Certified Nursing Assistant in Missouri
Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for MO. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.
BLS OEWS 2024, Missouri.
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route How to become a certified nursing assistant in Missouri
To become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in Missouri, individuals must complete a state-approved training program consisting of 75 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of supervised clinical training. After completing the training, candidates must pass the Missouri Nurse Aide Competency Exam (MO-NACE), which includes both a written and a skills portion. Missouri offers reciprocity for out-of-state CNAs who hold an active and good-standing certification, allowing them to transfer their license without retesting. A criminal background check is required, and the minimum age for enrollment in a training program is generally 18, with exceptions for high school students.
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Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Missouri. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.
checklist Missouri requirements
| Licensing body | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services |
| State license | Required |
| Education | 175-hour state-approved training program (75 classroom, 100 on-the-job) |
| Experience | 100.0 hours |
| Exam | Missouri Nurse Aide Competency Exam (MO-NACE) ($135) |
| Renewal | Every 2.0 years |
| Continuing education | 8.0 hours per cycle |
| Reciprocity | Missouri offers reciprocity for active CNAs without re-taking the state exam; work proof may be required.Reciprocal states: Missouri offers reciprocity for CNAs certified in other states, allowing them to transfer their license without re-taking the Missouri CNA exam if their certification is active and in good standing. Proof of recent paid CNA work may be required. |
| Notes | Minimum age is 18, or 16 if enrolled in a high school health services occupation program. A criminal background check is required. Renewal requires having worked for pay as a CNA for at least 8 hours in the past 24 months. If certification expires, the individual must retake both parts of the exam. |
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Already licensed elsewhere and moving to Missouri? See whether Missouri recognizes an out-of-state credential — with the tier and pathway for all 50 states — in our Certified Nursing Assistant license reciprocity guide.
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- check_circleMissouri license required — clearer credential signal to employers
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