For Prospective NM Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program Students
The online application for the Basic Nursing Assistant training program is currently CLOSED. The application for the program that begins in June 2026 will open on February 9, 2026.
The Northwestern Medicine Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program is a 16-week program held on Tuesdays or Fridays.
Tuesday Cohort Program Dates:
January 13 - Mandatory orientation
January 20 - First day of class
January 27
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 10, 17, 24, 31 (no class on March 3rd for Spring Break)
April 7,14, 21, 28
May 5, 12
May 18 - Graduation
Friday Cohort Program Dates:
January 16 - Mandatory orientation
January 23 - First day of class
January 30
February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 13, 20 ,27 (no class on March 6th for Spring Break)
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1, 8, 15
May 18 - Graduation
Program Hours:
Didactic/Classroom days: 8:00am - 5:30pm
Clinical days: 6:30am - 3:30pm
Program Location:
Didactic/Classroom days Tuesday cohort: 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Room 984, Chicago 60611
Didactic/Classroom days Friday cohort: 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Room 987, Chicago 60611
Clinical days: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago 60611
Eligible Applicants:
Application deadline: October 17, 2025
Interviews & Testing (if moved to Phase 2): November 10, 12, 13
Applicants notified of acceptance status: November 14, 2025
Acceptance or declination due: November 21, 2025
BLS Healthcare Provider Certification Course:
Offered during orientation for Tuesday cohort: January 13, 2026
Offered during orientation for Friday cohort: January 16, 2026
If accepted, student must complete a BLS Healthcare Provider Certification course through NM. If certification course is taken outside of NM, it must be through the American Heart Association (AHA).
Information and pertinent dates for criminal background check will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
*Program Tuition & Additional Costs
Information on tuition and additional costs are published by the Registrar's Office on this website. Program tuition, fees, and related expenses are subject to change. Additional costs are estimated and represent a good faith effort to disclose true costs of program attendance.
Tuition: $1,250
Tuition includes textbooks, clinical apparel, Basic Life Support certification course, Healthcare Worker Background Check, Illinois Nurse Aide Competency examination fee.
Resource fee: $100
Additional costs: $65
Additional costs include application fee, liability insurance, program-specific supplies.
*For NM Employees: Part-time or full-time Northwestern Medicine employees, employed for a minimum of 6 months on date application is due and in good standing, may use the tuition reimbursement benefit to pay for tuition if accepted into the program. Employees enrolled in the NM Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program must maintain, at minimum, part-time employment status at the organization.
The Northwestern Medicine Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program is a 16-week program held on Tuesdays or Fridays.
Tuesday Cohort Program Dates:
January 13 - Mandatory orientation
January 20 - First day of class
January 27
February 3, 10, 17, 24
March 10, 17, 24, 31 (no class on March 3rd for Spring Break)
April 7,14, 21, 28
May 5, 12
May 18 - Graduation
Friday Cohort Program Dates:
January 16 - Mandatory orientation
January 23 - First day of class
January 30
February 6, 13, 20, 27
March 13, 20 ,27 (no class on March 6th for Spring Break)
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1, 8, 15
May 18 - Graduation
Program Hours:
Didactic/Classroom days: 8:00am - 5:30pm
Clinical days: 6:30am - 3:30pm
Program Location:
Didactic/Classroom days Tuesday cohort: 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Room 984, Chicago 60611
Didactic/Classroom days Friday cohort: 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Room 987, Chicago 60611
Clinical days: Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago 60611
Eligible Applicants:
- Full-time or part-time NM employee in good standing in their employee role who have been employed at NM for a minimum of six months at the time of the application deadline and are seeking Certified Nursing Assistant certification, with minimum of high school diploma, GED, or postsecondary coursework in a degree-granting program with a 2.0 GPA or above,
- Applicant with high school diploma, GED, or postsecondary coursework in a degree-granting program with a 2.0 GPA or above
Application deadline: October 17, 2025
Interviews & Testing (if moved to Phase 2): November 10, 12, 13
- All students must pass Mosby’s Reading Assessment Test and Mosby’s Math Assessment Test
- Interview & Testing location: NM Clinical Schools, 541 N. Fairbanks Court, Suite 950, Chicago, IL 60611
Applicants notified of acceptance status: November 14, 2025
Acceptance or declination due: November 21, 2025
BLS Healthcare Provider Certification Course:
Offered during orientation for Tuesday cohort: January 13, 2026
Offered during orientation for Friday cohort: January 16, 2026
If accepted, student must complete a BLS Healthcare Provider Certification course through NM. If certification course is taken outside of NM, it must be through the American Heart Association (AHA).
Information and pertinent dates for criminal background check will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
*Program Tuition & Additional Costs
Information on tuition and additional costs are published by the Registrar's Office on this website. Program tuition, fees, and related expenses are subject to change. Additional costs are estimated and represent a good faith effort to disclose true costs of program attendance.
Tuition: $1,250
Tuition includes textbooks, clinical apparel, Basic Life Support certification course, Healthcare Worker Background Check, Illinois Nurse Aide Competency examination fee.
Resource fee: $100
Additional costs: $65
Additional costs include application fee, liability insurance, program-specific supplies.
*For NM Employees: Part-time or full-time Northwestern Medicine employees, employed for a minimum of 6 months on date application is due and in good standing, may use the tuition reimbursement benefit to pay for tuition if accepted into the program. Employees enrolled in the NM Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program must maintain, at minimum, part-time employment status at the organization.