Free Illinois HHA Practice Test 2026

How many total hours of training does Illinois require to complete the Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program (BNATP) — the qualifying pathway for home health aides?

How many hours of training do you need to become a home health aide in Illinois?

Illinois requires 120 hours of Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program (BNATP) instruction — 62 hours of theory, 18 hours of laboratory/skills practice, and 40 hours of supervised clinical training. This exceeds the federal Medicare minimum of 75 hours. After completing the program, candidates must pass the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam administered by SIU-C.

Is there a state HHA exam in Illinois, and what is the passing score?

Yes. After completing the BNATP, Illinois HHA/CNA candidates take the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam, which includes a written (or oral) component and a clinical skills evaluation, both administered by Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU-C). The exact passing score is not publicly disclosed per the agreement between IDPH and SIU-C. You have 12 months from program completion to pass the exam; if you fail three times, you must retake a BNATP.

How do I prove I am a certified home health aide in Illinois — is there a certificate?

Illinois does not issue paper certificates, license numbers, or wallet cards. Your active listing on the Illinois Department of Public Health's Health Care Worker Registry (HCWR) is the only official proof. Employers must verify your status through the registry before hiring. You can look up your status at hcwrpub.dph.illinois.gov.

Can I transfer my home health aide or CNA certification from another state to Illinois?

Yes. If you hold an active CNA certification on another state's registry, have no substantiated findings of abuse or neglect, and meet background-check requirements, you can apply for reciprocity listing on the Illinois HCWR through SIU-C's Nurse Aide Testing office (1840 Innovation Drive, Suite 103, Carbondale, IL 62903) with a $25 money order payable to SIUC or Nurse Aide Testing. The SIU-C office does not accept personal checks, cashier's checks, or cash. No retesting is required if your out-of-state certification is active.

How many in-service training hours do Illinois home health aides need each year?

Home health aides working at Medicare-certified home health agencies must complete a minimum of 12 hours of in-service training per 12-month period under the federal Conditions of Participation at 42 CFR § 484.80(d). This federal rule applies to all Medicare-certified HHA agencies nationwide. Illinois's Community Care Program (CCP) separately mandates 12 hours annually for CCP-funded homecare aides under 89 Ill. Adm. Code § 240.1535; that CCP rule also requires 2 of those hours to cover Alzheimer's disease and related dementias — but that 2-hour carve-out applies specifically to CCP-funded aides, not to all HHAs at Medicare/Medicaid home health agencies.

What happens if I stop working as an HHA in Illinois — will I lose my certification?

Your HCWR listing becomes inactive if you do not perform at least one 8-hour shift of paid nursing or nursing-related services within any 24-month period. To reactivate, you must pass the Illinois Nurse Aide Competency Exam again. It is strongly advisable to keep a record of your employment dates so you can verify continuous activity.