In Indiana, you can become a Certified Nursing Assistant (or Nurse Aides) (CNA) if you:
- Complete a state-approved CNA program
- Pass the Indiana Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation (INACE)
After receiving certification, you will then be added to the state’s Nurse Aide Registry (NAR).
You will continue to be in the registry as long as you work in good standing as a CNA in the state.
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Taking on a CNA Training Program in Indiana
For the CNA program, it is under the regulation of the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH).
This will ensure that training will meet the standards and requirements of the state and federal governments for CNAs.
In the program, you will undergo a total of 105 hours of training, comprising of:
- 30 hours of classroom instruction
- 75 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed nurse
During that time, you will learn the IDOH’s approved standards and resident care procedures.
As a result, you’ll be a CNA capable of performing quality and efficient patient care to residents.
Here are the approved CNA schools that you can choose from:
20 CNA Schools in Indiana
School Name | Address |
---|---|
Avalon Village | Ligonier, IN 46767 |
Christian Care Retirement Community | Bluffton, IN 46714 |
Danville Regional Rehabilitation | Danville, IN 46122 |
Heritage House of New Castle | New Castle, IN 47362 |
Impact Institute | Kendallville, in 46755 |
Ivy Tech Community College | Multiple Locations |
Kankakee Valley High School | Wheatfield, IN 46392 |
Lincoln Hills of New Albany | New Albany, IN 47150 |
Lodge of the Wabash | Vincennes, IN 47591 |
Lutheran Life Villages | Fort Wayne, IN 46816 |
Miller’s Merry Manor | Multiple Locations |
Mulberry Health and Rehabilitation Center | Mulberry, IN 46058 |
North Adams Vocational School | Decatur, IN 46733 |
Persimmon Ridge Rehabilitation Centre | Portland, IN 47371 |
Southwestern Indiana Health Services Academy | Evansville, IN 47714 |
The Community Hospital | Munster, IN 46321 |
The Institute of Caring LLC | Aurora, IN 47001 |
Wabash River Career and Technical Education | Montezuma, IN 47862 |
Westminster Village - West Lafayette | West Lafayette, IN 47906 |
Wildcat Creek Career Corporation | Frankfort, IN 46041 |
Evaluating a CNA Candidate
The IDOH entrusted the administration of INACE to the Ivy Tech Community College (ITCC).
ITCC will oversee the following tests:
- Written, with 100 multiple choice questions to be completed in 90 minutes
- Skills, demonstrating at least five clinical skills in 30 minutes
Oral testing may be allowed instead of written in special cases, like:
- Visual impairment
- Literacy shortcomings
You will then pay the following fees:
- Single section (written or skills) – $65.00
- Dual section (written and skills) – $75
It will take two weeks to complete your test application and be scheduled.
Usually, your test schedule will be after 30 days of application approval.
Do note that you have the following period to take the test:
- Not working as a CNA – two years from the date of completion of clinical training
- Working as a CNA – 120 days from the date of hire
If you can’t or haven’t, then you will retake the entire CNA program.
If you successfully passed INACE, ITCC will send your results to IDOH.
After they send it to IDOH, you’ll have to wait eight to ten weeks to receive your license.
For the registry, it may take up to 90 days for you to be added to NAR.
Procedures for INACE Retakers
Should you fail, you’re allowed to retake INACE up to three times.
If you still didn’t pass on the third attempt, then you’ll have to undergo 105 hours of training again.
ITCC will require you to submit your fail form and payment for retesting to this address:
Ivy Tech Community College
ATTN: CNA Testing
P.O. Box 1621
Indianapolis, IN 46206
The cost for retesting, written and/or skills, will remain the same.
Candidates Eligible to Take the INACE
The IDOH will only allow the following CNA candidates to take the INACE at ITCC:
- Person who completed the state-approved training
- Nursing student
- Currently studying a nursing course
- Receive at least a grade of “C” in Fundamentals of Nursing or equivalent
- Nursing graduate who has yet to take the board exam
- Must’ve graduated recently within the past two years
- Receive at least a grade of “C” in Fundamentals of Nursing or equivalent
- Nursing graduate who failed the board exam
- Must’ve graduated recently within the past two years
- Receive at least a grade of “C” in Fundamentals of Nursing or equivalent
- CNA in another state
- Currently registered in that state’s NAR in good standing
- Foreign-trained nurse
- Recognized nurse (LPN or RN) in the country of origin
- Military medic
- Documentation of training within the past 2 years from discharge date
- Psychiatric attendant
- Must be trained in an Indiana State facility
For more information, especially exam requirements, visit ITCC’s website for details.
Potential Salary
We must admit that a CNA’s salary is modest.
Currently, the average annual salary amounts to $30,901.
It’s already an ample amount that’s enough to give you a stable income and financial security.
Of course, many factors will affect it, such as:
- Extensive experience
- Level of skills and knowledge
- Nature of work
So expect to receive increased remuneration in the future.
The table below shows the average annual salary of a CNA across Indiana.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of CNAs in Indiana
City Name | Salary | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis | $30,897 | ||||
Fort Wayne | $29,507 | ||||
Evansville | $29,895 | ||||
South Bend | $29,567 | ||||
Gary | $31,502 | ||||
Hammond | $31,502 | ||||
Bloomington | $29,134 | ||||
Muncie | $29,174 | ||||
Anderson | $29,288 | ||||
Terre Haute | $29,038 |
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bloomington, IN | 570 | $36,190 | $17.4 | $43,150 | $30,430 |
Columbus, IN | 220 | $36,470 | $17.53 | $44,260 | $29,400 |
Elkhart-Goshen, IN | 790 | $37,750 | $18.15 | $45,190 | $31,990 |
Evansville, IN-KY | 1,850 | $36,280 | $17.44 | $43,100 | $29,400 |
Fort Wayne, IN | 2,590 | $35,650 | $17.14 | $43,140 | $28,030 |
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN | 9,480 | $38,580 | $18.55 | $46,130 | $31,290 |
Kokomo, IN | 430 | $37,950 | $18.24 | $45,830 | $30,710 |
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | 820 | $38,640 | $18.58 | $43,540 | $31,060 |
Michigan City-La Porte, IN | 350 | $36,190 | $17.4 | $43,610 | $30,420 |
Muncie, IN | 760 | $35,880 | $17.25 | $42,190 | $30,240 |
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 1,390 | $38,280 | $18.4 | $45,080 | $31,250 |
Terre Haute, IN | 690 | $34,980 | $16.82 | $43,080 | $29,820 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.