CNA Classes & Programs in Illinois
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs), also referred to as "nursing assistants" or "nursing aides," play an important role in the patient care team, assisting with daily activities such as feeding and bathing, taking vital signs, answering call lights and preparing patient rooms. CNA training programs are generally low cost and quick to complete, making this profession a great entry point to a career in nursing. In Illinois, CNAs make an average annual salary of $27,770 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, the Chicago/Naperville/Arlington Heights, IL metropolitan area is among the top metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels of CNAs, and CNAs in this area earn an average annual salary of $29,130 according to the BLS.
Choosing the Best CNA Programs in Illinois
The first step in becoming a CNA is choosing a training program, generally offered at community colleges, vocational schools and some medical centers and nursing homes. In Illinois, there are a number of training programs in the Chicago area, as well as in Evanston, Springfield and Carbondale, as well as in smaller cities and towns across the state. For more information about admissions to CNA training programs in Illinois, visit our CNA Training Programs Admissions page. A few key considerations when researching CNA training programs include:
- Program Length: CNA training programs can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks to complete, and include classroom or online coursework in addition to clinical practice hours. In Illinois, training must include a minimum of 40 hours of clinical practice hours.
- Program Cost: The cost of a CNA training program can vary from school to school based on a number of factors including geographic location and school type. In some cases, CNA training may be provided for free at some medical centers in exchange for working for that institution for a set period of time. As one example of program costs, tuition costs for the nursing assistant training program at the Career Training Center of Chicago is $900 as of 2019, which does not include certification exam fees, fingerprinting/background check, textbook and uniform.
- Board Approved Programs: Each state has individual requirements for CNA certification, so it is critical that the training program you choose be in line with your home state's requirements. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Health regulates CNA certification, and offers a listing of approved schools and facilities that offer CNA training programs. To learn more, check out the CNA certification requirements for Illinois.
- Online/In-Person Options: A crucial component of CNA training is in-person hands-on clinical experience in which students put their studies into practice. The other component is classroom study, which some schools offer as online coursework to be completed on a student's own schedule and from home. Online CNA training programs are great options for students with work or family obligations that may make it difficult to attend in-person classes, or for those who live in remote locations around the state.
2022 List of CNA Classes in Illinois
To get a feel for the CNA curriculum in Illinois, see our list of classes and courses available in the state:
Aurora, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Waubonsee Community College- Aurora Downtown CNA Programs | 18 S. River St. Aurora, IL 60506 (630) 801-7900 |
Waubonsee Community College- Aurora Fox Valley CNA Programs | 2060 Ogden Ave. Aurora, IL 60504 (630) 585-7900 |
Belleville, IL
School | Contact Information |
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SWIC Southwestern Illinois College CNA Programs
| 2500 Carlyle Ave Belleville, IL 62221 (618) 235-2700 |
Carterville, IL
School | Contact Information |
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John A. Logan College CNA Programs
| 700 Logan College Dr Carterville, IL 62918 (618) 985-2828 |
Centralia, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Kaskaskia College CNA Programs
| 27210 College Rd Centralia, IL 62801 (618) 545-3000 |
Champaign, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Parkland College CNA Programs
| 2400 W Bradley Ave Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 351-2200 |
Chicago, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Malcolm X College CNA Programs
| 1900 W Jackson Blvd Chicago, IL 60612 (312) 850-7000 |
Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center CNA Programs
| 3348 S Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL 60623 (773) 890-3100 |
Phalanx Family Services CNA Programs
| 837 W 119th St Chicago, IL 60643 (773) 291-1086 |
Cicero, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Morton College CNA Programs
| 3801 S. Central Avenue Cicero, IL 60804 (708) 656-8000 |
Crystal Lake, IL
School | Contact Information |
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McHenry County College CNA Programs | 8900 US-14 Crystal Lake, IL 60012 (815) 455-3700 |
Decatur, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Richland Community College CNA Programs | 1 College Park Decatur, IL 62521 (217) 875-7200 |
Des Plaines, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Oakton Community College CNA Programs | 1600 E Golf Rd Des Plaines, IL 60016 (847) 635-1600 |
Dixon, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Sauk Valley Community College CNA Programs
| 173 IL Rt. 2 Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 288-5511 |
Dolton, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Adonis College Of Nursing CNA Programs
| 1313 Sibley Blvd Dolton, IL 60419 (888) 308-3892 |
East Peoria, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Illinois Central College CNA Programs
| 1 College Dr East Peoria, IL 61635 (309) 322-0634 |
Midwest Technical Institute- East Peoria CNA Programs
| 280 High Point Ln East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 427-2750 |
Elgin, IL
School | Contact Information |
---|---|
Elgin Community College CNA Programs | 1700 Spartan Dr Elgin, IL 60123 (847) 697-1000 |
JRenee College CNA Programs | 415 Airport rd. Elgin, IL 60123 (815) 444-7751 |
Galesburg, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Carl Sandburg College CNA Programs | 2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd Galesburg, IL 61401 (309) 344-2518 |
Galva, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Black Hawk College East Campus CNA Programs | 26230 Black Hawk Rd Galva, IL 61434 (309) 854-1700 |
Glen Ellyn, IL
School | Contact Information |
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College of DuPage CNA Programs | 425 Fawell Blvd Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 (630) 942-2800 |
Godfrey, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Lewis and Clark Community College CNA Programs
| 5800 Godfrey Rd Godfrey, IL 62035 (618) 468-7000 |
Grayslake, IL
School | Contact Information |
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College of Lake County CNA Programs
| 19351 W Washington St Grayslake, IL 60030 (847) 543-2000 |
Harrisburg, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Southeastern Illinois College CNA Programs
| 3575 College Rd Harrisburg, IL 62946 (618) 252-5400 |
Ina, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Rend Lake College CNA Programs
| 468 North Ken Gray Parkway Ina, IL 62846 (618) 437-5321 |
Joliet, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Joliet Job Corps Center CNA Programs
| 1101 Mills Rd Joliet, IL 60433 (815) 727-7677 |
Joliet Junior College CNA Programs
| 1215 Houbolt Rd Joliet, IL 60431 (815) 729-9020 |
Kankakee, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Kankakee Community College CNA Programs
| 100 College Drive Kankakee, IL 60901 (815) 802-8100 |
Malta, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Kishwaukee College CNA Programs
| 21193 Malta Rd Malta, IL 60150 (815) 825-2086 |
Mt Carmel, IL
School | Contact Information |
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llinois Eastern Community Colleges - Wabash Valley College CNA Programs
| 2200 College Dr Mt Carmel, IL 62863 (618) 262-8641 |
Normal, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Heartland Community College CNA Programs
| 1500 W Raab Rd Normal, IL 61761 (309) 268-8000 |
Oak Brook, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Verve College CNA Programs
| 2625 Butterfield Rd #102e Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 705-9999 |
Palatine, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Harper College CNA Programs
| 1200 Algonquin Rd Palatine, IL 60067 (847) 925-6000 |
Palos Hills, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Moraine Valley Community College CNA Programs | 9000 College Pkwy Palos Hills, IL 60465 (708) 974-4300 |
Peoria, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Methodist College CNA Programs
| 7600 N Academic Dr Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 672-5513 |
Plano, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Waubonsee Community College- Plano CNA Programs | 100 Waubonsee Drive Plano, IL 60545 (630) 552-7900 |
Quincy, IL
School | Contact Information |
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John Wood Community College CNA Programs
| 1301 S 48th St Quincy, IL 62305 (217) 224-6500 |
River Grove, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Triton College CNA Programs
| 2000 5th Ave River Grove, IL 60171 (708) 456-0300 |
Rockford, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Rock Valley College CNA Programs | 3301 N Mulford Rd Rockford, IL 61114 (815) 921-7821 |
South Holland, IL
School | Contact Information |
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South Suburban College CNA Programs | 15800 State St South Holland, IL 60473 (708) 596-2000 |
Springfield, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Lincoln Land Community College CNA Programs
| 5250 Shepherd Rd Springfield, IL 62703 (217) 786-2200 |
Midwest Technical Institute CNA Programs
| 2731 Farmers Market Rd Springfield, IL 62707 (217) 527-8324 |
Sugar Grove, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Waubonsee Community College- Sugar Grove CNA Programs | Route 47 @ Waubonsee Drive Sugar Grove, IL 60554 (630) 466-7900 |
Ullin, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Shawnee Community College CNA Programs
| 8364 Shawnee College Rd Ullin, IL 62992 (618) 634-3200 |
Urbana, IL
School | Contact Information |
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Urbana Adult Education Center CNA Programs
| 211 N Race St Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 384-3530 |
Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.