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Certified Nursing Assistant Accelerator Program: Certification Resources

Certification Requirements

Illinois Requirements:
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), CNA's must meet one of these requirements:

  1. Complete Illinois approved CNA training program
    • Check for registered CNA status:
    • Illinois Health Care Worker Registry
  2. Have successfully completed a nursing arts course (e.g. Fundamentals of Nursing)
    • Registered Nurses (RN)  or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) with current Illinois license can work as a CNA without being on the registry.
    • Nursing students who have not completed all their training to be a RN or LPN can apply to be a CNA while continuing to go to school (must provide written verification that the individual has completed Fundamentals of Nursing and at least 40 hours of supervised clinical experience).
  3. Completed a U.S. military training program that includes the content of a nurse aide training program
  4. Considered competent on another state's CNA registry

To work for a health care provider that is governed by the Health Care Worker Background Check Act, a CNA must have a criminal history records check. 


Forms for CNA waivers