1.3 Registration, Testing Sites, and Exam Day
Key Takeaways
- You register online through the INACE portal (inace.nurseaidetesting.com) and purchase a test seat after your program reports your completion
- The standard fee for both components is $85, payable online by card; some employers and workforce agencies cover it
- Testing is offered at sites across Illinois, primarily community colleges, with the written and skills portions often the same day
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID and your confirmation; phones, smart watches, notes, and bags are prohibited in the testing area
- If you fail one portion you retake only that portion, with 3 total attempts inside the 12-month window
- Results post to the IDPH Health Care Worker Registry about two weeks after testing; they are not given by phone, fax, or email
Registering for the INACE
Registration is handled through the online INACE portal at inace.nurseaidetesting.com, the system SIU Carbondale runs for IDPH. The steps are:
- Finish your BNATP. Your program reports your completion electronically; you cannot register before this posts.
- Create an INACE account in the portal using your legal name exactly as it appears on your photo ID.
- Purchase a test seat for a published date and site.
- Pay the fee - the standard charge of $85 covers the written and skills evaluations.
- Save your confirmation showing your date, time, and location.
Payment Options
| Method | Detail |
|---|---|
| Credit/debit card | Standard online payment in the portal |
| Employer | Many facilities pre-pay for staff (often with a work commitment) |
| Workforce assistance | WIOA / local workforce boards may fund eligible candidates |
Where You Test
Testing is offered at locations across the state, mostly community colleges, so almost every region has a nearby site:
| Region | Example Sites |
|---|---|
| Chicago metro | City Colleges of Chicago, College of DuPage, Harper College |
| Northern IL | Rock Valley College, Waubonsee, Kishwaukee College |
| Central IL | Heartland, Lincoln Land, Parkland College |
| Southern IL | John A. Logan College, Rend Lake, SIU Carbondale |
| Western IL | Carl Sandburg College, Spoon River College |
Most sites schedule the written and skills portions on the same day, so plan for several hours on site.
Exam Day Logistics
What to Bring
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Government photo ID | Driver's license, state ID, or passport - name must match registration |
| Confirmation | Printed or on your phone (shown before you store the phone) |
| Quiet, closed-toe shoes | You will be on your feet for the skills station |
What Is Prohibited in the Testing Area
- Cell phones, smart watches, and fitness trackers
- Notes, textbooks, or any study material
- Bags, purses, or backpacks (these go in a designated holding area)
- Food (water is sometimes allowed at the proctor's discretion)
A Typical Schedule
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Check-in (arrive ~30 min early) | ID verified, you sign in, store belongings |
| Orientation | Proctor explains rules and timing |
| Written exam | 85 questions, 90 minutes, computer-based |
| Short break | Reset before the skills station |
| Skills evaluation | 5 assigned skills with an evaluator watching |
| Dismissal | Materials returned; you leave |
Written Exam Mechanics
The computer-based test shows one question at a time, lets you move forward and backward, displays a countdown timer, and offers a review screen to revisit flagged or blank items. Answer every question - there is no penalty for guessing, so never leave a blank.
Oral and Accommodation Option
An oral examination is available for candidates with documented reading difficulty, limited English proficiency, or a qualifying disability. The same questions are read through headphones while you mark answers. Request this in advance through your program coordinator - it cannot be arranged on test day.
Retakes, Results, and the Registry
Retaking Only What You Failed
Illinois scores the two parts independently, so you only repeat the part you did not pass:
| Scenario | What You Repeat |
|---|---|
| Failed written only | Written portion only |
| Failed skills only | Skills portion only |
| Failed both | Both portions |
| Three failures total | Must complete a new BNATP before retesting |
Remember the master rule from Section 1.2: 3 attempts within 12 months of program completion. Each sitting that you fail consumes one of those three attempts, whether it was the written part, the skills part, or both.
Worked Example
Keisha tests in March, passes the skills station, but scores below the cut on the written exam (attempt 1). She re-registers and pays the retake fee for the written portion only, passes in April (attempt 2), and never has to redo her skills. Because she cleared both parts inside her 12-month window and under three attempts, she avoids retraining. Had she failed the written a third time, a brand-new BNATP would be required.
Getting Your Results
- Official results post to the IDPH Health Care Worker Registry (hcwrpub.dph.illinois.gov) about two weeks after testing.
- For privacy reasons, results are not released by phone, fax, or email.
- When you pass both parts, your name appears on the Health Care Worker Registry, which employers check before hiring - being 'on the registry' is what legally lets you work as a CNA in Illinois.
Common Traps
- Thinking you must redo the whole exam after one failed part - you do not.
- Expecting an instant or emailed score - plan for the ~2-week registry posting.
- Registering under a nickname that does not match your photo ID, which can block check-in.
- Bringing a smart watch as a 'timer' - it is prohibited and can void your session.
How do candidates register for the INACE?
When and how are official INACE results delivered?
Which item is permitted in the INACE testing area?
A candidate passes the skills evaluation but fails the written exam. What must they do next?