CNA Requirements in Indiana
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Indiana: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Indiana CNA Training ProgramsIndiana CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
Training Hours
105 hours minimum (30 classroom + 75 clinical)
(Federal minimum: 75)
Time to Certification
4-10 weeks
Exam Vendor
Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials
Becoming a CNA in Indiana
Indiana's CNA pathway is governed by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), formerly the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), through its Long Term Care division. IDOH approves every Nurse Aide Training Program in the state and maintains the official Indiana Aides Registry, which is also used for Qualified Medication Aides (QMAs) and Home Health Aides (HHAs). What distinguishes Indiana procedurally is that IDOH contracts with Ivy Tech Community College — the state's largest community college system — to handle all CNA application processing, exam scheduling, and competency testing.
Indiana also has one of the most clinical-heavy CNA programs in the country. State rules require at least 105 hours of training: 30 hours of classroom and lab plus 75 hours of supervised clinical experience. That clinical ratio (roughly 71% of total program hours) is significantly higher than most states, and is intended to produce CNAs who are immediately effective on the floor of a nursing facility. The state's written exam standard is also stricter than most: candidates must score at least 80% (80 correct of 100 questions) to pass.
Indiana CNAs work in skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, residential care facilities, ICF/IIDs, home health agencies, hospice programs, and assisted living communities across the state. Demand is particularly strong in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Evansville. Reciprocity into Indiana is available for nurse aides currently active in another state's registry and costs $65, though IDOH may require the written portion of the Indiana exam if your training falls short of the 105-hour minimum.
Detailed Indiana CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), Long Term Care Division (formerly Indiana State Department of Health / ISDH)
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Indiana.
Education Requirement
Indiana sets no statewide minimum age or formal education requirement for CNA certification; most training programs require a high school diploma or GED and applicants who are at least 18, but the state itself does not.
Training Hours
105 hours minimum (30 classroom + 75 clinical) required.
Minimum 30 hours of classroom and skills lab instruction + 75 hours of supervised clinical experience — Indiana's clinical-heavy structure is one of the longest in the U.S.
Background Check
State and FBI fingerprint criminal history background check and a check of the Indiana Nurse Aide Registry for findings before placement on the active registry; employers also run national sex offender and abuse registry checks
Competency Exam
Administered by Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials. Two-part competency exam administered by Ivy Tech Community College on behalf of IDOH: a 100-question written test (80% / 80 correct to pass; up to four attempts in 2 years) plus a skills demonstration of mandatory hand hygiene and 4 additional randomly selected skills
Cost: $100 total for both written and skills test (effective January 1, 2025; still in force in 2026)
Application Fee
Application fee is bundled into the $100 exam fee; reciprocity from another state costs $65
Total Cost Estimate
$500-$1,500
Where You Can Work
Skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, residential care facilities, ICF/IIDs, home health agencies, hospice programs, and assisted living facilities throughout Indiana
What's Different About Indiana
Indiana has the highest clinical-hour requirement of the five states — 75 supervised clinical hours within a 105-hour total program — and channels all state CNA testing and applications through Ivy Tech Community College rather than a national vendor portal.
How to Become a CNA in Indiana: Step by Step
Confirm Indiana eligibility
Indiana sets no statewide minimum age or formal education requirement, but individual training programs almost always require you to be at least 18 with a high school diploma or GED. You will need a clean state and FBI fingerprint background check, no substantiated findings on any nurse aide registry, a negative TB screening, current immunizations, and the physical ability to lift, transfer, and reposition residents.
Complete an IDOH-approved 105-hour training program
Enroll in a state-approved Nurse Aide Training Program with at least 105 hours — 30 hours above the federal minimum. Indiana programs are unusual in that they emphasize hands-on practice: at least 30 hours of classroom and lab plus at least 75 hours of supervised clinical experience in a long-term care facility. Approved providers include Ivy Tech Community College locations statewide, vocational schools, the American Red Cross, hospital systems, and many nursing facilities offering free or sponsored training.
Apply to test through Ivy Tech Community College
After training, create an applicant account at apps.ivytech.edu/apps/ext/cnaqma/selfserve/create_applicant/ and submit the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation application. Ivy Tech administers the entire CNA testing process for IDOH. The application fee is $100 (effective January 1, 2025) and covers both the written and skills portions. After processing, Ivy Tech emails a link to schedule your testing appointment at the location of your choice.
Pass the written competency test
The Indiana written exam contains 100 multiple-choice questions and you must answer at least 80 correctly (80%) to pass. You are allowed up to four attempts within a 2-year period. Testing is delivered at Ivy Tech campuses and at approved Regional Test Sites across the state. Indiana's 80% passing standard is one of the higher written-test bars in the country — most states require 70-75%.
Pass the skills competency test
The skills evaluation requires you to demonstrate mandatory hand hygiene plus 4 additional randomly selected nurse aide skills in front of an Ivy Tech evaluator. Skills are drawn from the official Indiana skills list (range of motion, vital signs, ambulation, peri-care, transfers, feeding, and similar). Both portions must be passed before IDOH will add you to the registry; processing time after passing is approximately 90 days.
Be placed on the Indiana Nurse Aide Registry
Once Ivy Tech reports your passing scores, the Indiana Department of Health adds you to the official Indiana Aides Registry. The registry status appears as 'Active' once you are eligible to work; processing typically takes up to 90 days after exam completion. Verification is publicly available through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency at mylicense.in.gov/everification. You can then begin working as a CNA in any Medicare/Medicaid-certified facility in Indiana.
Renew every 2 years with documented paid work
To stay active on the Indiana Aides Registry, you must perform at least 8 hours of paid nursing-related duties during every 24-month period. Renewal is requested using State Form 49937, available from the IDOH Long Term Care website. If your status lapses, you must retake both the 105-hour training program and the full Ivy Tech competency exam before returning to work — Indiana does not offer a refresher-only pathway for expired registrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of training does Indiana require for CNAs?
Indiana requires at least 105 hours of state-approved training — 30 hours above the federal minimum and one of the highest clinical-hour ratios in the U.S. The 105 hours must include at least 30 hours of classroom and skills lab instruction plus at least 75 hours of supervised clinical experience in a long-term care facility. Most full-time programs run 4-8 weeks; part-time evening or weekend programs can extend to 12-16 weeks.
Who administers the Indiana CNA exam?
The Indiana Department of Health contracts with Ivy Tech Community College to handle all CNA application processing, exam scheduling, and competency testing on behalf of the state. You apply directly through Ivy Tech at apps.ivytech.edu/apps/ext/cnaqma/selfserve/create_applicant/. Testing materials are based on HeadMaster / D&SDT content, but the state-facing vendor is Ivy Tech rather than a national company like Prometric or Credentia.
How much does the Indiana CNA exam cost?
The fee for the Indiana CNA exam is $100 total for both the written and skills tests combined, effective January 1, 2025 and still in force in 2026. This single fee is paid to Ivy Tech and covers application processing, written testing, and skills evaluation. Re-takes of an individual section incur an additional fee — verify the current re-test pricing in your Ivy Tech applicant portal.
What's the passing score for the Indiana CNA written exam?
Indiana requires a score of at least 80 correct of 100 questions (80%) on the written exam — a stricter standard than the 70-75% used in many other states. You are allowed up to four attempts within a 2-year period. The skills evaluation requires you to demonstrate mandatory hand hygiene plus 4 additional randomly selected nurse aide skills; you must pass both the written and skills portions before IDOH will add you to the registry.
How long after passing the exam will I appear on the registry?
Processing time after passing both portions of the exam is typically up to 90 days. Once Ivy Tech reports your passing scores to the Indiana Department of Health, IDOH adds you to the official Indiana Aides Registry and your status becomes 'Active.' You can verify your listing at the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency at mylicense.in.gov/everification. Most candidates complete the entire training-to-certification process in 4 to 10 weeks.
Can I transfer my CNA license to Indiana from another state?
Yes. Indiana offers reciprocity for CNAs currently active and in good standing on another state's registry. The processing fee is $65 and applications are submitted through Ivy Tech. You must provide a copy of your out-of-state certification showing registry number and expiration date, and may need to provide employer verification of at least one 8-hour shift in the past 24 months. IDOH may require you to take the written portion of the Indiana exam if your original training was less than 105 hours.
Free Study Materials for the Indiana CNA Exam
The Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials exam used by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), Long Term Care Division (formerly Indiana State Department of Health / ISDH) tests both knowledge and hands-on skills. Use these free study guides to prepare for the topics most commonly tested in Indiana:
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and biohazard handling for the Indiana CNA exam.
Basic Nursing Skills
Vital signs, intake/output, positioning, transfers, and range of motion — the largest block on the Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials skills test.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, toileting, and incontinence management — heavily tested Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials skills in Indiana.
Safety & Emergencies
RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, and seizure care — required knowledge for Indiana CNA candidates.
Communication Skills
SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents — tested throughout the Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials exam.
Patient Rights
OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, advance directives, and freedom from restraints — graded on every Indiana CNA practical exam skill.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and documentation rules used on the Indiana exam.
Body Systems & Conditions
Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine basics, plus pressure-injury staging — frequently tested on the Indiana written exam.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, and postmortem care for Indiana CNAs working in long-term care.
Mental Health & Dementia
Delirium vs dementia, sundowning, validation therapy, and de-escalation — frequently tested on the Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials written exam in Indiana.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles every Indiana CNA must know before working.
Test yourself for the Indiana CNA exam
Free Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials Practice Tests
The Ivy Tech Community College (state contractor) using HeadMaster / D&SDT testing materials written exam used in Indiana has 60 scored multiple-choice questions. Drill our free NNAAP-style practice tests until you can consistently score above 80%, then walk into the testing center confident.
Ready to Start Your Indiana CNA Career?
Find approved training programs, free study materials, and license verification tools for Indiana.