CNA Classes in Kenosha, WI

How Much Does CNA Training Cost in Kenosha?

Beyond tuition, plan for the state exam fee ($137.75 total ($35.70 written knowledge + $102.05 skills; audio version of knowledge exam is $40.95) - effective June 7, 2025 pricing), the application/registry fee ($0 (no state application fee to be added to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry after passing the exam)), a background check, and uniforms or supplies. All in, total CNA training cost in Wisconsin typically falls around $475-$1,500 depending on whether the student is sponsored by a skilled nursing facility (sponsored students cannot be charged tuition or test fees under Wisconsin law).

How to Become a CNA in Kenosha, WI

1. 1

   Confirm eligibility and select a Wisconsin DHS-approved training program

   Verify you can pass the Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check, are at least the program's minimum age (typically 16 or 17), and choose a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Approved providers include the 16 Wisconsin Technical College System schools, skilled nursing facility-based programs, and DHS-listed community providers. Programs listed in the DHS NATCEP directory are guaranteed to meet the state's curriculum standards.

2. 2

   Complete the state-approved nurse aide training program

   Finish at least the federally mandated 75 hours of instruction (most Wisconsin technical college programs run 120 hours), making sure your first 16 hours are classroom-based before any direct client contact and that you complete at least 16 supervised clinical hours in a licensed long-term care, hospital, or community setting. Curriculum must cover basic nursing skills, restorative services, personal care, mental health and social services, residents' rights, and infection control.

3. 3

   Submit a Caregiver Background Check (BID form, F-82064)

   Before clinicals or employment, you must complete the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Background Information Disclosure form. Your training provider or employer initiates the search through the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the DHS Office of Caregiver Quality, and an FBI fingerprint check is required if you have lived outside Wisconsin in the past three years. The combined fingerprint and background check fee is roughly $38.

4. 4

   Register for the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Competency Test through TMU

   Once your instructor confirms training completion, create an account at wi.tmuniverse.com (the TestMaster Universe portal operated by D&SDT-Headmaster) to schedule your Knowledge Exam ($35.70 written or $40.95 audio) and Skills Test ($102.05). Test sites are located at technical colleges and approved regional centers across Wisconsin. Bring two forms of valid government-issued ID on test day.

5. 5

   Pass both the Knowledge Exam and the Skills Test

   The Knowledge Exam is multiple-choice and can be taken in written or audio format - you must answer at least 75 percent correctly. The Skills Test requires you to perform five randomly selected hands-on tasks (always including handwashing and indirect care steps) and be scored as Pass on each. Headmaster posts results to TMU, and passing candidates are forwarded to the Wisconsin DHS for registry placement.

6. 6

   Get listed on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry

   After both exam parts are passed, the Wisconsin DHS Office of Caregiver Quality adds your name to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry, which is the legal authorization to work as a CNA in Wisconsin. There is no state registry fee. Status is typically reflected online within 7-10 business days, after which any employer can verify your active standing on the DHS website.

7. 7

   Maintain active certification every 24 months

   Wisconsin nurse aides must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related work under the supervision of a licensed nurse during each 24-month period. If you miss this work requirement, your name is moved to inactive status and you must retake and pass both portions of the competency test - or document 2,088 hours of past nurse aide work in the previous two years - to be reinstated.

Becoming a CNA in Wisconsin

Becoming a CNA in Wisconsin starts with a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Office of Caregiver Quality. The federal floor in Wisconsin is 75 hours, but most graduates actually train through the Wisconsin Technical College System, which delivers a 120-hour curriculum that exceeds federal standards and is widely accepted by hospitals, long-term care chains, and the WisCaregiver Careers program that subsidizes training in exchange for an employment commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions: CNA Training in Kenosha