How to Become a CNA in Michigan
To work as a certified nursing assistant in Michigan, you finish a state-approved training program of 75 hours, pass the competency exam given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster), and get listed on the state nurse aide registry. Michigan has 222 approved programs to choose from (list dated October 2026).
Updated October 2026 · Sources: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) (October 2026), Mich. Admin. Code R 400.335, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Training required
- 75 hr16 clinical
- Approved programs
- 222official list, October 2026
- Lowest college price
- $1,355median $1,355, 4 colleges
- Michigan median pay
- $39,570$19.03/hr · BLS May 2025
Step 1: Choose a state-approved program
Only programs on the official Michigan list qualify you for the exam. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) list has 222 approved programs.
Biggest Michigan metro areas for CNA training
- CNA classes in Detroit76
- CNA classes in Grand Rapids17
- CNA classes in Lansing10
- CNA classes in Flint8
- CNA classes in Monroe7
- CNA classes in Niles7
- CNA classes in Saginaw6
- CNA classes in Ann Arbor4
Step 2: Complete 75 hours of training
Michigan requires 75 hours: 16 classroom, 16 clinical and 43 in any mix of classroom, lab or clinical; clinical and lab are in person, classroom may be virtual. Source: Mich. Admin. Code R 400.335. That is the same as the federal minimum of 75.
Classroom hours may be in person or virtual, with a way for students to ask questions of and interact with a nurse aide trainer; lab and clinical hours are in person, and 16 classroom hours come before any resident contact (Mich. Admin. Code R 400.335(1)(d)). More: online CNA classes.
What college CNA programs charge in Michigan
4 colleges report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $1,355 to $1,355, median $1,355 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24).
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton | Brighton | $1,355 |
| Ross College-Grand Rapids North | Grand Rapids | $1,355 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Midland | Midland | $1,355 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Portage | Portage | $1,355 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24. Exam and background-check fees are extra.
Step 3: Pass the Michigan competency exam
The exam has a written (or oral) part and a hands-on skills part, given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster). Both parts must be passed within 3 attempts and within 24 months of finishing training.
Step 4: Get listed on the registry
After you pass, you are added to the Michigan nurse aide registry, kept by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems. Employers check it before hiring, and anyone can look up a CNA license for free. Under federal rules, if you go 24 months in a row without paid nursing-related work, you must retrain or retest.
Step 5: Find a job
43,290 nursing assistants work in Michigan. The median earns $39,570 a year; the top 10% earn $46,740 or more (BLS May 2025). See Michigan CNA pay by metro area.
CNA requirements by state
| State | Training hours | Clinical | Exam | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 160 | 100 | D&SDT-Headmaster, Credentia, or the Regional Testing Center | 592 |
| Colorado | 75+ | 16 | Credentia (NNAAP) | state list |
| Florida | 120 | 40 | Prometric | 201 |
| Georgia | 85 | 24 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 335 |
| Illinois | 120 | 40 | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (INACE) | 395 |
| Massachusetts | 75+ | — | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 109 |
| Michigan | 75 | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | 222 |
| Missouri | 175+ | 100 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
| New Jersey | 90 | 40 | PSI and D&SDT-Headmaster | 158 |
| New York | 100 | 30 | Prometric | 196 |
| North Carolina | 75+ | — | Credentia (NNAAP) | 247 |
| Ohio | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not published |
| Pennsylvania | 80 | 37.5 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 182 |
| Texas | 100 | 40 | Prometric | not published |
| Virginia | 140+ | 40 | Credentia (NNAAP) | 220 |
| Washington | 108+ | 40 | Credentia | 170 |
| Wisconsin | 75+ | 16 | D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) | not checked |
Becoming a CNA in Michigan: FAQ
How many hours of training does a CNA need in Michigan?
Michigan requires 75 hours: 16 classroom, 16 clinical and 43 in any mix of classroom, lab or clinical; clinical and lab are in person, classroom may be virtual (Mich. Admin. Code R 400.335). The federal minimum is 75 hours, 16 of them supervised clinical.
Who runs the Michigan CNA exam?
The Michigan competency exam (a written or oral test plus a skills test) is given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster). Both parts must be passed within 3 attempts and within 24 months of finishing training.
How much does CNA training cost in Michigan?
Among 4 Michigan colleges that report a CNA program price to the U.S. Department of Education, tuition plus books and supplies ranges from $1,355 to $1,355 (median $1,355, IPEDS 2023–24). Programs run by nursing homes and private schools are not in that data; ask them directly.
Can I do the Michigan CNA classroom hours online?
Classroom hours may be in person or virtual, with a way for students to ask questions of and interact with a nurse aide trainer; lab and clinical hours are in person, and 16 classroom hours come before any resident contact (Mich. Admin. Code R 400.335(1)(d)).
How do I look up a CNA license in Michigan?
Use the free Michigan nurse aide registry search, run by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems. It shows whether a certificate is active. The link is in the rules box on this page.
How much do CNAs make in Michigan?
The median Michigan nursing assistant earned $39,570 a year ($19.03 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $42,260. The middle half earned $38,160 to $44,910.