From Training to Registry: Meeting the 120-Hour CNA Requirements in Illinois

Becoming a certified nursing assistant in Illinois requires a series of steps to be taken in order to comply with the regulations of the state. The state of Illinois ensures that all certified nursing assistants on its CNA registry in Illinois have met the high standards of clinical preparation and monitoring.

Initial Eligibility Requirements

Before you enroll in an approved CNA training program in Illinois, you have to fulfill certain requirements. The requirements will ensure you have the maturity and educational foundation to practice nursing.

Minimum Age: You have to be 16 years of age or older.

Education: You have to have completed eight years of grade school or have proof of equivalent knowledge. While a high school diploma is not required by the state to be on the registry, many individual facilities and community colleges require a high school diploma or GED to participate in their training programs.

Language Proficiency: The candidate has to be able to communicate in English or a language understood by a majority of the population in the facility.

Health Status: A physical examination, negative test for tuberculosis, and immunizations have to be completed before you can participate in your clinical training.

Governing Authority: IDPH and HCWR

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regulates the nursing aide industry in the state of Illinois. Unlike other states, where a nursing board oversees the nursing license of nursing assistants, Illinois has the Health Care Worker Registry (HCWR) to oversee the nursing aide industry in the state. The HCWR is the only official record of certified nursing assistants in Illinois, and this is the record that your employer will check to confirm your status for a cna license in Illinois. The state of Illinois does not issue license cards, and your presence on the HCWR record will be your license to practice.

Minimum Training Standards

In order to qualify for a cna license in Illinois, one has to graduate from an Illinois-approved training program for nursing assistants. The training programs in Illinois follow the Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program (BNATP) curriculum, which exceeds the federal minimum.

Total Training Hours: 120 hours.
Clinical: 40 of those hours will be spent in a clinical environment, providing patient care services.
Theory/Lab: The remaining 80 hours will be spent in classroom and laboratory instruction.
Skills Verification: The nursing students will have to pass a manual skills test on 21 patient care skills, which will be verified by their instructor.

The State Competency Exam

Once you finish your training, you need to take and pass the cna state exam in illinois to become a certified professional in the field.

Exam Provider: The exam provider is Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU-C).
Written Test Format: The exam has 85 questions in multiple-choice format, and you have 90 minutes to complete it.
Skills Assessment: Although your instructor checks your skills during training, you need to take the state exam to take the written or oral exam.
Retest Policy: If you fail to pass after three retakes, you are required by law to retake the entire 120-hour training course.

Registry Listing Process

Once you have completed your Nursing Assistant certification and have taken and passed your exam, you need to have your results verified and processed by SIU-C, which sends your scores electronically to IDPH. Your name will be entered into the registry after you have cleared your background check through fingerprints. Your employer uses your Social Security number to check your status to become certified through CNA registry illinois.

Renewal and Employment Verification

Renewal Cycle: 24 months.
Work-Hour Requirement: You need to have at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related service within each 24-month renewal period.
Continuing Education: No CEUs are required in Illinois for Nursing Assistants.
Fees: No renewal fees are required; your status stays active as long as you have reported your work to the registry.

Reciprocity: Moving Your Certification

If you are already certified in another state, you can apply for reciprocity to join the certified nursing assistant registry illinois.

Requirement: You have to have an active certification in good standing with no findings of abuse or neglect on any other state registry.
Application: You have to make an application for the “Out-of-State Nurse Aide Application” to the IDPH.
Processing Fee: As of 2026, a fee of $25 is charged for a reciprocity application to be processed.
Re-testing: Normally, you do not have to re-test if you are active in another state.

Reinstatement Procedures

If you failed to meet the 24-month work requirement, your status has lapsed, and you are required to reinstate your status.

• Re-lapsed under 24 months: Generally, you are required to retake and pass the written SIU-C competency exam to prove that you still possess the necessary knowledge.
• Re-lapsed over 24 months: If you are out of the profession for a while, IDPH may require you to retake the entire approved illinois approved CNA training program.

What Makes Illinois Different?

Illinois is among the few states that make use of a “Continuous Notification” system in the background checks for its nursing assistants. Once you are included in the registry, any future criminal offenses that may disqualify you from practice are directly notified to IDPH by the ISP. This ensures that only those with a clean criminal record are given permission to practice in a health care setting where patient safety is a priority.

Illinois CNA Standards Summary

Requirement	Illinois Standard
Total Training Hours	120 Hours
Clinical Hours	40 Hours
Exam Provider	Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU-C)
Registry Authority	IL Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Renewal Period	24 Months (Employment-Based)
Reciprocity	Allowed Conditionally ($25 Processing Fee)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long do I have to take the exam after finishing my training?
   You have to pass the state exam within 120 days of when you started working in a healthcare facility or within a specified period of time determined by when you completed your training.
   
2. Can I work as a Nursing Assistant in Illinois if I am still in nursing school?
   Yes. Nursing students can take the competency exam if they have completed a course in “Fundamentals of Nursing” and completed 40 hours of clinical experience.
   
3. How do I find out my certification number?
   The state of Illinois does not issue a certification number. You can check your record under your Social Security number on the Health Care Worker Registry.

It is important that you keep your current status active in the registry in order to legally work in Illinois. Be sure to check your “Active” status on the official website of IDPH and keep your contact information up-to-date to stay apprised of important regulatory announcements.