Illinois CNA Registry
Verify your certification status, check expiration dates, and find renewal information through the official Illinois Health Care Worker Registry (Nurse Aide Registry).
Visit Official RegistryActive with any paid work in 24 months
Renewal Period
Paid nursing services at least once in any 24-month period
Work Requirement
Yes
Accepts Reciprocity
Free
Online Lookup
How to Look Up Your Illinois CNA License
Open the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry search tool
Go to the public Health Care Worker Registry search page hosted by the Illinois Department of Public Health. This is the same system used by long-term care employers to verify nurse aides before hire.
Open the IDPH Worker Registry searchEnter the nurse aide's name
Type at least the first few letters of the Last Name (required). Adding the First Name and Middle Name narrows results. Social Security number search has been disabled to prevent identity theft, so name-based lookup is the only entry point.
Select the matching record and validate SSN
Click the individual from the results list to open the profile, which shows training program, completion date, background-check status, and any administrative findings. Use the Validate SSN link on the profile to confirm you have the correct person before relying on the record for employment.
Print the verified record or call to confirm
For employment purposes, print the screen showing the verified SSN match as your record of the registry check. If the record is unclear or you need help interpreting a finding, call the IDPH Health Care Worker Registry help desk at 844-789-3676, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT.
Call 844-789-3676About the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry (Nurse Aide Registry)
The Illinois Health Care Worker Registry, maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), is the official record of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and other health care workers authorized to provide direct care in Illinois facilities. Anyone working in a licensed or certified skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, or home health agency in Illinois must appear on this registry, which combines training credentials, background-check status, and any administrative findings of abuse, neglect, or theft into a single public-facing record at hcwrpub.dph.illinois.gov.
To be added to the Illinois registry, applicants must complete a 120-hour state-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program (BNATP) consisting of 80 hours of classroom theory and 40 hours of supervised clinical experience, and then pass the Illinois Nurse Assistant Competency Exam administered by Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) under contract with IDPH. The competency evaluation includes an 85-question written test (90 minutes) and a manual skills component covering 21 mandated nurse aide skills, with testing offered at sites throughout the state through nurseaidetesting.com.
Illinois certification stays active so long as the aide performs paid nursing or nursing-related services at least once in any 24 consecutive months; there is no renewal fee or periodic re-application. Aides who go more than 24 months without paid nursing work must re-test or re-train to be reinstated. Out-of-state CNAs may transfer in through IDPH's out-of-state nurse aide application process if they hold current, valid registration in another state's federally compliant registry with no disqualifying findings.
Contact Information
Official Website
https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry.htmlPhone Number
844-789-3676Mailing Address
Illinois Department of Public Health Health Care Worker Registry 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, IL 62761
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM CT
Illinois CNA Testing Information
Testing Vendor
Illinois uses Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) - Illinois Nurse Aide Testing to administer the nurse aide competency evaluation. The exam consists of a written (or oral) knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
Visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) - Illinois Nurse Aide TestingTraining Requirements
Illinois requires 120 hours (80 classroom + 40 clinical) of state-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training. Training programs must be approved by the state.
Find Illinois CNA ClassesIllinois CNA Renewal Requirements
Renewal Period
Illinois CNA certification is valid for Active with any paid work in 24 months from the date of initial certification or last renewal.
Work Requirement
You must perform at least Paid nursing services at least once in any 24-month period during your certification period to be eligible for renewal.
Employer Verification
Your employer verifies your work hours directly through the registry system. Keep your contact information current with your employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify an Illinois CNA's status?
Use the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry public search at https://hcwrpub.dph.illinois.gov/Search.aspx. Enter at least the first few letters of the last name (required) and first name; the system returns matching records showing training, background-check status, and any administrative findings. For employment verification you can also validate the worker's Social Security number on the profile page, then print the confirmation screen. Telephone verification is available at 844-789-3676 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.
How much does the Illinois CNA competency exam cost?
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), which administers the Illinois Nurse Assistant Competency Exam, charges $85 for the initial exam during the 12-month window following BNATP completion. A failed-exam retake within that 12-month window is also $85, and a no-show reschedule is $55. Out-of-state CNAs applying for Illinois reciprocity pay a $25 application processing fee through SIUC. See the current fee schedule at https://www.nurseaidetesting.com/fee-schedule/.
How do I update my name or address on the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry?
Illinois requires you to keep your registry information current. Submit name and address changes by emailing [email protected] or by mail to the Health Care Worker Registry at 535 West Jefferson Street, Springfield, IL 62761. Name changes require legal documentation such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order. Address updates are typically processed within 2 to 4 weeks.
Does Illinois accept CNA certification from other states (reciprocity)?
Yes. Illinois recognizes nurse aides who are listed in good standing on another state's federally compliant nurse aide registry (per 42 CFR 483.151-483.152) with no abuse, neglect, theft, or disqualifying conviction findings. To transfer in, the applicant submits the Out-of-State Nurse Aide Application packet to SIUC's Illinois Nurse Aide Testing along with the $25 fee; IDPH then verifies the source-state registry and adds the worker to the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry. The application is available at https://www.nurseaidetesting.com/.
What happens if an Illinois CNA does not work for 24 months?
Under Illinois rules, if a CNA does not provide paid nursing or nursing-related services for any 24 consecutive months, their certification is no longer active and they are flagged as inactive on the Health Care Worker Registry. To return to active status they must either re-take and pass the SIUC competency evaluation or repeat an approved 120-hour BNATP. Unpaid volunteer or family caregiving hours do not count toward maintaining active status.
Does Illinois charge a renewal fee for CNA certification?
No. Illinois has no periodic renewal fee or renewal application for CNAs. Certification stays active automatically as long as the aide has at least one paid nursing services entry on the registry within any rolling 24-month period, and the employer reports employment to IDPH. Questions about lapsed certification or employment reporting can be directed to the Health Care Worker Registry at 844-789-3676 or [email protected].
Becoming a CNA in Illinois?
See the step-by-step requirements to become a CNA in Illinois, find approved training programs, or access free study materials.