Nurse Aide Training Programs in Illinois

Are you looking to return to the field of health care but have not worked as a nursing assistant for more than two years? When you haven't worked for pay as a nurse aide for more than two years your certification status changes from active to lapsed. Not all is lost however, especially for motivated individuals who wish to re-enter the field as nurse aides. Since you have previously completed a nurse aide training class, the only requirement for becoming re-certified in state of Illinois is to challenge and pass the CNA exam. Re-certification requires that your CNA record must be clean, and free of any charges of abuse, neglect or theft.

If you do have a conviction on your record then you must contact the Illinois Department of Public Health, Legal Services office with any questions regarding your certification eligibility. The passing score on the Illinois nurse aide competency examination is determined by a state designated agency which establishes the CNA test rules and criteria. The agency gets feedback from a predetermined committee composed of various health care professionals, nurse assistants, home health care aides, supervisors, CNA program instructors, and state health care personnel to establish passing scores on the state exam.

Highland Community College - Freeport
2998 West Pearl City Rd., Freeport, IL 61032

Hillsboro Community School District C.N.A. Class
1311 Vandalia Road, Hillsboro, Illinois 62049

Holy Family Medical Center - Des Plaines
100 North River Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016

Illinois Central College at Eureka Nurse Aide Course
300 East College Ave., Eureka, Illinois 61530

Illinois Central College - East Peoria
1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL 61635

Illinois Valley Community College CNA Program - Oglesby
815 North Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, Illinois 61348

Indian Valley Vocational Center CNA Training Course - Sandwich
600 Lions Rd., Sandwich, IL 60548

Interdependent Living Solutions Center Nurse Aide Training - Chicago Heights
193 West Joe Orr Rd, Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411

Iroquois Memorial Hospital Nurse Aide Training Program - Watseka
200 Fairman Ave., Watseka, IL 60970

J'Renee Career Facilitation, Inc. - Crystal Lake
7105 North Virginia Road, Crystal Lake , Illinois 60014

JCM Institute of Schaumburg Nursing Assistant Program
1355 Remington Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173

Jerseyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
1001 South State Street, Jerseyville, Illinois 62052

Jethro Healthcare School and Placement Services CNA Training Program - Des Plaines
650 West Algonquin Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016

Jo Daviess Carroll Area Vocational Center - Elizabeth
950 US 20 West, Elizabeth, Illinois 61028

John A Logan College W. Frankfort Site Nurse Assistant Program
700 Logan College Rd., Carterville, IL 62918

John Marshall Metro High School Nurse Aide Program - Chicago
3250 West Adams Street, Chicago, Illinois 60624

John Wood Community College Nurse Aide Course - Pittsfield
1308 West Washington, Pittsfield, IL 62363

John Wood Community College Nursing Assistant Course - Quincy
1301 South 48th Street, Quincy, Illinois 62305

Johnsburg Community Unit School Dist #12
2222 West Church Street, Johnsburg, IL 60050

Joliet Jr. College CNA Program - Grundy County Center
1715 North Division, Morris, Illinois 60450

Joliet Jr. College CNA Training Program - North Campus
1125 West Romeo Road, Romeoville, IL 60446

Joliet Junior College Nurse Aide Training Course - Main Campus
1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet, Illinois 60431

Joliet Township High School Nursing Assistant Program
110 Collins Street, Joliet, IL 60432

Kankakee Area Career Center CNA Training Course - Bourbonnais
4083 North 1000 West Road, Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914

Nursing Assistant Classes in Illinois ( Page 5 )

Nursing assistant programs prepare individuals for challenging the nurse aide certification exam and for entry level positions in health care environments. Each state has the authority to decide how many hours of training a nursing assistant course must consist of, as long as the minimum federal requirement of seventy-five hours is met. Students interested in attending CNA classes have a wide array of choices when it comes to selecting a training facility.

Nursing assistant courses are conducted at nursing homes, vocational schools, private schools, and community colleges. Program length, admission requirements, and cost of training vary depending on the policies of every training facility. Several states have implemented legislation which requires licensed long-term care facilities to reimburse CNA employees for the costs associated with training. An individual who has paid for nursing assistant training classes and who becomes employed by a nursing home within a year of obtaining certification, is eligible for financial reimbursement. Compared to other training programs in the health care field, nursing assistant classes are relatively short and inexpensive. Obtaining state certification as a CNA is the main requirement for securing a nurse aide job at a nursing home, hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility.

CNA Training Schools and Programs

CNA classes, schools and programs by state.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions

C. Adams on November 8, 2014 at 11:22 AM
Is it possible to enroll in a CNA class without a high school diploma or GED?


Admin on November 8, 2014 at 05:34 PM
There are no federal regulations stating that individuals are required to have a high school diploma prior to attending nurse aide classes but some states such as Florida require a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to testing if you are under 18 years old and have not attended a training program. A program coordinator at the school or nursing facility which is offering CNA training classes may tell you if a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) is required in order to enroll in the nurse aide program. Some facilities do not require a diploma as long as you have completed a 10th grade high school education. In the state of Texas a high school diploma or a GED is not necessary in order to attend and complete a nursing assistant program.


How long do CNA classes take and what exactly do you have to do?

After becoming a CNA how much more experience, training or school has to be done to become a registered nurse?

I am in the military and I do not have too much time to actually attend a regular CNA program. Who offers online CNA classes?

How do I sign up for CNA training? I am having trouble finding the shortest training program in my area. Can you help me?

How long does it take to get the CNA certificate itself while in school taking courses?

CNA Resources

CNA Training Requirements

There is a wide disparity between CNA training requirements among the states. The difference lies in the mandatory number of total training hours necessary to complete state-approved CNA classes.


While according to federal law each nursing assistant course should contain a minimum of seventy-five (75) instruction and clinical hours, individual states have the liberty to mandate extra training requirements for certified nursing assistants. The majority of states exceed the threshold federal minimum requirements for nurse aide training programs because they are considered insufficient to result in an optimal and safe level of care for clients.


A review of nationwide state requirements for nurse assistant courses has found that the following states have mandated highest number of CNA program hours: Maine with a minimum of 90 hours of theory, 20 hours of laboratory skills and 70 hours of clinical instruction for a total of 180 hours; California with one hundred and sixty (160) training hours; Delaware and Oregon each requiring one hundred and fifty (150) hours; followed by the state of Alaska with one hundred and forty (140) hours; Virginia, Arizona, and West Virginia have a minimum of one hundred and twenty (120) training hours for state-approved classes.

CNA Training Programs

Nurse Aide Registries

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