Illinois CNA Registry: Verify a Certification
You verify a nurse aide's Illinois certification through the state's Health Care Worker Registry, run by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The official lookup is linked on this page at hcwrpub.dph.illinois.gov. Federal law requires nursing facilities and home health agencies to check this registry before hiring anyone as a nurse aide, and a search confirms whether a person is currently certified and in good standing. If you have a question the search results don't answer, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health directly through the registry website rather than guessing at someone's status.
Look up a Illinois nurse aide
The official lookup shows whether a person is listed as an active nurse aide in Illinois, and any finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation on record. It is free and public.
How to verify a Illinois CNA
Open the official lookup
Use the Illinois lookup above. It is free and public.
Search by full legal name
A certification number narrows the result fastest. Try former or hyphenated last names if nothing comes up.
Read the status and findings
Active means the listing is current. A substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation bars work as a nurse aide.
What the lookup shows
A search typically needs the aide's first and last name, and results narrow faster with a middle initial if you have one. A match shows certification status, such as active or expired, and identifying details tied to the record. The registry also records substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property; anyone with such a finding cannot be employed as a nurse aide. This lookup is not a full employment or criminal background check.
Illinois registry at a glance
- Run by: Illinois Department of Public Health
- Training: 120 hours, 40 of them clinical
- Federal floor: 75 hours, 16 supervised practical
- Lapse rule: a listing lapses after 24 consecutive months without paid nursing work
- Not included: a registry check is not a criminal background check
What CNAs earn in Illinois
Typical annual CNA pay in Illinois · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
BLS OES May 2025 · CNA salary in Illinois by city →
Renewal, lapses, and moving to Illinois
Illinois follows the federal baseline: CNA certification is valid for 24 months and lapses if the aide has not performed paid nursing-related work during that period. A lapsed certification usually means retesting to regain active status. Aides moving into Illinois from another state go through the registry's reciprocity or endorsement process rather than repeating training from scratch, though the state may still verify credentials against Illinois requirements. For exact renewal timing, documentation, or reciprocity steps, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health through the registry website rather than assuming another state's rules apply.
Keep your certification active
CNA work in Illinois, by the numbers
Illinois employs about 68,640 CNAs, according to BLS May 2025 figures, with a median annual wage of $45,960 and a median hourly wage of $22.10. That's roughly $3,700 above the national median of $42,260. Pay has grown sharply over the past decade, up from a median of $24,450 in 2015, an increase of about 88 percent. Illinois also sets a higher training bar than the federal minimum: the state requires 120 hours of training with 40 clinical hours, compared to the federal floor of 75 hours with 16 supervised practical hours. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 196,200 annual CNA job openings through 2035, reflecting steady turnover and replacement demand even as growth in the occupation stays modest.
Registries in nearby states
Each state runs its own registry. An aide who worked in another state may be listed there too, and employers must check every state where they believe the aide has worked.
Questions about the Illinois registry
- How do I look up a CNA license in Illinois?
- Use the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry, run by the Illinois Department of Public Health, and search by the aide's first and last name. The official lookup is linked on this page at hcwrpub.dph.illinois.gov. Results show current certification status. If a name doesn't return a match, try variations before assuming the person isn't certified.
- I passed my CNA exam. How long until I appear on the registry?
- You're added to the registry after your exam results and paperwork are processed by the Illinois Department of Public Health; there's no fixed number of days this takes. If a reasonable amount of time has passed and you still don't see your name, contact the Illinois Department of Public Health directly through the registry website rather than waiting indefinitely.
- What if I search and can't find someone?
- Try searching with name variants first, such as a maiden name, hyphenated last name, or a middle initial, since small differences can cause a miss. A search that returns nothing is not proof the person is uncertified. If you still can't find a record, confirm the person's status directly with the Illinois Department of Public Health through the registry website.
- How often does a Illinois CNA certification need to be renewed?
- Every 24 months, following the federal renewal cycle that applies to nurse aide certification nationwide. Certification lapses if an aide goes without qualifying paid nursing-related work during that period. For Illinois-specific renewal steps or documentation, check with the Illinois Department of Public Health through the registry website.
- How many hours of training does a CNA need in Illinois?
- Illinois requires 120 hours of training, including 40 clinical hours, well above the federal minimum of 75 hours with 16 supervised practical hours. Programs must run at least four weeks and include Alzheimer's care and CPR instruction within that total. Your training program can confirm it meets Illinois's specific requirements.
- How do I update my name or address on the registry?
- Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health, which maintains the registry, to update your name or address. Updates like these are routine, but the exact process, such as required documentation or forms, is set by the registry itself. Use the registry website to find current instructions rather than guessing at the steps.