Does Illinois require CE hours to reinstate?

No. Illinois only requires the competency exam — no continuing education hours for CNA reinstatement within the 24-month window.

What is the 24-month window based on in Illinois?

In Illinois, the 24-month window is typically measured from your certification expiration date or last qualifying employment date, whichever is more recent. Contact IDPH to confirm your specific status.

Can I retake individual portions of the Illinois exam?

Yes. If you passed one portion (written or skills) but not the other, you may only need to retake the failed portion, subject to eligibility windows. Check your prior test results with Prometric.

How do I find approved testing sites in Illinois?

Prometric has test centers in Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, Springfield, and other cities across Illinois. Visit prometric.com/il-cna to find the nearest location and available dates.

Illinois CNA Reinstatement

How to Reinstate Your Lapsed CNA License in Illinois

Illinois CNAs whose certification has lapsed within 24 months can reinstate by passing the NNAAP competency exam — no retraining program required.

Reinstatement window

24 months

CE hours required

None

Exam fee

$109

Typical timeline

3–6 wks

Start Illinois Reinstatement Prep Illinois Nurse Aide Registry

Registry & Authority

Illinois Nurse Aide Registry

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

Official registry website

Exam Provider & Fees

Prometric

Step-by-step reinstatement process in Illinois

Follow these steps in order to reinstate your Illinois CNA certification.

Look up your Illinois registry status

Search the IDPH Nurse Aide Registry online. Confirm your listing is still present and that your expiration was within 24 months.

Schedule your exam with Prometric

Illinois uses Prometric for NNAAP testing at $109 for both components. Visit prometric.com/il-cna. Test centers are available throughout Illinois.

Prepare for the written portion

Question count, timing, and passing criteria vary by state and testing vendor. Review the current content outline.

Pass the clinical skills evaluation (5 skills)

Always wash your hands before and after each skill. The evaluator scores your technique against a standardized checklist — every step matters.

IDPH reinstates your listing

Prometric reports results to IDPH. Your active listing typically appears within 5–10 business days of passing both portions.

Always verify with the official registry

State requirements change. Confirm current reinstatement rules with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) before scheduling your exam. The information above reflects publicly available guidance as of 2025–2026.

Prepare for the Illinois competency evaluation with a state-specific plan

You've done this before. CNA-Ready's reinstatement track targets exactly what lapsed CNAs need to refresh — without making you relearn what you already know.

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Illinois-aligned state requirements displayed throughout
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Cost comparison: Illinois

Full retraining program

Varies by state

Provider-specific · Confirm with the registry

CNA-Ready reinstatement prep

Best value

From $24.99/mo

Self-paced · Cancel anytime

Plus $109 exam fee regardless of which prep path you choose.

Illinois CNA reinstatement: frequently asked questions

Reinstatement guides for other states

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Your Illinois reinstatement window is open.

Start prep today — timing and eligibility depend on your state and testing vendor. Confirm current requirements with the official registry.

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