State Exams

State ALD

You must have an active application for Minnesota licensure on file with the board and have completed the required ALD program course to be eligible to take the state exam.

The State ALD has 35-multiple choice question and the applicant is given one hour 25 minutes to complete the exam. The exam is an open resource exam testing candidate ability to research and interpret Minnesota Statutes and Rules about the operation of a Minnesota Assisted Living. Examinees will use the board-provided statutes and rules as well as the supplemental ALD bibliography resource found in the exam application and on our website under Exam Resources.

*For those pursuing a License as a Nursing Home Administrator and Assisted Living Director, a Hybrid exam is available. The exam is a 50-multiple choice question and the applicant is given two hours to complete the exam.

Once the exam application and fee has been processed, you will have 14 days to sit for the online exam. An email will be sent to the proctor listed in your exam application with instructions and log- in information for the day of the exam.

How to Apply

1. You must have an active application for the ALD license on file with BELTSS. You can submit an application for a license online through the BELTSS Online Portal.
2. You must have completed the Assisted Living Program Course (120 hours), with a transcript validated and sent by the program provider.
3. The state exam application will be sent to you by email after BELTSS has received the ALD program course transcript from the provider.  (This will be marked as completed in your application portal). 
4. Complete the state exam application sent to you by email.  
5. Once approved, you will be prompted in the application portal, on the invoice tab to pay the exam fee of $100 fee. For those applying as an ALDIR or HSE, the exam fee has been included for one exam attempt.

Individuals preparing to take the State Exam are encouraged to review each text at least twice and become acquainted with the index in both the MN Rules and Statutes, as well as, the Supplemental Bibliography resource. The objective of the open book State exam is for the applicant to become familiar with the State Rules and Statutes and feel comfortable referencing the material from the provided texts. Applicants are encouraged to use Control F in searching for ‘key words” within those resources.

Resources and Study Materials

ALD State Exam Bibliography

Individuals preparing to take the State Exam are encouraged to review each text at least twice and become acquainted with the index in both the MN Rules and Statutes, as well as the Supplemental Bibliography resource. The objective of the open book State exam is for the applicant to become familiar with the State Rules and Statutes and feel comfortable referencing the material from the provided texts. Applicants are encouraged to use "Control  F"  in searching for ‘key words” within those resources.  In order for this search to be effective, the exam applicant must be familiar with the content to each reference. Once the exam applicant identifies the reference to use, the applicant will be able to search using key words.  It is strongly recommended applicants read through each reference three times prior to taking the examination. 

Please refer to the following links for information pertaining to the ALD state exam.

• Supplemental ALD State Exam Bibliography
• MN Rules BELTSS ALD 6400.6095-7095
• MN Rules MDH AL 4659
• MN Statutes MDH AL 144G
• MN Statutes BELTSS 144A.19-144A.291 
• MN Statutes Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adult (626.557)
• Video on using Exam Resources (Please visit the National Exam Resources for this Video if it does not open for you.)