CNA Classes in Wyoming | Certified Nursing Assistant Training Programs
WY State Board of Nursing Approved

CNA Classes in Wyoming

Launch your healthcare career in the Cowboy State. Wyoming offers competitive CNA wages averaging $41,040 annually, no state income tax, stunning natural beauty, and meaningful opportunities across Cheyenne, Casper, Sheridan, and communities throughout the Equality State.

Find CNA Schools View Requirements
75
Training Hours
$127
Exam Fee
$41,040
Median Salary
4-8 Wks
Program Length

Become a CNA in Wyoming

Wyoming's healthcare landscape presents unique and rewarding opportunities for Certified Nursing Assistants across the least populated state in the nation. From the state capital of Cheyenne and the regional hub of Casper to healthcare facilities in Sheridan, Gillette, Laramie, Rock Springs, Riverton, and Jackson, CNAs serve vital roles in hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted living centers, home health agencies, and critical access hospitals that serve Wyoming's vast rural communities. Wyoming stands out as one of the few states with no state income tax, allowing CNAs to take home more of their earnings while enjoying an exceptional quality of life surrounded by breathtaking mountain landscapes.

The Wyoming State Board of Nursing (WSBN) regulates CNA certification, while the Wyoming Department of Health's Office of Healthcare Licensing and Surveys (OHLS) maintains the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry and approves training programs. Competency testing is administered by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) system. Wyoming requires a minimum of 75 hours of training including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice in a licensed healthcare facility. Training programs are available through Wyoming's community colleges including Casper College, Laramie County Community College (LCCC) in Cheyenne, Sheridan College, Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, and Northwest College in Powell. Many healthcare facilities also offer employer-sponsored programs. Wyoming CNAs earn a median salary of $41,040 annually ($19.73/hour)—above the national median. Major employers include Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, Sheridan Memorial Hospital, Campbell County Health in Gillette, and St. John's Medical Center in Jackson.

Quick Facts
Regulatory Body WY Board of Nursing
Exam Provider Headmaster (D&S)
Training Hours 75 minimum
Clinical Hours 16 minimum
Exam Fee $127 (both parts)
WSBN Application Fee $60
Renewal Period Every 2 years (even yrs)

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Compare training programs across Wyoming, from Cheyenne and Casper to Sheridan, Gillette, Laramie, and communities throughout the Cowboy State. Review costs, schedules, and start your certification journey.

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How to Become a CNA in Wyoming

Follow these three steps to earn your CNA certification and join the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry

1

Complete State-Approved Training

Enroll in a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) approved by the Wyoming State Board of Nursing (WSBN). Programs must include at least 75 hours of instruction—meeting the federal minimum established by OBRA—with a minimum of 16 hours of supervised clinical practice at a licensed healthcare facility. The curriculum covers essential competencies including basic nursing skills, personal care procedures, infection control and standard precautions, safety and emergency protocols, communication and interpersonal skills, residents' rights, mental health and dementia care awareness, nutrition, and end-of-life care. Training is available through Wyoming's community college system including Casper College serving Natrona County, Laramie County Community College (LCCC) in Cheyenne, Sheridan College serving the Sheridan and Johnson County area, Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Northwest College in Powell, and the Carbon County Higher Education Center in Rawlins. Many healthcare facilities throughout the state offer employer-sponsored NATCEP programs, often at no cost in exchange for employment commitments. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, though specific educational prerequisites vary by program. Full-time programs can be completed in as little as 4-6 weeks, while part-time options accommodate working students over 6-8 weeks. Upon completing your NATCEP, your training program will submit completion documentation to WSBN, making you eligible to apply for the competency exam. You may also apply for a Graduate Nurse Aide Temporary Permit (GNA-TP) through WSBN, which is valid for 120 days and allows you to work while preparing for the exam.

2

Pass the Headmaster Competency Exam

After completing training, submit your CNA application through the WSBN Nurse Portal and register for the Wyoming nurse aide competency exam administered by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) system. The WSBN application fee is $60, and the exam fee is $127 total ($32 for the written knowledge test and $95 for the clinical skills evaluation). You must also submit two fingerprint cards for criminal background checks processed through the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the FBI. The Written Knowledge Test is computer-based and consists of 60 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 90 minutes, covering basic nursing skills, personal care, infection control, safety procedures, communication, and residents' rights. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass. An oral examination is available upon request and can be administered in English or Spanish. The Clinical Skills Evaluation requires you to demonstrate five randomly selected nursing assistant skills before a trained evaluator, including mandatory handwashing plus four additional skills such as measuring vital signs, assisting with transfers and ambulation, positioning, range of motion exercises, perineal care, catheter care, or feeding assistance. You must pass both components within 24 months of completing your training program. Wyoming allows up to five attempts on each test component within this eligibility period. If you exhaust all attempts, you must complete a new approved NATCEP before retesting. Under federal OBRA regulations, if employed by or receiving an offer from a Medicare/Medicaid-certified facility, your employer must pay all testing fees. Unofficial results are typically available shortly after testing, with official results posted in your TMU account after 6:00 PM MST the next business day.

3

Get Listed on the Registry

Once you pass both exam components and your background check clears, the Wyoming State Board of Nursing processes your certification and adds your name to the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry. Processing typically takes 3-5 business days after all application materials, fees, and completed background investigation reports are received by WSBN. You will be notified of your certification issuance through your WSBN Nurse Portal account. Wyoming does not issue paper copies of licenses or certificates—your official proof of certification is your Active listing on the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry, which can be verified online through the WSBN License Lookup tool. Your certification allows you to work as a CNA in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and swing bed facilities throughout Wyoming's 23 counties. CNA certification in Wyoming is renewed every two years during even-numbered years, with the renewal window running from October 1 through December 31. To maintain active status, you must meet specific employment and continuing education requirements during each renewal cycle. Wyoming offers reciprocity for CNAs certified in other states—if you hold a current, active CNA certification in good standing from another state's registry with no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation, you may apply for Wyoming certification by endorsement through the WSBN Nurse Portal. The endorsement fee is $60, and you must complete a Wyoming background check. Important: Before beginning work, complete the required criminal background check including fingerprinting for DCI and FBI processing. Many Wyoming employers also require TB testing, immunization records, and CPR/BLS certification before employment begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about CNA certification in Wyoming

The timeline to become a CNA in Wyoming typically ranges from 5 to 10 weeks from enrollment to certification. Wyoming requires a minimum of 75 hours of training including at least 16 hours of supervised clinical practice, meeting the federal OBRA requirements. Full-time accelerated programs at Wyoming community colleges—including Casper College, Laramie County Community College (LCCC) in Cheyenne, Sheridan College, and Central Wyoming College in Riverton—can be completed in as little as 4-6 weeks with intensive daily schedules. LCCC, for instance, offers sessions running approximately 8 weeks during fall and spring semesters with both in-person and hybrid formats. Part-time programs with evening or weekend schedules generally take 6-8 weeks. Many healthcare facilities throughout Wyoming, particularly Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, and long-term care facilities in Sheridan, Gillette, and Rock Springs, offer employer-sponsored training with flexible scheduling. After completing training, you'll register through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) system to schedule your Headmaster competency exam. Testing is available at approved sites across Wyoming. Unofficial exam results are typically available immediately, with official results posted in TMU after 6:00 PM MST the next business day. Once you pass both exam components and your WSBN application and background check are complete, certification processing takes 3-5 business days. Most students complete the entire process—from first day of class to active registry status—within 6 to 12 weeks.
CNA training costs in Wyoming typically range from free to approximately $1,800 depending on the program type and location. Wyoming community colleges offer competitively priced programs: Casper College's CNA program covers tuition, materials, fees, and certifications in one package; Laramie County Community College (LCCC) in Cheyenne offers its hybrid CNA course with online and in-person components; Sheridan College and Central Wyoming College in Riverton provide accelerated programs; and Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs serves southwestern Wyoming students. Community college tuition generally ranges from $800 to $1,800 for Wyoming residents, with out-of-state students paying higher rates. Many nursing homes and long-term care facilities across Wyoming offer FREE CNA training through employer-sponsored NATCEP programs in exchange for employment commitments, which is particularly common given Wyoming's rural healthcare worker shortages. Under federal OBRA regulations, if you are employed by or receive an offer from a Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing facility, your employer must pay all training and testing costs. Beyond tuition, budget for the $60 WSBN application fee, the $127 Headmaster exam fee ($32 knowledge test plus $95 skills evaluation), fingerprinting and background check costs ($30-$50), required immunizations and health screenings ($100-$200), scrubs and clinical supplies ($50-$100), and CPR/BLS certification if not included in your program ($40-$75). Wyoming residents may qualify for financial assistance through Hathaway Scholarships, Federal Pell Grants, Wyoming Works workforce training grants, or community college foundation scholarships.
The Wyoming CNA competency exam is administered by D&S Diversified Technologies (Headmaster) through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) system and consists of two mandatory components. The Written Knowledge Test is a computer-based exam containing 60 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. You must score at least 70% to pass. Questions cover: Basic Nursing Skills (vital signs, positioning, transfers, mobility assistance), Personal Care Procedures (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting), Infection Control (handwashing, standard precautions, PPE use, isolation procedures), Safety and Emergency Procedures (fall prevention, fire safety, emergency response), Communication and Interpersonal Skills (therapeutic communication, cultural sensitivity, documentation), Residents' Rights (privacy, dignity, independence, informed consent), Mental Health and Social Service Needs (emotional support, dementia care, end-of-life care), and Role of the Nurse Aide (scope of practice, legal and ethical responsibilities). An oral examination is available upon request and can be taken in English or Spanish. The Clinical Skills Evaluation requires you to demonstrate five randomly selected nursing assistant skills—mandatory handwashing plus four additional skills—before a trained evaluator within approximately 30 minutes. Common skills include measuring blood pressure, pulse, respiration, or temperature; assisting with ambulation or transfers; performing range of motion exercises; providing perineal care; catheter care; feeding assistance; or making an occupied bed. You must perform each skill competently according to standardized checklists. Testing is conducted at approved sites throughout Wyoming. You have up to five attempts on each component within 24 months of training completion.
Wyoming accepts CNA certifications from other states through endorsement, allowing you to transfer your credentials without retraining or retesting if you meet specific eligibility requirements. To qualify, you must hold a current, unencumbered CNA certification in good standing from another state's nurse aide registry, have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property on any state registry, and have completed a training program meeting federal OBRA requirements. To apply, create or log in to your account on the WSBN Nurse Portal. Select "Apply for License" and choose "CNA by Endorsement." Upload required documents including a valid government-issued photo ID, Social Security card, and verification of your current out-of-state CNA certification. Pay the $60 endorsement application fee to WSBN. You must also submit two fingerprint cards for processing by the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The background check process may take up to 60 days. WSBN must receive all application materials, fees, and the completed background investigation before issuing your Wyoming CNA certificate. Processing time is estimated at 30-45 days once all documents are received. Once approved, you'll be listed as Active on the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry and can begin working at healthcare facilities throughout all 23 counties. Wyoming's combination of no state income tax, above-average CNA wages ($41,040 median annually), stunning natural landscapes from Yellowstone to the Grand Tetons, and tight-knit communities makes it an attractive destination for CNAs relocating from neighboring Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Wyoming offers fulfilling employment opportunities for CNAs across its unique healthcare landscape, where community hospitals and critical access facilities serve as vital lifelines for the state's widespread population. Casper—Wyoming's second-largest city—is home to Banner Wyoming Medical Center, the largest hospital in the state with two campuses, a Level II Trauma Center, and 14 primary and specialty clinics serving 11 counties and over 250,000 people. Cheyenne, the state capital, features Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, the highest-revenue hospital in Wyoming with a Level III Trauma Center, the Wyoming Heart and Vascular Institute, and the Cheyenne Regional Cancer Center. The Cheyenne VA Medical Center also provides significant employment. Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Sheridan and Campbell County Health in Gillette are highly rated community hospitals recognized for patient satisfaction. In northwestern Wyoming, Cody Regional Health and Powell Valley Healthcare serve communities near Yellowstone, while St. John's Medical Center in Jackson serves the Teton County area including Jackson Hole's resort communities. SageWest Health Care operates facilities in Lander and Riverton serving central Wyoming and the Wind River Reservation. The highest-paying areas include Cheyenne and Casper, where CNAs can earn $42,000-$46,000 annually. Wyoming CNAs earn a median salary of $41,040 annually ($19.73/hour)—above the national median—and with no state income tax, take-home pay stretches further. Combined with Wyoming's extraordinary quality of life including access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, world-class outdoor recreation, low cost of living, safe communities, and wide-open Western landscapes, CNAs enjoy truly rewarding careers in the Cowboy State.

CNA Certification Renewal in Wyoming

Wyoming CNA certification must be renewed every two years during even-numbered years. The renewal window runs from October 1 through December 31, and late renewals are not accepted—if you miss the deadline, you must apply for reinstatement. To be eligible for renewal, you must have worked at least 16 hours of paid nursing or nursing-related services for compensation during the two-year certification period. Additionally, you must complete at least 24 hours of in-service training during the renewal cycle. The renewal fee is $50, payable through the WSBN Nurse Portal.

Renewal is processed online through the WSBN Nurse Portal. Log in to your account, complete the online renewal form, upload required documentation of your employment hours and continuing education, and pay the $50 renewal fee. After processing, confirm your active status using the WSBN License Lookup. If your certification has expired but you met the employment and continuing education requirements during the previous cycle, you may apply for reinstatement by paying the $60 reinstatement fee and potentially retaking the competency exam ($127). If your certification has been expired for more than five years, you must complete a new WSBN-approved NATCEP training program and pass both the written and clinical skills examinations again before reinstatement. It is critical to keep your contact information current with the registry so you receive renewal notifications. Major Wyoming employers including Banner Wyoming Medical Center, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, and Sheridan Memorial Hospital provide ongoing in-service education to help employees meet the 24-hour continuing education requirement. For questions about renewal, contact the Wyoming State Board of Nursing at (307) 777-7601.

Renewal Requirements
  • Work at least 16 hours of paid nursing services within 2-year cycle
  • Complete 24 hours of in-service training per renewal period
  • Renewal window: October 1 – December 31 of even-numbered years
  • Renewal fee: $50 via WSBN Nurse Portal
  • Late renewals not accepted — must apply for reinstatement ($60)
  • Expired over 5 years: Must retrain (full NATCEP) and retest

Career Outlook in Wyoming

Wyoming offers above-average wages, no state income tax, and an unmatched quality of life

Above-Average Take-Home Pay

Wyoming CNAs earn a median salary of $41,040/year ($19.73/hour)—above the national median. Cheyenne and Casper offer the highest wages ($42,000-$46,000 annually). With no state income tax, Wyoming CNAs enjoy significantly more take-home pay than peers in neighboring states, making the Cowboy State one of the most financially rewarding places for nursing assistants.

Essential Community Healthcare

Work at leading institutions including Banner Wyoming Medical Center (state's largest hospital), Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (highest-revenue facility with Level III Trauma Center), Sheridan Memorial Hospital, Campbell County Health in Gillette, Cody Regional Health, St. John's Medical Center in Jackson, and critical access hospitals serving Wyoming's vast rural communities across all 23 counties.

High Demand & Western Lifestyle

Wyoming's aging population and rural healthcare needs drive strong CNA demand, with facilities actively recruiting and offering signing bonuses. Enjoy access to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, world-class skiing and fly fishing, wide-open landscapes, safe tight-knit communities, low cost of living, and the authentic Western lifestyle that defines America's Cowboy State.

CNA Requirements in Neighboring States

Explore certification requirements in nearby states

Montana South Dakota Nebraska Colorado Utah Idaho View All 50 States

Official Resources

Access official links and contact information for Wyoming CNA certification

WY State Board of Nursing

Official regulatory body managing CNA certification, licensing, and the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry.

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Headmaster Testing (D&S)

Schedule your Wyoming CNA competency exam through the TestMaster Universe (TMU) system.

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WY Nurse Aide Registry

Verify CNA certification status on the Wyoming Nurse Aide Registry through WSBN License Lookup.

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WY Dept of Health – CNAs

Wyoming Department of Health page for CNA registry, training program listings, and OHLS resources.

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WSBN Contact

Wyoming State Board of Nursing
130 Hobbs Ave, Suite B
Cheyenne, WY 82002

Call: (307) 777-7601

Headmaster Support

Questions about testing, scheduling, or the TMU system? Contact D&S Diversified Technologies.

Call: 1-800-393-8664