{"application_form_url":null,"application_portal_url":null,"board_contact_url":null,"board_email":"dph.hcwr@illinois.gov","board_fax":null,"board_mailing_address":null,"board_name":"Illinois Dept of Public Health","board_parent_org":null,"board_phone":"217-785-5133","board_physical_address":null,"board_source_url":null,"board_url":null,"canonical_url":null,"ce_requirements_url":null,"common_delays":[{"description":"Out-of-state prints can add 2-4 weeks to your timeline.","title":"Fingerprinting delays"},{"description":"Have all your documents ready before starting the application to avoid processing delays.","title":"Missing or incomplete documents"},{"description":"Double-check that your name matches across all documents exactly. Mismatches are a common reason for delays.","title":"Application errors"}],"compact_member":null,"compact_name":null,"compact_privilege_fee":null,"created_at":"2026-04-11T20:10:54.757286+00:00","credential_type":null,"description":null,"endorsement_application_url":null,"endorsement_fees":null,"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Apply through the Illinois Dept of Public Health. The application fee is $25.","title":"Submit Your Application","url":null},{"description":"Illinois requires official verification of your active out-of-state license. This must be sent directly to the board from your current state board or its official online verification system before your file can be considered complete.","title":"Provide License Verification","url":null},{"description":"Certificate of completion from your approved CNA training program.","title":"Provide Proof of Training","url":null},{"description":"Official verification of passing your state's nurse aide competency evaluation.","title":"Submit Your State Competency Exam Results","url":null},{"description":"Illinois requires a criminal background check for all applicants. Out-of-state applicants can use IdentoGO Out-of-State Live Scan OR FD-258 hard card via mail. Completing prints outside Illinois can add 2-4 weeks to your processing time.","title":"Complete Fingerprinting and Background Screening","url":null},{"description":"Plan for a processing timeline of about 2 to 4 Weeks (for reciprocity applications) once your file is complete. If you need to start working immediately, most states do not offer temporary practice authorization for CNAs during the endorsement process. Contact the state nurse aide registry directly for current policies on practice authorization while your application is pending.","title":"Await Board Processing","url":null}],"exam_registration_url":null,"faqs":[{"answer":"The Illinois nurse aide exam is administered by SIU-C (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) via nurseaidetesting.com.","question":"Who administers the Illinois CNA exam?"},{"answer":"Submit the Out-of-State CNA Application on nurseaidetesting.com with a $25 money order payable to SIU-C. A written competency retest is usually required.","question":"How do I transfer my CNA to Illinois?"},{"answer":"Search the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry (HCWR) at hcwr.illinois.gov or call (844) 789-3676 (M-F 8:30am-5pm CT).","question":"How do I verify an Illinois CNA?"}],"fee_payment_url":null,"fingerprint_delay_weeks":null,"fingerprint_fee":null,"fingerprint_method_in_state":null,"fingerprint_method_out_of_state":null,"fingerprint_required":true,"fingerprint_url":null,"fingerprint_vendor":null,"fingerprint_vendor_url":null,"initial_fee_amount":25.0,"initial_fee_breakdown":null,"last_updated":null,"last_verified":null,"license_duration":null,"licensing_pathway":null,"payload_url":null,"processing_time":"2 to 4 Weeks (for reciprocity applications)","profession":"Certified Nursing Assistant","provisional_info":null,"reciprocity_info":null,"renewal_cycle":"Every 2 years (based on employment and in-service education)","renewal_fee_amount":null,"renewal_portal_url":null,"required_documents":[{"description":"Certificate of completion from your approved CNA training program.","name":"Proof of Training","url":null},{"description":"Official verification of passing your state's nurse aide competency evaluation.","name":"State Competency Exam Results","url":null},{"description":"through IdentoGO (IDEMIA)","name":"Fingerprint background check","url":null},{"description":"$25","name":"Application fee","url":null}],"slug":"illinois-cna","state_name":"Illinois","state_slug":"illinois","statutes_url":null,"steps":[{"description":"Enroll in and successfully complete a state-approved Nurse Aide Training Program. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) maintains a list of approved programs.","title":"Enroll in an Approved CNA Training Program","url":null},{"description":"Fulfill all program requirements, which include a minimum of 120 hours of training, with at least 40 hours dedicated to clinical experience.","title":"Complete Required Training Hours","url":null},{"description":"Successfully pass the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam within 24 months of completing your training program. This exam has both a written/oral portion and a skills demonstration portion.","title":"Pass the Nurse Aide Competency Exam","url":null},{"description":"Your approved training program will submit all necessary documentation regarding your successful completion and exam pass directly to the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry on your behalf.","title":"Program Submits Documentation to Registry","url":null},{"description":"Once your information has been processed by the IDPH, your certification will be active and listed on the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry. You can verify your status using the online search tool.","title":"Verify Listing on Health Care Worker Registry","url":null}],"temp_license_available":false,"temp_license_duration":null,"temp_license_fee":null,"temp_license_processing_time":null,"updated_at":"2026-04-11T20:10:54.757286+00:00","verify_license_url":null}