CNA Training in Illinois

The state of Illinois has grown rapidly in the past 20 years. It is estimated that by the year 2020 there will be a large shortage of nurses in the state of Illinois. The shortage is expected to be about 21,000 for nurses alone. With the increase in people in the state, and need for qualified healthcare workers, there will be many job openings for nurses and CNAs. Becoming a CNA is an excellent way to gain entry into the medical field. Becoming certified in the state of Illinois is a simple process with many different options for qualification programs. Individuals who complete CNA programs and begin work in the field will have many opportunities to advance in the healthcare industry.

In order to become a certified CNA in Illinois an individual must complete a state-approved training program. The Illinois Department of Public Health has certain mandated standards that schools must follow in terms of curriculum and length. Some of the hours in the training program must be spent working in a clinical setting under the supervision of a registered nurse. Courses will be made up of classroom learning as well as hands-on experiences in labs and in healthcare settings. Within many courses individuals must complete a manual competency test, which shows they can perform basic tasks required of a CNA, before they have finish.

After completing CNA training, an individual is qualified to take the Illinois Nursing Aide Competency Evaluation Examination, which is administered by the state. Before taking the exam individuals must show proof of residence in the state and to complete a criminal background check and fingerprinting. The examination is a written test. Individuals who pass the exam will then be placed on the Illinois Department of Public Health CNA Registry and will be qualified to work in any long-term healthcare facility as a registered CNA.

Some of the different CNA certification training programs that are offered in Illiinois are listed below:

The College of DuPage, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, offers a CNA certification training program through the school’s nursing division. The program is eight weeks long and is offered at various dates throughout the fall and spring. The program is six credit hours total and after completing it students may choose to continue on to earn an associate’s degree in nursing, or go on to complete a practical nursing degree. The CNA program is made up of class, laboratory, and clinical hours.

Harold Washington College, one branch of the City Colleges of Chicago, offers a Nursing Assistant Course. The course is ten credit hours and is made up of two classes: Fundamentals Nursing Assistant Personnel and Clinical Nursing Assistant Personnel. These classes prepare students for the skills that will be required of them as a CNA.

Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois offers a Nursing Assistant Certificate program. The program requires students to complete fifty hours of direct patient care. These hours are supervised by a nursing faculty member which gives the students opportunities to learn from a registered and experienced nurse. The school offers either day or evening classes in either an eight week or sixteen week format.

Frontier Community College, a branch of the Illinois Eastern Community Colleges network, offers a Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program. The program is offered in either an eight week or fifteen week format and it is worth a total of seven credits from the school. The program focuses on assisting individuals and families, and on meeting the needs of people of any age group.