Skip to content
Medical Career Center
SalariesProgramsNursing homesLicense lookupSearch

Montana CNA Skills Test: Every Skill and Critical Step

Montana’s CNA skills test is given by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster). Below: the test format, every skill on the list, and one skill in full.

One payment, every covered state, yours to keep.

The test

Tested by
D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)
Skills on the test
3-4 tasks
Time allowed
35 minutes
Skills on the list
26
Critical steps marked
Not published

How it is scored: All key (critical) steps correct and at least 80% of the non-key steps on each task. Steps must be demonstrated; only steps the task says to verbalize may be spoken.

Hand hygiene: The first task is always one of 4 mandatory tasks with full soap-and-water hand washing built in. Every other task starts and ends with hand-sanitizer hand hygiene.

The Montana handbook does not mark key steps, so every step counts.

The 26 skills on the list

  1. Ambulate a Resident with a Cane or Walker
  2. Ambulate a Resident with a Gait Belt
  3. Apply an Anti-Embolic Stocking to One Leg
  4. Assist a Dependent Resident with Eating
  5. Assist a Resident with a Bedpan, Measure and Record Output with Hand Washing
  6. Denture Care
  7. Don a Gown and Gloves, Empty a Urinary Drainage Bag, Measure and Record Output, Doff Gown and Gloves with Hand Washing
  8. Dress a Resident with an Affected (Weak) Side
  9. Foot Care (One Foot)
  10. Make an Occupied Bed
  11. Measure and Record Oral Fluid Intake
  12. Mouth Care (Brush a Resident's Teeth)
  13. Mouth Care for a Comatose Resident
  14. Nail Care (One Hand)
  15. Partial Bed Bath: Face, One Underarm and Hand
  16. Pass Fresh Water to a Resident
  17. Perineal Care for a Female Resident with Hand Washing
  18. Perineal Care for an Uncircumcised Male and Apply an Adult Brief with Hand Washing
  19. Position a Resident on Their Side in Bed
  20. Range of Motion Exercises
  21. Transfer a Resident from Bed to Wheelchair Using a Gait Belt
  22. Transfer a Resident from Wheelchair to Bed Using a Gait Belt
  23. Vital Signs: Take and Record a Manual Blood Pressure
  24. Vital Signs: Take and Record Radial Pulse and Respirations
  25. Vital Signs: Take and Record Temperature, Radial Pulse and Respirations
  26. Weigh an Ambulatory Resident

One skill in full: Ambulate a Resident with a Cane or Walker

  1. Clean your hands with hand sanitizer: cover every surface and rub until completely dry.
  2. Tell the resident what you are going to do.
  3. Set the bed height so the resident's feet will be flat on the floor when sitting on the edge.
  4. Lock the wheelchair brakes for safety.
  5. Help the resident sit up.
  6. Help the resident put on shoes or non-skid slippers.
  7. Place the cane or walker correctly.
  8. Help the resident stand using good body mechanics.
  9. Make sure the resident steadies the cane or walker.
  10. Stand behind the resident and slightly to one side.
  11. Walk the resident safely at least 10 steps to the wheelchair.
  12. Help the resident pivot or back up to the wheelchair.
  13. Help the resident sit in the wheelchair in a safe, controlled way.
  14. Leave the resident comfortable and safe.
  15. Stay respectful and courteous with the resident the whole time.
  16. Place the resident within easy reach of the call light or signal device.
  17. Clean your hands with hand sanitizer: cover every surface and rub until completely dry.

Steps are written in our words from D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster)’s candidate handbook (Montana Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook, effective February 2025), in the same order, with critical steps as the handbook marks them. The handbook is the final word.

Also for the Montana exam

Practise the written part with the Montana CNA practice test, and check a certification on the Montana nurse aide registry.