How can I transfer my CNA certification to Illinois?

Question

What do I need to transfer my current CNA certificate from Michigan to Illinois and what documents are needed and to whom do I send them? According to the Health Care Workers Registry, Illinois does not have a certificate for nursing assistant and yet, many if not all applications state that you must be certified in the state of Illinois. My certificate in Michigan is up-to-date and I don't have any criminal background. If somebody could answer, and specifically tell me what paperwork needs to be filled out, I would greatly appreciate it. I find this all confusing.

Answer 1

There are a number of state and federal requirements individuals must meet prior to being listed on the registry as an Illinois CNA. To become a CNA in Illinois, if you have been deemed competent on another state’s registry for CNAs, you need to meet the following requirements:

• You must have documentation of current registration from another state indicating requirements listed in the Code of Federal Regulations (42 CFR, Sections 483.151 and 483.152) have been met.
• You must have no administrative findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriations of property on your home state’s CNA registry or any other state’s CNA registry.
• You must have no disqualifying convictions on the home state’s registry.
• You submit the Out-of-State Nurse Aide Application to become an Illinois Certified Nurse Aide to Illinois Department of Public Health, Health Care Worker Registry.

Once the form is received by the Illinois Department of Public Health, they will send you a Livescan Request form by mail. The form authorizes the department to conduct a fingerprint-based criminal history records check after you have your fingerprints collected at one of the state approved vendors.

If you meet the requirements, you will be placed on the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry, which is the state’s registry for CNAs, otherwise, you will be sent written notification stating that you do not meet the requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned to the address provided.

Please note that Illinois does not issue any credentials, certificates or licenses to CNAs. Being an Illinois CNA is a condition that an individual must keep through their work efforts not through an issued document. You may check your status online by searching the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry. The Health Care Worker Registry lists individuals with a background check conducted pursuant to the Health Care Worker Background Check Act and also shows training information for certified nursing assistants and other health care workers.

Before allowing an individual to serve as a nurse assistant in Illinois, a health care employer must receive verification that the individual has met competency evaluation requirements, has no disqualifying convictions that have not been granted a waiver, and has no administrative findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property. The information on the registry is the only means a health care employer may use to obtain this verification.