How to Become A Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois
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.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Certified Nursing Assistant in Illinois
How do I become a certified nursing assistant in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as NURSE, ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED, PHAPRN - PRE HOSPITAL ADVANCED PRACTICAL REGISTERED NURSE, PHRN - PRE HOSPITAL REGISTERED NURSE. The licensing authority is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for certified nursing assistants. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
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.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Median wage (Illinois): $45,960 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Certified Nursing Assistant License Requirements in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees certified nursing assistant licensing in Illinois 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| NURSE, ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED | An individual involved in providing health care to injured, sick, and well persons. |
| PHAPRN - PRE HOSPITAL ADVANCED PRACTICAL REGISTERED NURSE | A person who who receive additional education to practice in EMS systems as emergency medical services personnel. |
| PHRN - PRE HOSPITAL REGISTERED NURSE | A person who function as advanced life support care provider in the prehospital environment. |
| TNS - TRAUMA NURSE SPECIALIST | A registered professional nurse who has successfully completed education and testing requirements prescribed by the department. |
| NURSE, LICENSED PRACTICAL | An individual who assists in the care of the ill, injured, and disabled persons. |
| ECRN - EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION REGISTERED NURSE | A registered professional nurse who is approved by an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) medical director to monitor telecommunications from and give voice orders to EMS system personnel in accordance w… |
| NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR | A licensed individual who is directly responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and supervising the operation of a nursing home, or who in fact performs such functions, whether or not such func… |
| NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE | A licensed individual who is directly responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and supervising the operation of a nursing home, or who in fact performs such functions, whether or not such func… |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: Third-party exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Certified Nursing Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
Nursing Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in Illinois vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 45,850 | $46,940 | $46,610 | $38,980 | $54,450 |
| St. Louis | 14,620 | $39,110 | $40,720 | $35,300 | $46,890 |
| Peoria | 2,740 | $43,040 | $42,580 | $37,110 | $48,960 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 2,220 | $38,740 | $40,780 | $36,100 | $46,810 |
| Rockford | 2,120 | $40,140 | $42,320 | $37,440 | $48,810 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 1,560 | $39,890 | $42,860 | $37,820 | $48,790 |
| Springfield | 1,120 | $40,070 | $42,100 | $38,050 | $48,160 |
| Bloomington | 950 | $43,180 | $43,480 | $37,380 | $51,470 |
| Kankakee | 860 | $37,900 | $41,760 | $32,750 | $49,760 |
| Paducah | 710 | $37,860 | $38,080 | $30,210 | $44,240 |
| Cape Girardeau | 680 | $36,650 | $36,700 | $30,610 | $43,460 |
| Decatur | 600 | $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 2025.
Top Metros for Certified nursing assistants in Illinois
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest certified nursing assistant employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | 45,850 | $46,940 |
| Peoria | 2,740 | $43,040 |
| Rockford | 2,120 | $40,140 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 1,560 | $39,890 |
| Springfield | 1,120 | $40,070 |
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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.
Can I work as a certified nursing assistant in Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited 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.
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
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / 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) |