Mississippi CNA Skills Test: Headmaster Tasks, Key Steps, and How to Prep

This guide is for Mississippi nurse aide candidates preparing for the Headmaster skills demonstration on the TMU platform. Mississippi is not Credentia NNAAP and not Prometric. For the state overview and official resource cards, start at Mississippi CNA. For a vendor-agnostic skills rehearsal method, use CNA skills test.

Confirm live task lists, timing, fees, and attempt rules in the current Mississippi Candidate Handbook (PDF) (January 2026; confirm any newer PDF linked from the Headmaster Mississippi CNA home). Schedule through the Mississippi TMU portal. Registry context: MSDH CNA page and the TMU public registry search.

What is the Mississippi CNA skills test?

The skills test is the hands-on half of Mississippi competency evaluation. An RN Test Observer scores you against the Mississippi handbook skill tasks. You must pass skills in addition to the knowledge exam (typically 70 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes; pass typically 73% or better per the handbook).

Per the Mississippi Candidate Handbook (verify the latest PDF before exam day):

This page does not reprint the Mississippi skill checklist. Memorize steps from the live handbook only.

Pro Tip: Mississippi uses the common Headmaster formula: every bold key step plus 80% of non-key steps on each assigned task. Missing one key step fails that task even if your overall percentage looks high.

Where do Mississippi candidates get the official checklist?

1. Open Headmaster Mississippi CNA home
2. Download the current Candidate Handbook (or the newer PDF if the home posts one)
3. Complete your account and payment in Mississippi TMU
4. Rehearse only the skill tasks printed in that handbook
5. After you pass both parts, confirm registry listing via the TMU public search and MSDH CNA resources

For knowledge-exam subject counts, use the handbook blueprint and the mapping on Mississippi CNA. Subject counts from the January 2026 plan (Aging Process and Restorative Care 3, Basic Nursing Skills 11, Care Impaired 3, Communication 6, Data Collection 4, Disease Process 5, Infection Control 10, Mental Health 4, Personal Care 5, Resident Rights 5, Role and Responsibility 5, Safety 9) must be confirmed in the live PDF.

How should you rehearse Mississippi skills?

1. Shell habits: introduce yourself, explain, protect privacy, keep the call light in reach, and protect safety before every transfer. Details: CNA skills test.
2. Key steps first: bold key steps fail the skill if missed. Drill those until automatic, then protect the 80% non-key threshold on every task.
3. Mandatory-first mocks: always include one hand-washing-embedded mandatory task, plus two or three other handbook tasks, graded only against Mississippi handbook wording.

Support overlapping knowledge themes:

• Physical Care
• Psychosocial Care
• Role of the Nurse Aide
• Free diagnostic: Try CNA

How this guide connects to MedCertPrep

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mississippi CNA the same as NNAAP / Credentia?

No. Mississippi uses Headmaster subject areas and a Mississippi-specific skills list on TMU. MedCertPrep national practice overlaps on themes but is not a Headmaster clone bank.

Is Mississippi scored like Kentucky skills?

No. Kentucky study-guide materials commonly use about 70% of steps plus 100% of bold critical steps. Mississippi handbook materials use all key (bold) steps plus 80% of non-key steps on each task.

Can MedCertPrep replace the Mississippi handbook?

No. MedCertPrep provides supplemental written practice and a rehearsal method. Scored skills steps come only from the current Headmaster Mississippi Candidate Handbook.

Next step for Mississippi skills week

1. Open Mississippi CNA and download the latest handbook PDF.
2. Complete TMU account setup and confirm your schedule.
3. Drill bold key steps, then run mocks that always include a mandatory hand-washing-embedded task.
4. Support weak knowledge themes with Physical Care while you keep the handbook blueprint nearby.