Nurse Aide Registry

The MI CNA Registry is maintained by Headmaster, L.L.P. and can be found here:  https://hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/michigan/MI_CNA_Home.htm
The state of Michigan contracts with Headmaster, L.L.P. to

• Maintain the certified nurse aide registry
• Process certified nurse aide renewals
• Issue initial nurse aide certifications
• Conduct Nurse Aide Certification Exams

*Please note the state of Michigan does not process any CNA applications and is not involved in the testing of nurse aides. Any questions regarding an application, renewals, change of information or testing should be directed to Headmaster at:

To obtain a certificate of registration as a nurse aide in the state of Michigan, new candidates must:

• Complete a Michigan permitted nurse aide training program.
• To locate a permitted training program in Michigan, review the Regional Training Program Map below.
• After successful completion of a state approved nurse aide training program, a candidate must sign in with Headmaster, L.L.P., to schedule a written/oral exam and clinical skills demonstration exam.

Upon successful completion of both the written/oral and clinical exam, Headmaster, L.L.P., will issue the applicant a certificate of registration that is valid for 2 years.

A graduate nurse aide awaiting an exam from Headmaster, L.L.P., can work in a facility as a temporary nurse aide for up to four months if they have graduated from a state permitted nurse aide training program. If they have not passed testing with Headmaster, L.L.P., within four months, they are no longer eligible to work in a facility as a temporary nurse aide.

Please see the Nurse Aide Federal Rules & Regulation 42 CFR 483.35.

If it has been 24 months since your last date of verified employment, an individual's name will be removed from the Michigan registry. In order to get back on the registry as a nurse aide, an individual will be required to re-test.

To renew a CNA certificate an individual must electronically:

• Log into your account in Headmaster L.L.P.’s TMU,
• Acknowledge proof of employment as a CNA (for a minimum of 8 hours in the last 24 months) and
• pay the renewal fee ($20) to Headmaster, L.L.P.

Important information regarding renewing a CNA Certificate

• Headmaster will send a renewal notice 45 days before the expiration date listed on the certificate.
• Please note: To receive this notice it is important that your contact information is accurate.
• A certificate must be renewed prior to the expiration date listed on the current certificate.
• If the renewal is not submitted timely, or is incomplete, the certificate will lapse and the individual may not work as a CNA until the required documentation and valid payment has been received by Headmaster and a certificate is issued.
• It is encouraged to submit renewal requests and payment as soon as possible after receipt of a renewal notice from Headmaster (but not earlier than 45 days before the certification expiration date). 
• Please do not submit renewal documents directly to the State of Michigan.
•  A renewal certificate is good for 24 months.
• If a certificate lapses, upon renewal it will be valid for 24 months from the last valid certificate's expiration date.  
• If it has been 24 months since the last date of verified CNA employment, an individual's name will be removed from the Michigan registry. To be reinstated on the registry as a nurse aide, an individual is required to retake and pass the written/oral and skills competency exam.

To verify whether an individual is a certified nurse aide in Michigan or for other information please contact Headmaster at:

• 888-401-0465
• michigan@headmaster.com or,
• visit the Headmaster L.L.P., website at https://hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/michigan/MI_CNA_Home.htm

Verification of current Michigan CNA certification via the Headmaster, L.L.P., web site is sufficient documentation during onsite inspections by the State of Michigan.  Please see the Nurse Aide Federal Rules & Regulations 42 CFR 483.35 and 42 CFR 483.5.

Health Care facilities must:

• conduct a performance review of all nurse aides at least once every 12 months
• provide regular in-service education based on the outcome of the performance reviews. The in-service training must:
• ensure the continuing competence of all employed nurse aides,
• must be a minimum of 12 hours per year.
• Comply with the requirements listed in 42 CFR 483.95.

For applicants that currently hold a nurse aide certification in another state, the State of Michigan will grant reciprocity under the conditions listed in Section 333.21913 of the Michigan Public Health Code.

Candidates seeking reciprocity must be in good standing from a state that meets the Michigan requirements for reciprocity to be eligible for certification in Michigan.

APPROVED STATES - RECIPROCITY

The following States meet or exceed the Michigan requirements:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa

Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota

Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Washington Wisconsin

A candidate that has passed training and testing in one of the above states is eligible to apply for a Michigan CNA certificate through Headmaster L.L.P.  

A candidate that did not undergo training and testing from a State listed above is not eligible for reciprocity.

Michigan requirements for reciprocity includes, but not limited to:

• The training program is consistent with the Federal Code of Regulations
• requires a minimum of 75 course hours prior to taking a competency evaluation examination
• does not allow candidates to exempt out of the training course hours or testing.

The following States meet or exceed the Michigan requirements:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Georgia Hawaii Idaho

Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Mississippi Missouri Nebraska

Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania

South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Washington Wisconsin

 A candidate that has passed training and testing in one of the above states is eligible to apply for a Michigan CNA certificate through Headmaster, L.L.C.  

A candidate that did not undergo training and testing from a State listed above is not eligible for reciprocity.

Michigan requirements for reciprocity includes, but not limited to:

• The training program is consistent with the Federal Code of Regulations
• requires a minimum of 75 course hours prior to taking a competency evaluation examination
• does not allow candidates to exempt out of the training course hours or testing.

 

The Bureau of Community and Health Systems is charged with regulating nurse aides on the registry in the state of Michigan. Under state and federal law, 333.21901-333.219250 and 42 USC 1395 i-3 (g) (1) (C).  The Bureau may take action against a nurse aide for abuse, neglect and misappropriation of resident property as well as other violations.

Nurse aides that have been found to have abused or misappropriated the property of a resident will be revoked on the nurse aide registry permanently and the finding will be permanently listed on the registry. The only exception is for neglect.

In the case of a finding of neglect; a nurse aide revoked on the registry for a minimum of 1 year. After 1 year from the date of the finding on the registry, the nurse aide may petition the Bureau by sending a written request to the manager of the Nurse Aide & Workforce Section to have the negative finding removed from the registry. The request will be reviewed within 30 days. The request can be sent to:

LARA/BCHS
Nurse Aide & Workforce Section
Ottawa Building, 1st floor
611 West Ottawa Street
P.O. Box 30664
Lansing, MI 48909

Or

Email to:
Wigginsj1@michigan.gov

The request must include the following:

• a personal attestation detailing why the nurse aide feels the neglect finding should be removed
• if the original finding was a singular occurrence or a pattern
• if the employment and personal history of the nurse aide does or does not reflect a pattern of abusive behavior or neglect

Nurse Aide Federal Rules & Regulations Part 483

Nurse Aide Federal Rules & Regulations Part 488

Michigan Public Health Code 333.21901-21925

In collaboration with the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget's (DTMB) Center for Shared Solutions, this MAP of state permitted Nurse Aide Training Programs. We hope you find this resource valuable.

Launch Map

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Community & Health Systems
Nurse Aide  Workforce Section
P.O. Box 30664
Lansing, MI 48909

E-mail: BCHS-CNA-Registry@michigan.gov
Nurse Aide Phone: 517-284-8961
Bureau Phone: 517-335-1980

Headmaster contact Information: