StateLicensed

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) License Requirements in Illinois

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
120 hrs
Upfront cost
$85
Exam
Written Competency Test
Renewal cycle
—
Issuing board
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Health Care Worker Registry

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 16 years old, At least eight years of grade school, or proof of equivalent knowledge, pass a criminal background check. To work as a CNA in a licensed long-term care facility, an individual must be at least 16 years of age, of temperate habits and good moral character, able to speak/understand English or a language understood by a substantial percentage of the facility's residents, and provide evidence of prior employment/occupation and residence for the 2 years before hire. A criminal history records check under the Health Care Worker Background Check Act (225 ILCS 46) is required, with no disqualifying convictions (a waiver process exists) and no administrative finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property in Illinois or any other state. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 120 hours of training (including 40 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. Each IDPH-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program (BNATP) must provide at least 120 hours of instruction: 80 classroom hours plus 40 clinical hours. Prior to any direct contact with a resident, a specified 16 hours of classroom training (42 CFR §483.152(6)) must be completed. Illinois does not issue a CNA certificate/license itself — status is maintained through continuous qualifying work rather than a document (see renewal). [1]

  3. 3

    Written Competency Test

    Pass the Written Competency Test (fee: $85). Administered by SIU-C at test sites throughout Illinois; SIU-C transmits results electronically to the Health Care Worker Registry. Currently the only competency evaluation required for most certification routes (Illinois does not administer a separate SIU-C-run hands-on skills exam; skills competency is assessed within the approved training program itself). If failed three times, the candidate must retake an Illinois-approved CNA training program before testing again. Retake fee is also $85; a no-show/reschedule fee of $55 applies within 12 months; an out-of-state CNA application costs $25. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Health Care Worker Registry. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Health Care Worker Registry issues your Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) for Illinois.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
Written Competency Test [2] $85
Written Competency Test (first-time or retake) [2] $85
No-show / reschedule fee (within 12 months) [2] $55
Out-of-state CNA application [2] $25

Illinois does not issue a certificate or license, so there is no separate application/license/renewal fee — the only published cost is the SIU-C testing fee schedule (effective 2023-07-01). Recertification after a certification lapse is accomplished by passing the Written Competency Test again for the same $85 fee, rather than paying a distinct renewal fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renewal cycle not specified.

Illinois has no fixed renewal cycle or continuing-education hour requirement. Instead, CNA status is tied to continuous qualifying work: if an individual goes 24 consecutive months without providing nursing or nursing-related services for pay, the certification is lost and must be regained by passing the Written Competency Test again. cycleYears is left null because there is no periodic renewal date, not because the 24-month work-continuity rule is unknown.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

No interstate compact covers CNAs/nurse aides. Illinois accepts individuals who have been deemed competent on another state's CNA registry: the applicant must provide documentation of current registration meeting 42 CFR §§483.151-483.152, have no administrative findings of abuse/neglect/misappropriation on their home state's (or any state's) registry, and have no disqualifying convictions on the home state's registry. An out-of-state CNA application fee of $25 applies.

42 state-approved training providers in Illinois — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $85
Total$85

Frequently asked questions

How many hours of CNA training does Illinois require?

120 total hours: 80 classroom hours plus 40 clinical hours, at an IDPH-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program (BNATP).

Who administers the Illinois CNA exam?

Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU-C), under contract with the Illinois Department of Public Health, administers the Written Competency Test ($85). Illinois does not run a separate SIU-C skills exam — skills competency is assessed within the training program.

Does my Illinois CNA status expire?

There's no fixed renewal date. Instead, you lose certified status if you go 24 consecutive months without providing paid nursing or nursing-related services; you'd then need to pass the Written Competency Test again to recertify.

Can I transfer my CNA certification from another state to Illinois?

Yes, if you're deemed competent on another state's CNA registry with no disqualifying convictions or abuse/neglect findings. Submit an out-of-state CNA application ($25) with documentation of your current registration.

Sources

  1. [1] dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry/cna-facts.html — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nurseaidetesting.com/fee-schedule — accessed 2026-07-10