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Free Illinois CNA Exam Prep

Illinois Certified Nursing Assistant (INACE)

Pass your Illinois CNA exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, and AI-powered learning.

Your Study Path

Illinois Professional License: Complete Roadmap

Follow this path to maximize your chances of passing on the first try

1

Complete an IDPH-Approved BNATP

Enroll in and complete an Illinois IDPH-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program. After completing training, your program coordinator will submit your eligibility roster to SIUC so you can create an INACE account and schedule your exam.

0
hours
2

Illinois Regulations & Registry RequirementsYou are here

Study Illinois-specific rules: IDPH Health Care Worker Registry (HCWR), Illinois Administrative Code Title 77 Part 395, Illinois Nursing Home Care Act (210 ILCS 45), Health Care Worker Background Check Act (225 ILCS 46), mandatory abuse/neglect reporting under 210 ILCS 30, and lapsed-CNA recertification process.

10
hours
3

Physical Care Skills & Infection Control (39% of Exam)

Master personal care ADLs (bathing sequence, perineal care, dressing weak side first), basic nursing skills (vital signs ranges, body mechanics, positioning/transfers), and infection control (standard precautions, hand hygiene steps, PPE donning/doffing, C. diff/MRSA/TB isolation).

30
hours
4

Safety, Communication & Resident Rights (28% of Exam)

Study fall prevention (MORSE scale basics), fire safety (RACE/PASS), restraint-free alternatives, therapeutic communication techniques, SBAR reporting, documentation rules, OBRA resident rights, and Illinois-specific abuse definitions and mandatory reporting timelines.

20
hours
5

Clinical Skills Evaluation Preparation

Practice the required clinical skills (hand hygiene, vital signs, transfers, perineal care, etc.). Each step must be performed correctly — partial credit is not awarded. Simulate the skills checklist timing used by INACE evaluators.

20
hours
Estimated total study time
80 hours
That's about 8 weeks at 10 hours/week

Can You Take the Illinois CNA Exam?

Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements

Age
18 years old (16 with signed parental consent form in some programs)
Education
Complete an IDPH-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program (BNATP) — minimum 75 hours (federal OBRA minimum; Illinois follows this requirement under Title 77, Part 395)
Background Check
Required — Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act (225 ILCS 46) applies to all CNAs working in Illinois licensed facilities
Fingerprinting
Required as part of Illinois background check process
Additional Requirements
  • Must successfully complete an IDPH-approved BNATP before applying to test
  • Must pass both the INACE written exam (85 questions, 90 min) AND a clinical skills evaluation
  • Must not have a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on any state nurse aide registry
  • Registration is through SIUC Nurse Aide Testing Program — online at inace.nurseaidetesting.com
  • Results posted to Illinois Health Care Worker Registry (HCWR) approximately 2 weeks after testing
  • Lapsed CNAs (24+ months without qualifying work) may recertify by competency testing only if in good standing
  • Out-of-state CNAs must apply through the SIUC Out-of-State application process

Illinois CNA Quick Facts

Time to Get Licensed

2-4 weeks after completing training program (schedule at inace.nurseaidetesting.com)

From start to license in hand

Exam Provider

SIUC Nurse Aide Testing Program (on behalf of Illinois IDPH)

Remote Testing Available
Schedule Your Exam

Retake Policy

Candidates who fail may reschedule through the INACE portal. Contact SIUC Nurse Aide Testing for attempt limits and retake timing. Must retrain if attempts are exhausted within the allowed window.

Total Cost Breakdown

Exam FeeContact SIUC Nurse Aide Testing at (877) 262-9259 or inat@siu.edu for current fee schedule
Background Check$30-75 (Illinois background check)
Pre-License Education$500-2,000 (BNATP training program, varies by Illinois community college or program)
Total Estimated Cost$530-2,075 total (training + exam + background check)
Why Choose Us

Free Illinois CNA Prep That Actually Works

The official pass rate is ~70-80% (estimated first-time pass rate, Illinois INACE). Our students do better.

200+ Practice Questions

More free questions than most paid courses

AI Tutor Explains Mistakes

Understand why answers are wrong, not just which ones

Updated for 2026

Content reflects latest exam changes

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What You'll Study

14 chapters covering everything you need to pass

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Illinois CNA Exam Details

Illinois Certified Nursing Assistant (INACE)

Administered by Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) / SIUC Nurse Aide Testing

Official Source
Scaled score per IDPH standard (typically ~70%)
Passing Score
85
Questions
90
Minutes
Varies — contact SIUC Nurse Aide Testing Program at (877) 262-9259
Exam Fee
Study time: 50-80 hours
Prerequisites: Complete an IDPH-approved Basic Nurse Assistant Training Program (BNATP), minimum 75 hours per federal OBRA requirements (Illinois Administrative Code Title 77, Part 395)
Valid for: 2 years (must have qualifying paid work hours to maintain active status)

Exam Content Breakdown

Based on the official Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) / SIUC Nurse Aide Testing content outline

Personal Care Skills (ADLs)19%

Bathing, grooming, oral hygiene, dressing, nutrition/feeding, elimination, perineal care, comfort measures

Basic Nursing Skills20%

Vital signs, body mechanics, positioning, transfers, wound observation, data collection and reporting, catheter care

Restorative Skills9%

Range of motion exercises, ambulation and assistive devices, restorative programs, self-care independence, prevention of complications

Psychosocial Care Skills8%

Dementia/Alzheimer's care, mental health basics (depression, anxiety), spiritual and cultural needs, behavioral interventions

Role of the Nurse Aide10%

Scope of practice, interdisciplinary team, delegation from RN/LPN, ethics, professionalism, care planning under Illinois law

Infection Control11%

Hand hygiene, PPE, standard and transmission-based precautions, medical vs. surgical asepsis, isolation procedures

Safety and Emergency10%

Fall prevention, fire safety (RACE/PASS), restraint alternatives, disaster preparedness, resident/patient safety in Illinois LTC

Communication9%

Therapeutic communication, reporting to charge nurse, SBAR, documentation, verbal and nonverbal communication

Resident Rights9%

OBRA 1987 rights, Illinois Nursing Home Care Act (210 ILCS 45), abuse/neglect definitions and mandatory reporting, dignity and privacy

What's Included

14 Chapters

Complete exam coverage

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With detailed explanations

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What's Next After the Illinois CNA?

After passing the Illinois CNA, you can pursue these career paths

Illinois CNA Exam FAQ

Official Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) / SIUC Nurse Aide Testing Resources

Verify information with these official sources

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