Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program (BNATP)(NUR.BASIC.CNA)

The Nursing Assistant Program is approved by:

Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
607 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62702-5097
Telephone: (217) 782-6553
Website: www.idph.state.il.us.

The applicant must:

• be at least 16 years of age
• have completed 8 years of education
• submit a completed health-physical form PROVIDED by the South Suburban College Department of Nursing that documents immunity for mumps, measles, varicella, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B (or waiver)
• have completed the college placement test and placed into RDG 081 and above

Two schedules are available; an eight (8) week or a sixteen (16) week schedule. For the eight week schedule, students are admitted every eight weeks during the fall and spring semester. The students complete eighteen (18) hours of lecture, clinical laboratory and clinical practicum per week for eight weeks. For the sixteen week schedule, students are admitted during the fall or spring semester. Students complete nine (9) hours of lecture, clinical laboratory and clinical practicum per week for sixteen weeks.

The theory and laboratory are held at South Suburban College main campus, Oak Forest campus and once a year at Thornton Fractional Academic and Technology Center in Calumet City. Clinical practicums are held in community long term health care facilities. Attendance is mandatory as prescribed by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Absences will lead to students being ineligible to sit for the certification exam.

All individuals applying for certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant must complete a LiveScan criminal background check in accordance with the HEALTH CARE WORKER BACKGROUND CHECK CODE from a designated agent identified by the nursing department. IDPH’s rules states that nurse’s aide cannot work for an agency if they have certain criminal convictions. The list of disqualifying convictions that will keep students from working as a nurse’s aide may be found on the Illinois Department of Public Health Nurse Aide Registry website. 

While this is not meant to discourage students, it is strongly recommended that any student who has one or more disqualifying convictions should not enroll in the BNATP until they apply and receive a waiver from the Illinois Department of Public Health.  A waiver is not granted to everyone that applies. Each waiver application is reviewed individually. IDPH will not provide waivers for multiple disqualifying offenses. Refer to the IDPH website for CNA Facts, Waiver Application PDF, and Waiver Application Facts PDF Students may request a waiver application by contacting IDPH at:

Mail: Health Care Worker Registry
525 N. Jefferson Street Fourth Floor
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone: 1-217-785-5133;
Fax: 1-217-524-0137;
Email: DPH.HCWR@Illinois.gov. 

Additionally, some agencies are requiring drug screenings.These requirements will be at the student’s expense.

The Nursing Assistant Training program is six credit hours. Students pay the current cost for each credit hour along with a lab fee. In addition, students pay for a textbook, workbook and supplies, which include a watch with a second hand, a stethoscope, a sphygmomanometer, white nurse’s shoes and white nurse’s pants. A South Suburban College name pin and blue scrub top are to be ordered though the College Bookstore. Students must provide their own transportation. Any certified nursing assistant employed by a health care facility that receives Medicare funds, may be entitled to tuition reimbursement by the employer.