CNA Training in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Health has the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale administer the CNA examinations although the tests are held at a variety of regional sites. The fee for the entire examination is $65 initially. Those who have failed and need to retest will only need to pay $35 if they retest within a year from the initial testing date. Those who wait more than a year will need to pay the full fee.

Illinois uses a written competency examination to test CNAs’ knowledge. A manual skills test is only required for those who recertify after letting the license expire. The examination is in English. However, CNA applicants who will be working at a facility that has more than 50 percent of its residents who speak another language can request a translated examination for an additional fee of $45. The test covers the six broad areas of CNA tasks covered in Illinois, including communication information, performing basic restorative skills, performing basic nursing skills, performing personal care skills, providing mental health and providing residents’ rights and social service needs

Applicants have up to three attempts to pass the examination before needing to retrain. Those who pass will receive their unofficial results in the mail within two to three weeks. The score is based on a pass/fail method rather than on a percentage. Illinois CNAs do not have an actual certificate or license number. Instead, they will be listed on the Illinois registry using their social security numbers.

Those moving to Illinois from out-of-state may be able to transfer their CNA certifications to Illinois. Applicants must have worked for pay as a CNA within the past 24 months and must have an active, clean license with no findings of patient abuse, maltreatment or neglect. Applicants must fill out the reciprocity application and send it to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Department will then send applicants a fingerprint card that they must have completed at a registered facility. After the fingerprint card is returned, the Department will notify applicants within two to three weeks as to whether or not they are accepted or if they need to retest in Illinois. The process is free.

Illinois CNAs who work continuously for pay performing nursing-related tasks do not have to worry about renewing their certifications. However, those who do not work for pay as CNAs for 24 months will need either to retrain and retest or to retest only. In this case, the standard testing fee of $65 will apply for the written competency test. Individuals who forego a second training course and instead choose only to test will need to complete a manual competency test by demonstrating CNA-related tasks in front of a nurse aide evaluator. Those who retrain will not need to take the manual skills evaluation at a community college or other regional testing site.

Nurses Aide Application
Out of State Application
More Facts about being a CNA in Illinois

Links

Illinois Board of Nursing
Illinois Nurses Aide Registry
Search CNA license

Contacts
Health Care Worker Registry
525 W. Jefferson St., Fourth Floor
Springfield , IL 62761
Phone: 844-789-3676
Email: [email protected]