The New Mexico CNA registry has moved!

What has changed?

On  July 1^st, 2024 two major changes occurred:

1. Our unit moved from under the Department of Health (DOH) to the newly formed Health Care Authority (HCA)
2. We transitioned from our old registry vendor, Prometric, to our new vendor Headmaster.

Our new registry website (TMU) is located here: https://nm.tmutest.com

Headmaster’s website is located here: D&S – New Mexico Nurse Aide

Please continue to review the New Mexico Certified Nurse Aide Registry website or the Headmaster LLP D&S – New Mexico Nurse Aide (hdmaster.com) website for updated details as they become available.

APPLICATIONS

All testing, renewal, and reciprocity applications are now submitted online through the new system, TMU (https://nm.tmutest.com).

PLEASE NOTE: Prometric no longer manages the New Mexico CNA registry, so keep in mind that we are not accepting applications via mail, fax, or email.

Skip to information for:

Students

Certified Nurse Aide Registry

This program maintains the New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry (NAR). Provides support for certified nurse aides (CNA) with assistance with trainings, reciprocities and questions about Headmaster LLP. Provides guidance to medical facilities regarding CNA training requirements and training programs. Provides approval and oversight for CNA training programs throughout the State of New Mexico.

Become a CNA

What is a CNA?

A certified nurse assistant is a certified healthcare paraprofessional that performs basic day-to-day tasks to support the entire medical team in properly caring for ill, injured, or disabled people. CNAs can be found wherever there is a need for personal patient care.

In some nursing facilities, CNAs may serve as patients’ primary caregivers. In this role, they are often expected to provide social and emotional support to their patients. CNAs’ work makes a difference every day in the lives of their patients.

How do you become a CNA?

A nursing assistant must complete a State-approved CNA training program. The program consists of a minimum of 75 clocked training hours, including theory and lab hours plus a clinical rotation. Upon successfully completing a training program, the candidate is eligible to schedule for the State competency evaluation.

The State competency evaluation is administered through Headmaster LLP. The evaluation consists of two tests, a knowledge test and a clinical skills test. The knowledge test may be taken as a written test or as an oral test and is offered in English and Spanish.

Requirements to become a CNA in New Mexico:

More information on New Mexico CNA requirements can be found in the Headmaster documentation and Federal standards can be found in the CMS State Operation Manual.

Testing Applications

FIRST TIME TESTERS: The candidate must successfully complete a State-approved CNA training program in order to be eligible to schedule their first exam. The training program will add them into TMU so they can pay and schedule for the exam.

All New Mexico Nurse Aide Exam Waiver applications are located online at the New Mexico TMU website: Account Applications Apply | NM TMU (tmutest.com).

• Reactivation by Exam Waiver (lapsed More Than 24 months): Account Applications Create | NM TMU
• Nursing Student Waiver: Account Applications Create | NM TMU
• Graduate Nurse Waiver: Account Applications Create | NM TMU
• Foreign Trained Nurse Waiver: Account Applications Create | NM TMU
• Military Training Waiver: Account Applications Create | NM TMU

Headmaster LLP is contracted to develop and administer the New Mexico State Competency Evaluation and supports the New Mexico NATCEP by providing the following benefits.

• New Mexico Candidate Handbook: New Mexico NA Candidate Handbook
• Knowledge Exam Instructions: NM NA Knowledge Exam Instructions
• Skills Test Instructions: NM NA Skill Test Instructions

How-To Guides:

• Account Recovery instructions: How to Sign In and Forgot Your Password – Reset Account
• Scheduling or Rescheduling for a test event: How to Schedule/RESCHEDULE
• Renewing certifications: New Mexico nurse aide: How to Renew YOUR CERTIFICATION in TMU©

ADA Accommodation Form: Account Applications Create | NM TMU

Paying Test Fees

The State of New Mexico will pay test fees for candidates who have been offered employment or are currently employed by a Medicaid certified nursing facility. In order for the State to pay the test fees, the employer must verify the candidate’s employment prior to submission.

If the candidate is not eligible for state payment, they must pay their own test fees by credit card on the NM TMU website.

Test Fee Rates

Test fees are paid separately for the knowledge and skills portions.

Employer Verification of Funding for State Testing:

NM How To Verify State Funding for Testing

Renewal

Renewal requests may be submitted starting 30 days prior to the certification expiration date or up to 30 days past the expiration date.

A CNA must access their profile in the New Mexico TMU website (https://nm.tmutest.com) to submit their renewal request. Please follow the guides below to gain access to your profile and submit your request:

Account Recovery Guide: How to Sign In and Forgot Your Password – Reset Account

Renewal Guide: New Mexico nurse aide: How to Renew YOUR CERTIFICATION in TMU©

Once the employer verifies employment, the CNA’s certification automatically reinstates for another two years.

WARNING: If a CNA goes past the 30-day grace period for renewal, they will need to retake the state competency exam to renew their certification.

NOTE: The renewal fee is $25.00.

Reciprocity

Reciprocity grants dual certification. Each state’s certification is independent from the other. It is the CNA’s responsibility to maintain their certifications for each state.

The following documents are required for reciprocity (transfer) of a CNA from another state to New Mexico.

• Government-issued, photo identification or driver’s license
• Social Security Card
• Current Out-of-State Nurse Aide Certification

The individual must complete the Reciprocity Form Application on the New Mexico TMU Website: Account Applications Apply | NM TMU (tmutest.com).

There is no fee associated with requesting reciprocity in New Mexico.

Verifications

A transfer of a CNA from New Mexico to another state may require a verification form. This form is provided by the State the CNA is transferring to, and it is used to verify the New Mexico certification. A CNA is responsible for acquiring the form from the other State.

Once the form is acquired, do the following:

1. Fill out Section One, the top portion of the form with the individual’s information.
2. Forward this form to our office via email, CNA.Registry@hca.nm.gov

The New Mexico CNA Coordinator will verify the certification in the New Mexico Nurse Aide Registry and will date and stamp the office New Mexico Health Care Authority Department seal. This form can only be sent to the requesting State.

The CNA must follow-up with the Nurse Aide Registry of the requesting state within 2-3 weeks.

Training Programs, Facilities & Instructors

State-approved CNA Training Programs

There are multiple CNA training programs located throughout the State. School-based programs are provided by community colleges and universities. Mobile programs provide training to independent students for facilities without their own training program in place; this style of program provides the didactic training hours online and conducts the clinical training at various facilities. Facility-based programs ensure on-the-job training for students; this style of program often offers benefits to students who want to remain employed at the facility.

List of CNA Training Programs

Please reach out to each training program independently for specific pricing and information on course lengths and dates.

How to Enter Candidates and Add State-Funded Employment at Start of Training

Help Your Students Succeed

The Division of Health Improvement and Headmaster have partnered to put together helpful hints and guidance for instructors in an effort to help them improve their students preparation and test outcomes.

We will review things you can do to help your candidates succeed in the testing process and what is expected of the candidates at the time of testing. We will discuss training program reports so you can see how your candidates are doing in each subject category on the knowledge exam and how they perform on each task in the skill exam. The dates and times are listed below. Please click on the link for the workshop you would like to join on that day and time.

You can review previous meetings here: NM Instructor Workshop – 2025/09/11

or watch the recap below:

NM CNA Instructor Workshop 9/11/2025

NATCEP Loss Resources:

NATCEP  (Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program) Loss List

NATCEP Waiver Request Form

State Authority to Waive NATCEP/CEP Disapproval 

Sections 1819(f)(2)(C) and 1919(f)(2)(C) of the Social Security Act (the Act) provide waiver authority for NATCEP/CEP if the State—

• determines that there is no other such program offered within a reasonable distance of the facility,
• assures, through an oversight effort, that an adequate environment exists for operating the program in the facility, and,
• provides notice of such determination and assurances to the State long-term care ombudsman.

Regulations

• CFR 42 §483.152 — Requirements for Approval of Nurse Aide Training and Competency
• NMAC 8.370.25 — Hearing Requirements for Certified Nurse Aides
• Part 483, Subpart D—Requirements That Must Be Met by States and State Agencies: Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation, and Paid Feeding Assistants.SOM 4132 – NATCEPs and CEPs
• 4132.2 – Requirements for NATCEPs
• SOM 7809 – Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program and Competency Evaluation Program Disapprovals
• SOM 7510.3 – Applicability to Disapproval of Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program
• SOM Chapter 4 – Program Administration and Fiscal Management
• S&C 18-02 – Clarification regarding Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP/CEP) Waiver and Appeal Requirements

Employers

Employer Verification of Funding for State Testing:

NM How To Verify State Funding for Testing

Search the Registry

The Welcome | NM TMU (tmutest.com) website serves as the primary source for verification of the credentials issued by the State of New Mexico. This site is only to check the NAR.

NOTE: You are not able to check criminal background, dependent adult abuse, child abuse, sex offenders, or professional licensing statuses from the TMU site.

Additional resources for employers:

Caregivers Criminal History Screening Program

CONTACT INFORMATION

For General Inquiries:
Email us at:
CNA.Registry@hca.nm.gov
**Please do not send personal identfying information such as social security numbers or banking information**

Or call us at:
505-861-9680 Phone
505-841-6551 Fax

Mailing Address:
ATTN: Nurse Aide Registry
3900 Masthead St NE, Albuquerque, NM
87109, United States

CNA Registry & Training Coordinator
505-221-8452

Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday
8:00am – 5:00pm

Headmaster:

Email: newmexico@hdmaster.com

Phone: 888-401-0462