Indiana — The Hoosier State
Indiana's fastest CNA program takes just 2 weeks at Diamond Medical Training Center — week one classroom and labs, week two clinicals. American Senior Communities offers completely free paid training at locations in Valparaiso, Jeffersonville, and Indianapolis. Indiana has 45% more hospital beds per person than the national average — CNAs are always in demand here.
If you want to jumpstart your healthcare career without spending months in a classroom, Indiana has some of the fastest CNA programs in the Midwest. The state minimum is only 105 hours — 30 hours of classroom instruction plus 75 hours of clinical training — and full-time accelerated programs can cover all 105 hours in as little as 2 weeks. Hybrid programs let you complete theory online at home, then attend in-person labs and clinicals near you on your schedule.
Indiana's CNA competency exam is uniquely administered statewide by Ivy Tech Community College — meaning you can take the exam at any of Ivy Tech's 27 Indiana locations, giving you maximum flexibility on test day. New sessions at many private schools start every few weeks — you rarely have to wait long to begin.
Use our verified school locator below to instantly find Indiana Department of Health-approved programs starting near your zip code. Enter your zip code to find programs with open seats — some start as soon as next week.
Speed comparison
Indiana's 105-hour requirement — the lowest in the Midwest — means programs complete faster than most neighboring states. From 2-week full-time sprints to 6-week hybrid evening options, here are your fastest tracks ranked by speed.
| Program / School | Location | Speed | Cost | What Makes It Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Medical Training Center | Indianapolis area | ⚡ 2 weeks (fastest in IN) | ~$900–$1,200 | Week 1: classroom & lab 8am–3pm Mon–Fri. Week 2: clinicals 7am–3pm Mon–Fri. Zero downtime. |
| Training Center of Indianapolis | Indianapolis (Beachway Drive) | ⚡ 3–4 weeks | $1,100 (105 hours) | 30 hrs classroom (includes online) + 75 hrs in-person clinical. Day and evening schedules. |
| Legacy CNA Training | South Bend / Mishawaka | ⚡ 3 weeks (daytime) / 6 weeks (evening) | $1,300 (105 hours) | Hybrid delivery. Daytime 3-week or evening 6-week cohorts. North Indiana's best fast option. |
| American Senior Communities (ASC) | Valparaiso, Jeffersonville, Indianapolis | Varies — employer-sponsored | FREE + paid during training | 30 hrs classroom + 75 hrs clinical. All costs covered. Immediate employment after certification. |
| VicTory Training | Hobart (Northwest Indiana) | 3 weeks full-time / 5 weeks evening | State exam fee included | Small cohorts. Hybrid option — online classroom + in-person lab/clinical. Exam fee included in tuition. |
| Faith Healthcare Training Center | Indianapolis area | 5–6 weeks | $1,165 all-inclusive (105 hours) | Materials + uniform + background check + CPR + exam fee ALL included. Payment plans available. |
| Ivy Tech Community College | 27 locations statewide | Semester format | Next Level Jobs — potentially free | Next Level Jobs grant may cover all tuition. 27 locations. Administers the CNA exam statewide. |
American Senior Communities (ASC) offers a completely free CNA training program with paid training hours at locations in Valparaiso, Jeffersonville, and Indianapolis. The program covers 30 hours of classroom learning followed by 75 hours of clinical experience at ASC facilities. There is no cost to participants — and after completing training and passing the state exam at Ivy Tech, you are immediately eligible for employment within the ASC network. If you're in or near one of these three locations, call ASC directly and ask about their next training cohort before paying for any program elsewhere.
Indiana is one of a small number of states where the CNA competency exam is administered by a community college system — Ivy Tech Community College — rather than a private testing company. This means you can take your CNA exam at any of Ivy Tech's 27 Indiana locations, from Indianapolis and Fort Wayne to Terre Haute and South Bend. If you trained at a private school, you simply apply to take your exam at the nearest Ivy Tech campus. This statewide access to testing is a genuine advantage for rural Indiana students who might otherwise travel far to a testing center.
2026 salary data
Indiana CNAs average around $33,000–$36,000/year statewide. Indianapolis leads, while hospital and specialty unit positions pay significantly more than nursing home base wages. Indiana has 45% more hospital beds per person than the national average — the CNA job market here is dense and consistent.
| City / Area | Avg Hourly | Avg Annual | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $16–$21/hr | ~$33,280–$43,680 | IU Health, Eskenazi Health, Ascension St. Vincent — 33 hospitals with CNA jobs |
| Fort Wayne | $15–$20/hr | ~$31,200–$41,600 | Parkview Health, Lutheran Health Network — northeast Indiana hub |
| South Bend / Mishawaka | $15–$19/hr | ~$31,200–$39,520 | Beacon Health System, Notre Dame community |
| Evansville | $14–$18/hr | ~$29,120–$37,440 | Deaconess Health System, Ascension St. Vincent Evansville |
| Northwest Indiana (Valparaiso / Hammond / Munster) | $16–$21/hr | ~$33,280–$43,680 | Chicago market adjacency — Community Healthcare System, Franciscan Health |
| Bloomington / Columbus | $14–$18/hr | ~$29,120–$37,440 | IU Health Bloomington — university community, steady demand |
| Hospital / Agency (statewide) | $18–$23/hr | ~$37,440–$47,840 | Hospital CNAs earn $2–$4/hr more than nursing home — target after gaining experience |
Sources: TheCNAGuide.com (2026), BLS OES, CNAClasses.com Indiana. Northwest Indiana benefits from proximity to Chicago market wages. Actual pay varies by facility, shift, and experience.
Landing your first job
Financial aid & free options
Your next step
Indiana LPN programs run 12 months and the median LPN salary is $52,000+/year. Ivy Tech Community College offers LPN programs at multiple Indiana locations — the same school that administers your CNA exam — making the CNA-to-LPN pathway seamless. Many Indiana employers offer tuition reimbursement for CNAs pursuing LPN.
105 hours (30 classroom + 75 clinical). Ivy Tech Community College exam statewide. IDOH Nurse Aide Registry. As fast as 2 weeks. ASC free paid option available.
Ivy Tech Community College — 27 Indiana locations. ~12 months. Median IN LPN salary: $52,000+/year. CNA experience gives you real advantage in admissions. Accelerated bridge programs available.
Indiana University, Ball State, Purdue, Ivy Tech ADN programs. Average IN RN salary: $74,000+/year. LPN-to-RN bridges available statewide.
For moms in Indiana