Illinois CNA Practice Test 2026 — Free NNAAP Prep (nurseaidetesting.com)

Here is everything Illinois candidates need to know before scheduling their exam: • Training required: 120 hours (at least 40 hours clinical) — one of the highest minimums in the U.S. • Exam vendor: SIUC (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) via nurseaidetesting.com • Written exam: 70 questions, 2 hours, passing score is 70% (49 of 70 correct) • Skills exam: 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills demonstrated at an IDPH-approved site • Exam fee: approximately $42 per section (written and skills are billed separately) • Retake limit: up to 3 total attempts within 24 months of completing your training program • Waiting period between retakes: varies — check nurseaidetesting.com for current availability • Registry: Illinois Nurse Aide Registry, maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) • Registry validity: 24 months; must work at least 8 paid hours as a nurse aide to renew • Registry lookup: IDPH Health Care Worker Registry — searchable online Illinois requires more training than most states (120 hours vs. the federal minimum of 75), which means Illinois candidates enter the exam better prepared. The tradeoff: more time and cost upfront before you can test.

To become a Certified Nurse Aide in Illinois, you must complete a state-approved training program and pass the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation administered by the IDPH-approved testing vendor (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, SIUC) through nurseaidetesting.com on behalf of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Illinois requires a minimum of 120 hours of CNA training, including at least 40 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care setting — well above the federal minimum of 75 hours. The exam has two parts: • A written (or oral) knowledge test: 70 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours • A clinical skills evaluation: demonstration of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills You must pass both parts to be listed on the Illinois Nurse Aide Registry. The passing score for the written exam is 70%.

The Illinois written exam follows the NNAAP format. The 70 questions come from six content areas: • Physical Care Skills (45%) — bathing, grooming, feeding, transfers, positioning, catheter care, elimination • Safety & Emergency Procedures (14%) — fall prevention, RACE protocol, choking response, seizure care • Infection Control (14%) — handwashing, PPE order, isolation precautions, standard precautions • Resident Rights (11%) — OBRA protections, right to refuse, privacy, abuse and neglect reporting • Psychosocial Care Skills (8%) — therapeutic communication, dementia care, end-of-life support • Role of the Nurse Aide (8%) — scope of practice, documentation, chain of command Illinois has a large urban nursing home population, particularly in the Chicago area. Infection Control and Resident Rights questions are frequently specific about protocol — don't skip these sections during study.

The Illinois CNA written exam is administered at IDPH-approved testing sites managed through nurseaidetesting.com. Testing is available throughout the state including: • Chicago (multiple locations) • Aurora and the western suburbs • Rockford • Springfield • Peoria • Champaign-Urbana • Joliet • Elgin • Naperville To find the nearest testing site and available exam dates, visit nurseaidetesting.com and search for Illinois nurse aide testing. Your training program will provide your authorization to test upon completion of the required 120-hour coursework. Chicago-area testing slots fill up quickly — schedule your exam as soon as you receive your authorization.

The clinical skills evaluation is conducted at an IDPH-approved skills testing site. You will demonstrate 5 randomly selected skills in front of a trained evaluator. Handwashing is evaluated within every skill — perform proper hand hygiene at the start and end of each skill demonstration. Illinois evaluators frequently cite handwashing errors as a leading reason for skills test failure. Commonly tested Illinois skills include: • Handwashing • Measuring and recording blood pressure • Providing perineal care for a female resident • Transferring a resident from bed to wheelchair using a gait belt • Providing passive range of motion for the hip and knee • Positioning in Fowler's position • Providing mouth care The Illinois Nurse Aide Candidate Handbook is available through nurseaidetesting.com and contains the complete list of 25 skills and required steps for each.

Illinois has a written exam first-attempt pass rate of approximately 70–74%. Practice test preparation is the strongest factor in first-attempt success. Recommended study approach: 1. Begin with a full 70-question diagnostic practice test. Use your topic results to identify your weakest areas before spending time on stronger topics. 2. Focus on Physical Care Skills first — 45% of the exam. Master transfer technique (gait belt positioning, wheelchair lock, pivot toward the stronger side), bathing sequence, and catheter care. 3. Study Infection Control and Safety next — together 28% of the exam. Know PPE order cold and memorize the RACE protocol for fire response. 4. Take at least two timed practice tests before exam day. Aim for 80% to give yourself margin above the 70% threshold. 5. For the skills test, practice handwashing until it is second nature. Then rehearse each complete skill from start to finish. CertPrepAcademy.com offers a free 70-question NNAAP practice test with 501 questions across all six content areas — no account required.

After passing both parts of the Illinois exam, your name is added to the Illinois Nurse Aide Registry maintained by IDPH. Illinois employers are required by law to verify registry status before hiring. Your Illinois CNA certification is valid for 24 months. To keep your certification active, you must work as a nurse aide for pay for at least 8 hours during each renewal period. If your certification lapses, you must retake both the written and skills exams to be re-listed. You can check your Illinois nurse aide registry status through the IDPH Health Care Worker Registry online portal.