CNA Classes in Indiana
Start your healthcare career in the Hoosier State. Indiana requires a minimum of 105 training hours (30 classroom and 75 clinical) through state-approved providers. Candidates must pass the competency exam, often administered via Ivy Tech, to be listed on the Indiana Nurse Aide Registry.
How to Become a CNA in Indiana
Complete 105 Training Hours
Enroll in a program approved by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH). You must complete 105 hours of training, including 30 classroom hours and 75 clinical hours.
Background Check & Physical
Submit to a criminal background check and physical examination, including a TB test. Most Indiana programs require these before you begin your 75 clinical hours.
Pass the Competency Exam
Register through Ivy Tech Community College to take the state exam. You must pass both the 100-question written test and the manual skills evaluation.
Registry Placement
Once you pass, Ivy Tech sends your results to the state. Your name will be added to the Indiana Nurse Aide Registry for professional verification.
Maintain Your Certification
Indiana certificates expire every 2 years. To renew, you must work at least 8 hours for pay in a nursing-related role during the 24-month period.
Indiana CNA Salary
Certified Nurse Aides in Indiana earn an average annual salary of $37,440. Pay scales are typically highest in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson metro area, where a high concentration of hospitals and long-term care facilities drives competitive hourly wages.
Exams & Clinical Skills
Indiana requires passing the state competency exam administered through Ivy Tech Community College. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in clinical nursing tasks and pass a written theory test to be listed on the Indiana Nurse Aide Registry.
Indiana Certification Guide
Reciprocity & Transfers
CNAs from other states can transfer to Indiana by applying for reciprocity through the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH). You must have an active license in good standing and meet the background check requirements. Indiana generally does not require re-testing if your home state training met federal standards.
The 120-Day Rule
In accordance with federal law, Indiana allows a "Nurse Aide in Training" to work in a licensed long-term care facility for up to 120 days while completing their state-approved 105-hour training and testing process.
Mandatory Background Check
All Indiana CNA candidates must undergo a criminal history background check, including digital fingerprinting, before being placed on the registry. This is required to ensure eligibility for employment in healthcare settings providing direct patient care.
QMA Career Pathway
Indiana offers a unique Qualified Medication Aide (QMA) certification. Experienced CNAs with at least 1,000 hours of work history can complete additional training to legally administer certain medications, significantly increasing their responsibilities and pay.
Annual In-Service Hours
To keep your status active on the Indiana registry, the Department of Health requires at least 12 hours of in-service education every year. These hours are typically provided by your employer and focus on safety, resident rights, and infection control.
Lapsed Status Recovery
If your Indiana CNA certification has been expired for more than 24 months, or if you failed to meet the work requirement (8 hours of paid service), you must retake a state-approved training program and pass the Ivy Tech competency exam to regain active status.
Indiana CNA Frequently Asked Questions
Indiana requires a total of 105 hours of training, which must include 30 hours of classroom/theory and 75 hours of clinical rotations.
The Indiana competency exam is administered by Ivy Tech Community College on behalf of the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH).
The average annual salary for a CNA in Indiana is $37,440, with the highest rates typically found in the Indianapolis and Fort Wayne areas.
You must renew every 24 months. To remain active, you must prove you performed at least 8 hours of paid nursing services during that two-year period.
Yes. All Indiana CNA candidates must undergo a criminal background check and a physical exam (including a TB test) before starting clinicals.
Yes, hybrid programs are allowed for the 30 theory hours, but the 75 clinical hours must be completed in-person at a licensed facility.
Candidates have three attempts to pass both the written and skills evaluations within 24 months of training completion.
Yes. CNAs in good standing in other states can apply for reciprocity through the IDOH to be added to the Indiana registry without re-testing.
Most programs require candidates to be at least 16 years of age and possess a high school diploma or GED.
The total fee for the Indiana competency evaluation through Ivy Tech is approximately $75 to $85.
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