Illinois — The Prairie State
Illinois's fastest CNA programs are done in just 4 weeks. Hybrid classes let you study theory online at home with Zoom — then attend in-person labs and clinicals near you. Casa Central Chicago offers a well-known free CNA pathway. Chicago CNAs earn $41,600/year average.
If you want to jumpstart your healthcare career without spending months in a classroom, Illinois has a growing number of accelerated CNA programs — particularly in Chicago — that can get you certified and working in as little as 4 weeks with full-time attendance. For anyone juggling family or work responsibilities, hybrid programs now let you complete all theory and lecture content via Zoom from home, then attend in-person lab sessions and clinical rotations at approved facilities near you.
Illinois requires 120 total training hours — 80 hours of classroom and lab work plus 40 hours of supervised clinical training. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) does not approve fully online programs, but hybrid formats with online theory are approved and widely available in Chicago and other cities. The Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam (INACE) written portion is administered by Southern Illinois University–Carbondale. You have 3 attempts within 12 months of completing training.
Use the verified school locator below to instantly find IDPH-approved programs starting near your zip code. Every school in our system is state-approved — enter your zip code and find programs with open seats starting next week.
Speed comparison
From 4-week full-time sprints in Chicago to hybrid Zoom + clinicals programs, Illinois gives you real options. Here are the fastest tracks ranked by completion time — so you can pick the format that fits your schedule and get certified as fast as possible.
| Program / School | Location | Speed | Cost | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Career Institute (ICI) | Chicago | ⚡ 4 weeks (fastest) | ~$1,200–$1,500 | Hybrid — 80 hrs online theory + 40 hrs in-person clinicals. 4–10 week flexible options. |
| Career Training Center of Chicago (CTCC) | Chicago | ⚡ 4 weeks (full attendance) | ~$1,200–$1,500 | Morning, evening, and clinical sessions. Fast-paced. Job placement assistance. |
| Ánmut Nursing School (Hybrid) | Chicago (Thorndale Ave) | ⚡ 6 weeks — Zoom theory | ~$1,500 (textbook + uniform + equipment included) | Zoom theory Mon/Tue + in-person lab Wed + clinical rotations. Day and evening cohorts. |
| Malcolm X College (City Colleges of Chicago) | Chicago | 6 weeks | $1,200 (community college rate) | Public community college — financial aid eligible. High school diploma or GED required. |
| Truman College (City Colleges of Chicago) | Chicago | 8 weeks | $1,100 | Public college tuition rate — lowest cost community college option in Chicago. |
| Casa Central Chicago | Chicago | Varies (3-week module first) | Free pathway available | Well-known free CNA pathway. Begins with 3-week professional development module. Bilingual support. |
| Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) | Eastern Illinois (multiple campuses) | 8 weeks (accelerated track) | Community college rates | Accelerated 8-week OR standard 16-week — you choose. High NCLEX pass rates. |
Several Chicago-area schools now offer hybrid CNA formats that are genuinely flexible. Ánmut Nursing School runs theory on Zoom Monday and Tuesday, in-person lab on Wednesday, and clinical rotations at affiliated sites. International Career Institute (ICI) offers an 80-hour online theory component with 40 in-person clinical hours. Illinois IDPH rules require clinical training to be in-person — but everything else can be online. For a mom with daytime childcare or a working adult, the hybrid format means your commute days drop dramatically. You learn the content at home and show up to practice the skills — the best of both worlds.
Casa Central, a Chicago social services organization, offers a well-known free CNA training pathway for eligible community members. The program begins with a three-week professional development module before moving into CNA coursework — preparing students not just technically but professionally for healthcare work. Bilingual (English/Spanish) support is available. Casa Central has helped hundreds of Chicago residents launch healthcare careers at no cost. Contact Casa Central directly at casacentral.org to ask about current eligibility and class availability.
2026 salary data
Illinois CNA wages average $32,483/year statewide, but the Chicago metro significantly pulls the average higher at $41,600/year ($21.85/hr BLS May 2024). Kankakee is one of the top US cities for CNA job concentration. The top 10% of Illinois CNAs earn $50,000+ through agency work, overtime, and specialty placements.
| City / Area | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago / Naperville / Elgin metro | $20–$24/hr | ~$41,600 | BLS May 2024 avg $21.85/hr — Northwestern, Rush, Advocate Aurora hub. 40,000 CNA jobs. |
| Kankakee | $16–$20/hr | ~$33,280–$41,600 | Top US city for CNA job concentration — 1,000 CNA jobs, 9 per 1,000 total jobs |
| Rockford | $15–$19/hr | ~$31,200–$39,520 | OSF Saint Anthony, SwedishAmerican Hospital |
| Springfield | $14–$18/hr | ~$29,120–$37,440 | Memorial Medical Center, HSHS St. John's — state capital market |
| Peoria | $14–$18/hr | ~$29,120–$37,440 | OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center |
| Joliet / Aurora / Naperville | $17–$22/hr | ~$35,360–$45,760 | Chicago suburb wages — AMITA Health, Silver Cross Hospital |
| Agency / Travel CNA (statewide) | $20–$25/hr | ~$41,600–$52,000 | Top 10% reach $50,000 — agency and travel positions after experience |
Sources: TheCNAGuide.com (2026), BLS OES May 2024, Dreambound.com Chicago. CNA salary by city varies — Chicago metro significantly above statewide average. Actual pay varies by facility, shift, and experience.
Landing your first job
Financial aid & free options
Your next step
Illinois LPN programs run 12–16 months and median LPN salary is $58,400/year statewide — with Chicago-area LPNs earning significantly more. CNA experience is valued in Illinois LPN admissions, and many Chicago health systems offer tuition reimbursement for CNAs pursuing LPN.
120 hours (80 classroom/lab + 40 clinical). INACE exam via SIU-C. Illinois HCWR registry. 4–16 weeks. ICI/CTCC 4-week accelerated or Casa Central free pathway.
Malcolm X College, Truman College, and 30+ approved IL programs. ~12 months. Median IL LPN salary: $58,400/year. Chicago metro LPNs earn more. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement.
University of Illinois Chicago, Rush, Loyola, and dozens of community college ADN programs. Average IL RN salary: $78,960/year. Chicago-area RNs significantly above average.
For moms in Illinois