How to Get Your CNA Certification in Indiana (IN): 2026 Guide

If you want to work as a Certified Nurse Aide in Indiana, you go through a 105-hour training program, then sit for the Headmaster-run written and skills exam at an Ivy Tech test site. Once you pass, your name goes on the Indiana Aides Registry and you're legal to work in long-term care. That's the whole path — but the details matter, especially around expiration, scheduling, and what to bring on test day. This guide walks you through it.

Indiana CNA at a glance

• Test vendor: Headmaster (statewide, with Ivy Tech as the regional test administrator)
• Training requirement: 105 hours total, including 30 hours of clinical (theory and lab hours not separately published — confirm with your training program)
• Credential issued: Indiana CNA (listed on the Indiana Aides Registry, alongside HHA and QMA)
• Exam components: Written (or oral) knowledge test + clinical skills evaluation
• Application fee: Contact the Indiana Aides Registry for the most current fee
• Testing fee: Contact Headmaster / Ivy Tech testing office for the most current fee
• Retest fee: Varies by component — confirm with Headmaster when you schedule
• Registration lead time: Typically 2–4 weeks from training completion to scheduled exam date, depending on site availability

Who oversees CNA certification in Indiana

The Indiana Department of Health, Long Term Care division, maintains the Indiana Aides Registry and approves CNA training programs. The registry is the single source of truth for whether you're certified, when your certification expires, and whether you're eligible to work in a licensed facility. Headmaster handles the exam administration under contract with the state, but the Department of Health is the regulatory authority. If your name isn't on the registry, a nursing home cannot legally employ you as a CNA — full stop. Always verify your listing after you pass.

Training programs in Indiana

Indiana has a deep network of state-approved CNA training programs, anchored by Ivy Tech Community College (which operates 19+ campuses across the state) and a long list of private career colleges, long-term care facilities with in-house training, and high school dual-credit programs. Most programs run 4–8 weeks of full-time class and clinical, with the 105 hours split across classroom theory, skills lab, and the required 30 clinical hours in a licensed facility.

Costs vary. As a rough range, public programs like Ivy Tech typically charge a few hundred dollars in tuition and fees, while private programs can run $400–$1,200 or more. Many Indiana employers — especially nursing homes — will pay for your training in exchange for a work commitment, so if cost is the blocker, ask the HR departments of local facilities before you pay out of pocket. Free training is genuinely common in this state.

When you're comparing programs, check that the program is listed on the Indiana Department of Health's approved training list. Unapproved programs will not get you onto the registry. Our study guides cover what to expect after you're enrolled, especially for the skills you'll be tested on.

The CNA exam in Indiana: Headmaster details

Indiana contracts with Headmaster to deliver the nurse aide competency exam. The exam has two parts:

1. Written (or oral) knowledge test — multiple-choice questions covering the CNA scope of practice, resident rights, communication, infection control, and the major physical care domains.
2. Clinical skills evaluation — you perform a small number of randomly assigned skills on a live actor (or in some cases a manikin) while a Registered Nurse evaluator scores you against a checklist.

Headmaster manages registration through its online portal. Most candidates register themselves after finishing training, though many Indiana training programs coordinate registration for their cohorts. Lead time is real — don't expect to finish class on a Friday and test the following Monday. Plan on 2–4 weeks between program completion and your exam date, especially if you're aiming for a regional test site with limited dates.

How much does the Indiana CNA exam cost?

The state does not publish a single statewide price list in a way that's easy to verify. As a rough breakdown of what you'll pay:

• State application / registry fee: Contact the Indiana Aides Registry for the most current fee
• Headmaster testing fee (both components): Contact Headmaster / Ivy Tech for the most current fee
• Retest fee per component: Usually lower than the combined fee — confirm when you schedule
• BLS / CPR card: Some employers cover it; if not, plan $40–$80 for an in-person BLS course
• Background check: If your employer requires one separately, plan $25–$60

Expect a total out-of-pocket in the low-to-mid hundreds if you pay your own way, including the training program. Many candidates pay significantly less when employers subsidize the cost.

Where to take the test in Indiana

Headmaster coordinates test sites through Ivy Tech Community College campuses. Indiana has testing capacity across the state, but the primary scheduling hub is Indianapolis:

• Indianapolis (Ivy Tech Central Testing Office) — the primary statewide scheduling hub. Most dates, most flexibility.
• Fort Wayne (Ivy Tech, 3701 Dean Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46835) — regional test site serving northeast Indiana. Call the registry to confirm cadence.
• Evansville (Ivy Tech, 3501 N First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710) — regional test site serving southwest Indiana. Call the registry to confirm cadence.
• South Bend — regional test site serving the northern tier. Call the registry to confirm cadence.
• Bloomington — regional test site serving south-central Indiana. Call the registry to confirm cadence.
• Gary / Lafayette / Kokomo / Anderson / Muncie (Marion) — additional regional test sites. Ivy Tech has 19+ campuses statewide, so scheduling is generally available within driving distance.

To book, create an account on the Headmaster portal, select your nearest Ivy Tech site, and pick from the available dates. If your training program is at Ivy Tech, your instructor will usually walk the cohort through registration.

Scheduling and what to bring on test day

For most Indiana candidates, you can take both the written and skills portions on the same day at a regional test site. A few sites may schedule them separately — your confirmation email from Headmaster will tell you which.

Bring:

• Two forms of ID, one with a photo (driver's license and Social Security card, or a state-issued ID and a signed social security card / birth certificate). Your name on the IDs must match your Headmaster registration.
• Your training completion certificate or program-issued verification, if Headmaster requests it.
• Scrubs or appropriate clinical attire — closed-toe shoes, no jewelry on hands or wrists, hair pulled back. Watches are usually not allowed in the skills area.
• A watch with a second hand is NOT allowed during the skills portion — the evaluator watches time on your manual skills.

Arrive 30 minutes early. You'll have a brief orientation, then the written (or oral) test, then your assigned skills. The skills portion runs about 30–45 minutes depending on what you're assigned.

After you pass: Indiana certification and renewal

Once you pass both components, Headmaster submits your results to the Indiana Aides Registry. Your name usually appears on the registry within 1–2 weeks, though it can take longer during high-volume periods. Your employer — especially nursing homes that depend on registry-verified staffing — can look you up on the Indiana Aides Registry the same day you pass, and many do.

Indiana CNA certification follows the federal 24-month renewal cycle. To stay active, you must have worked at least one paid eight-hour shift as a CNA within the prior 24 months. Your employer reports this to the registry. If your certification lapses, there's a grace path — but it has hard limits.

The 2-year cliff is real. If your certification expires and you don't get it renewed for more than 2 years, you cannot simply retest. You must complete a new 105-hour training program and pass both the written and skills exams again from scratch. There is no challenge-exam shortcut once you've crossed the 2-year mark. Don't let your certification lapse.

Common pitfalls specific to Indiana

• The 2-year expiration cliff. Go past 2 years of expired status and you're back to 105 training hours and both exams. Don't assume a refresher course is enough.
• Name-match issues on test day. If your legal name on your ID doesn't match what your training program put into the registry system, you will be turned away at the test site. Check this before exam day.
• Skills scheduling is site-dependent. Don't assume every Indiana site offers skills and written on the same day. Check your Headmaster confirmation email — some sites require two separate visits.
• Employer subsidy timing. Some Indiana nursing homes pay for your training only if you commit to employment within a window. Read the agreement. Repayment clauses can be aggressive.
• Watch out for "registry prep" scams. The Indiana Aides Registry is the only registry that matters. Anyone selling "guaranteed placement" or "fast-track certification" outside a state-approved training program is selling you a useless certificate.

FAQ

How long does it take to become a CNA in Indiana? Typically 4–8 weeks of full-time training, then 2–4 weeks of scheduling lead time for the exam. Realistically, plan on 6–10 weeks from your first day of class to your name appearing on the Indiana Aides Registry.

How much does the CNA test cost in Indiana? Total out-of-pocket for the testing fees typically lands in the low-to-mid hundreds, depending on whether you're paying for training too. Contact the Indiana Aides Registry and Headmaster directly for current fees, and ask your employer whether they'll subsidize.

Can I challenge the Indiana CNA exam without training? Generally no. Indiana requires completion of a 105-hour state-approved training program before you're eligible to sit for the exam. The exception is if you're an out-of-state CNA with an active, unexpired certification on another state's registry — you may qualify for reciprocity.

Does Indiana require a background check for CNAs? Long-term care employers conduct background checks on candidates, but the registry itself does not run a separate statewide criminal background check at certification. Your employer handles it as a condition of hire.

How do I renew my Indiana CNA certification? You don't apply to renew. Your certification renews automatically as long as you've worked at least one eight-hour paid shift in a qualified CNA role within the prior 24 months, and your employer reports it. If you stop working as a CNA for 24+ months, the 2-year cliff applies.

Practice questions for the Indiana CNA exam are at /exam and clinical-skills walkthroughs are at /skills.