota students wanting on-campus testing | |
St. Cloud Technical and Community College offers an 80-hour CNA course that combines classroom theory, lab practice, and supervised clinical work. The certification exam can be taken on campus, and the program can serve as a prerequisite for Practical Nursing. The school's graduation rate is about 45%. ACEN accredited
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| #4 | Ridgewater College | Willmar, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Ridgewater College runs a five-week nursing assistant program with multiple start dates at Hutchinson and Willmar campuses. Training includes simulation labs and clinical placements, with small class sizes and experienced instructors. The school's graduation rate is about 50%. ACEN accredited
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| #5 | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Fergus Falls, MN | ~$13,000/yr (est.) | ||
Minnesota State Community and Technical College offers a 77-hour nursing assistant course through its Workforce Development Solutions division. The program emphasizes basic patient care skills and preparation for the registry exam, and the college notes low tuition with workforce scholarships for eligible students.
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| #6 | Alexandria Technical & Community College | Alexandria, MN | $14,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Alexandria Technical & Community College provides an 84-hour, three-credit nursing assistant course that includes supervised lab practice and long-term care clinical experience. It is designed to meet Minnesota Department of Health standards and can serve as a prerequisite for the Practical Nursing program.
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| #7 | Riverland Community College | Austin, MN | $7,000/yr (est. net price) | ||
Riverland Community College's four-week nursing assistant certificate combines classroom theory and hands-on lab work, with fall, spring, and summer starts at Albert Lea, Austin, or Owatonna. The program prepares students for the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Competency Exam and can lead to registry eligibility. ACEN accredited
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| #8 | Northland Community and Technical College | Thief River Falls, MN | ~$14,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northland Community and Technical College offers a three-credit nursing assistant certificate with lectures, labs, hands-on practice, and clinical experience at East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses. It also serves as a prerequisite for Practical Nursing.
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| #9 | Northwest Technical College | Bemidji, MN | ~$11,000/yr (est.) | ||
Northwest Technical College's three-credit nursing assistant course includes hands-on training and preparation for the Minnesota Department of Health certification exam. The college also serves as a testing site for the certification exam. ACEN accredited
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| #10 | Minnesota North College | Hibbing, MN | ~$10,000/yr (est.) | ||
Minnesota North College offers a CNA and home health aide certificate with campus-based clinical training. Students can register directly through E-Services after general college admission, and financial aid options may be available.
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