How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 68,640 certified nursing assistants earning a median $45,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Certified Nursing Assistant here means completing state-approved CNA training of typically several weeks, the state competency exam, and listing on the nurse aide registry, then applying through the Illinois nurse aide registry.

Compare Certified Nursing Assistant Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
164.8$5,390 in-state / $8,900 out-of-state$45,74150%Yes*In-state
258.3$4,200 in-state / $16,385 out-of-state$48,98942%Yes*In-state
357.4$5,260 in-state / $12,460 out-of-stateNot reported63%Yes*In-state
454.8$4,936 in-state / $7,360 out-of-state$48,83445%Yes*In-state
552.4$4,920 in-state / $8,100 out-of-state$49,17340%Yes*In-state
651.1$4,630 in-state / $7,540 out-of-state$47,82546%Yes*In-state
750.2$3,252 in-state / $9,516 out-of-state$54,22041%—In-state
850.0$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state$55,05849%Yes*In-state
949.6$3,960 in-state / $6,720 out-of-state$51,51636%Yes*In-state
1047.7$4,560 in-state / $12,750 out-of-state$55,98425%—In-state

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Illinois employs approximately 68,640 certified nursing assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,960 1. The state’s concentration of certified nursing assistant jobs is 1.21x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, certified nursing assistant employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 204,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: state-approved CNA / nurse aide training (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: state-approved CNA training of typically several weeks, the state competency exam, and listing on the nurse aide registry
  • Exam: state nurse aide competency exam (written or oral plus skills)
  • Median wage (Illinois): $45,960 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois

How to become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois? Complete state-approved CNA training of typically several weeks, the state competency exam, and listing on the nurse aide registry. Apply through the Illinois nurse aide registry.

How long does it take? Most people finish state-approved CNA training of typically several weeks, the state competency exam, and listing on the nurse aide registry. Confirm current hour totals with the training program and the Illinois nurse aide registry.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois lists certified nursing assistants on a state nurse aide registry after approved training and a competency exam. See the licensing section below.

What do certified nursing assistants earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants in Illinois is $45,960 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,590 and experienced professionals can earn $54,050 or more 1.

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois

  1. Meet program entry rules. Most Illinois CNA programs expect a high school diploma or GED. Confirm current age, immunization, TB, and background-check rules with the training program.
  2. Complete state-approved CNA training. Finish a state-approved nurse aide training program in Illinois. Training is typically several weeks of classroom work plus supervised clinical practice at a community college, vocational school, or nursing facility. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Pass the competency exam. Pass the Illinois nurse aide competency exam: a written or oral knowledge test and a skills demonstration. The exam vendor is chosen by the state; confirm current scheduling with the Illinois nurse aide registry.
  4. Get listed on the Illinois Nurse Aide Registry. Apply through the Illinois nurse aide registry. You cannot work as a CNA in a nursing home until that listing is current. Renewal and in-service rules are state-specific; confirm them with the registry.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Certified Nursing Assistant License Requirements in Illinois

Illinois lists certified nursing assistants on a state nurse aide registry after a state-approved training program and a competency exam.

Typical CNA path

  1. Meet the training program’s entry rules.
  2. Complete state-approved CNA training (typically several weeks).
  3. Pass the written or oral exam and the skills demonstration.
  4. Get listed on the Illinois Nurse Aide Registry before working as a CNA in a nursing home.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change and vary by state. Confirm current requirements with the Illinois nurse aide registry before you enroll. Do not apply to the board of nursing for a CNA listing unless that board also runs the nurse aide registry.

Certified Nursing Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Nursing Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), nursing assistants wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin45,850$46,940$46,610$38,980$54,450
St. Louis14,620$39,110$40,720$35,300$46,890
Peoria2,740$43,040$42,580$37,110$48,960
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island2,220$38,740$40,780$36,100$46,810
Rockford2,120$40,140$42,320$37,440$48,810
Champaign-Urbana1,560$39,890$42,860$37,820$48,790
Springfield1,120$40,070$42,100$38,050$48,160
Bloomington950$43,180$43,480$37,380$51,470
Kankakee860$37,900$41,760$32,750$49,760
Paducah710$37,860$38,080$30,210$44,240
Cape Girardeau680$36,650$36,700$30,610$43,460
Decatur600$41,990$44,060$36,390$51,290

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for certified nursing assistants in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 68,640 certified nursing assistants 1. Nationally, certified nursing assistant employment is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do certified nursing assistants earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for certified nursing assistants in Illinois is $45,960, which is $6,430 above the national median of $39,530 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

Top local programs

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)