The Health Care Worker Registry lists individuals with a background check conducted pursuant to the Health Care Worker Background Check Act (225 ILCS 46). It shows training information for certified nursing assistants (CNA) and other health care workers. Additionally, it displays administrative findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriations of property. It is maintained by the Department of Public Health.
The Health Care Worker Background Check Act applies to all unlicensed individuals employed or retained by a health care employer as home health care aides, nurse aides, personal care assistants, private duty nurse aides, day training personnel, or an individual working in any similar health-related occupation where he or she provides direct care (e.g., resident attendants, child care/habilitation aides/developmental disabilities aides, and psychiatric rehabilitation services aides) or has access to long-term care residents or the living quarters or financial, medical or personal records of long-term care residents. It also applies to all employees of licensed or certified long-term care facilities who have or may have contact with residents or access to the living quarters or the financial, medical or personal records of residents. Individuals with disqualifying convictions (please see Disqualifying Convictions in the left-hand navigation for list), as listed in the act, are prohibited from working in any of the above positions unless a waiver has been granted by the Department of Public Health. A health care employer must verify registry status of an individual applying for the above positions prior to employment. Verifications can be made by contacting us (see right-hand column) or this Web site.
Nursing assistants/aides working in licensed and or certified skilled nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities and home health agencies must be certified. Please see CNA Facts in the left-hand navigation for details. Training programs for developmental disability aides are coordinated by the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Health Care Worker Information Relating to COVID-19 Response
Changes Under Executive Order 2020-12
Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-12 on March 24, 2020. This Executive Order made changes to the requirements for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) to work in Illinois; these changes remain in effect for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations.
Also on March 24, 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health filed emergency rules to make changes to the Health Care Worker Background Check Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 995] to implement the provisions of Executive Order 2020-12 and to relax other related CNA certification requirements.
The CNA requirements that have changed under this Executive Order and/or the emergency rules are as follows:
- Conditional Employment for CNAs: The conditional employment period in which Certified Nursing Assistants can work pending the results of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check has been extended from 3 months to 6 months. Health care employers can conditionally employ CNAs for up to six months pending the results of a fingerprint-based criminal history record check.
- Inactive CNAs: A Certified Nursing Assistant whose certification is inactive on the Health Care Worker Registry may have that certification reinstated for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, if that CNA:
- Has been in inactive status for a period of no more than five years;
- Was in good standing at the time the CNA became inactive; and
- Completes the Reinstatement of Inactive Certification form, which is available on the Health Care Worker Registry public website at http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry.
- Military Applicants: Military personnel with medical training will be able to serve as Certified Nursing Assistants in health care facilities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois. These military personnel will be allowed to serve as CNAs without passing the written CNA exam for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation. To qualify, military personnel must:
- Complete the Military Personnel Application form, which is available on the Health Care Worker Registry public website at http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry; and
- Provide a DD Form 214 demonstrating successful completion of corpsman medic or combat medic training, or
- Provide documentation of current military occupational specialty as corpsman medic, combat medic, or other related medical training if currently serving in a branch of the U. S. military.
- Out-of-State CNAs: For the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, CNAs who hold current, valid CNA certification from another state will be granted Reciprocity to be Illinois CNAs without paying a fee. An Out-of-State Application is available on the HCWR public website at http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry, and additional information can also be found on the Southern Illinois University’s Nurse Aide Testing website, located at www.nurseaidetesting.com.
Changes Under Executive Order 2020-22
Governor Pritzker signed Executive Order 2020-22 on April 7, 2020. This Executive Order made changes to the fingerprinting requirements for CNA students and health care employees to work in Illinois; these changes remain in effect for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations.
On April 10, 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health filed emergency rules to make changes to the Health Care Worker Background Check Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 955] to implement the provisions of Executive Order 2020-22.
The fingerprinting requirements that have changed under this Executive Order and/or the emergency rule are as follows:
Students enrolled in CNA training programs and certain health care employees (and those applying for jobs at health care facilities) must have their fingerprints collected electronically and transmitted to the Illinois Department of State Police within 30 working days of enrollment in a CNA training program or the start of employment. Previously, a student or new hire had only 10 days to have fingerprints scanned and submitted before they would be suspended from the training program or employment.
Changes Under Emergency Provisions for Nursing Assistants
On April 22, 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health filed emergency rules to make changes to the Long-Term Care Assistants and Aides Training Programs Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 395] to implement emergency provisions for Nursing Assistants. These changes remain in effect for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations.
The changes made by these emergency rules are as follows:
- The Illinois Department of Public Health is implementing a Temporary Nursing Assistant (TNA) Program to address the increasing need for trained health care workers. Upon successful completion of the classroom education and on-the-job training requirements of the TNA Program, individuals will be authorized to provide specific patient and resident care services and perform specific procedures which would otherwise be reserved to Certified Nursing Assistants or licensed nurses.
- To qualify to be a TNA, an individual must successfully complete the following:
- At least 8 hours of classroom education on the specific services and procedures listed in the emergency rules. This classroom education must be proctored by a Registered Nurse, and it can be satisfied by the successful completion of the American Health Care Association’s 8-hour online training course.
- At least 8 hours of on-the-job training in the specific services and procedures listed in the emergency rules. The training program instructor must be a Registered Nurse, and all on-the-job training must be under the Registered Nurse’s direct observation.
- TNAs must receive classroom and on-the-job training on how to provide specific patient/resident care services and procedures, as outlined in the emergency rules. Upon successful completion of all training, TNAs will be authorized to provide only the patient and resident care services and to perform only the procedures set forth in the emergency rules. TNAs will report to a facility’s charge nurse or nursing supervisor, and they may be assigned duties only by the supervising nurse(s).
- The Health Care Worker Background Check Act [225 ILCS 46] and the Health Care Worker Background Check Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 955] will apply to the TNA Program, and TNAs will be included on the Health Care Worker Registry.
- The TNA Program is authorized only for the duration of the Governor’s COVID Disaster Proclamations; after this time, facilities can no longer employ an individual as a TNA.
- TNAs are not eligible to take the Certified Nursing Assistant competency exam; they cannot work as a TNA after the Governor’s final COVID Disaster Proclamation expires or is rescinded.
- The requirement that a student must pass the BNATP written competency examination within 12 months after the completion of the BNATP is suspended.
Changes Under Executive Order 2020-35
Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-35 on May 1, 2020. This Executive Order, among other things, made changes to the length of time facilities could employ Nurse Aides in Training; these changes remain in effect for the duration of the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamations.
On May 5, 2020, the Illinois Department of Public Health filed emergency rules to make changes to the Skilled Nursing and Intermediate Care Facilities Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 300], the Intermediate Care for the Developmentally Disabled Facilities Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 350], and the Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled Facilities Code [77 Ill. Adm. Code 390] to implement the provisions of Executive Order 2020-35.
The requirement that has changed under this Executive Order and the emergency is as follows:
- The requirement that nursing assistants, habilitation aides, and child care aides to successfully complete a Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program within 120 days after the date of hire is suspended. Only the time period is suspended; the requirement to successfully complete the program is not suspended.