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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. Governor Pritzker re-issued Executive Order 2020-12 on February 4, 2022.
On January 28, 2022, 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 the reissued Executive Order 2020-12 and other requirements related to CNAs.
The CNA requirements that have changed under this Executive Order are as follows:
Inactive CNAs
A Certified Nursing Assistant whose certification is inactive on the Health Care Worker Registry may have that certification reinstated, 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, available at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry.
Other CNA requirements that have changed under the emergency rules are as follows:
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 pandemic in Illinois. These military personnel will be allowed to serve as CNAs without passing the written CNA exam. To qualify, military personnel must:
- Complete the Military Personnel Application form, available at https://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
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 at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/health-care-regulation/health-care-worker-registry. Additional information can also be found on the Southern Illinois University’s Nurse Aide Testing website at www.nurseaidetesting.com.