Certified Nursing Assistant Jobs in Indianapolis, IN
Certified nursing assistants in Indianapolis earn a median of about $18.69 an hour, and the steadiest demand sits in long-term acute care and senior living, from Kindred's hospital on West 10th Street to Trilogy's communities in Hamilton County. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current certified nursing assistant Openings in Indianapolis, IN
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Certified Nursing Assistant Work in Indianapolis
Most CNA hiring in Indianapolis happens outside the big downtown hospitals. IU Health, Eskenazi Health and Community Health Network staff their bedside support roles mainly as patient care technicians, so the CNA title shows up most often at long-term acute care hospitals, nursing homes and senior living communities. Indianapolis is also headquarters for American Senior Communities, one of the state's large senior care operators, and senior care communities run from the east side along Ritter Avenue and the south side along Shelby Street to North Meridian Street and Noblesville, north of the I-465 loop.
That mix shapes the job. Long-term acute care hospitals such as Kindred Hospital Indianapolis Central on West 10th Street treat patients who need extended hospital care after a serious illness or ICU stay, while senior living communities in Hamilton County and on the north side need CNAs on every shift, every day of the year. Night and weekend shifts make up a large share of openings, and sign-on and retention bonuses show up in local postings.
Top Indianapolis Employers Hiring Certified Nursing Assistants
These Indianapolis-area employers have posted CNA or nursing assistant roles on their own careers sites:
- Kindred Hospital Indianapolis - the ScionHealth long-term acute care hospitals on West 10th Street and the north side hire CNAs and nursing assistants, with a $1,500 full-time sign-on advertised at the Central campus.
- Trilogy Health Services - the senior living operator hires CNAs for its metro communities, including Noblesville, with weekly pay and a quarterly retention bonus.
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center - the VA hospital on West 10th Street lists nursing assistants among its nursing careers for VA Indiana.
Certified Nursing Assistant Salaries in Indianapolis
- Entry level: about $17.50 to $18.50 an hour for newly certified aides.
- Experienced: roughly $18.50 to $21.50 an hour with a year or two on the floor.
- Senior / top of range: $21.50 to $23 or more an hour, usually with night or weekend differentials.
These are estimates drawn from May 2025 federal wage data for the Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood metro, where the median for nursing assistants is about $18.69 an hour. Shift differentials and sign-on and retention bonuses move pay up, and full-time roles at hospitals usually carry stronger benefits than per diem work.
How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant in Indianapolis
To work as a CNA in Indiana you complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, pass the state competency test, and get listed on the Indiana Aides Registry, which the Indiana Department of Health runs. The test is given through Ivy Tech Community College's CNA/QMA Central Testing Office: a 100-question written exam with 80% needed to pass, plus a skills test of hand hygiene and four random skills, for $100 for both parts. In Indianapolis, Hardon Education on East 55th Street offers CNA training, and some senior care employers train new aides in house. To keep your certification active, you must work at least 8 hours in nursing-related duties every two years.
What the Job Involves
CNAs handle the hands-on care that keeps patients safe and comfortable: bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, turning and repositioning, and helping patients walk or move between bed and chair. You take and record vital signs, answer call lights, change linens, and report changes in a patient's condition to the nurse in charge. In long-term acute care you also support nurses with patients who need extended, more complex hospital care.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Indiana CNA certification on the Aides Registry
- Safe patient transfers and lifting technique
- Accurate vital signs and charting
- Patience and respect with elderly and dementia patients
- Reliability on nights, weekends and holidays
- Clear communication with nurses and families
Career Path and Advancement
Many Indianapolis CNAs add the Indiana qualified medication aide credential, then move into practical nursing through programs such as Ivy Tech Indianapolis, Hardon Education or Hondros College of Nursing on the northwest side. Others move into hospital patient care technician roles at IU Health, Eskenazi or Community, a common bridge into nursing school. CNA experience is also a common first step toward phlebotomy, medical assisting and senior living leadership roles.
Related Careers in Indianapolis
If CNA work interests you, these related Indianapolis roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a certification to be a CNA in Indianapolis?
Yes. Indiana requires you to complete a state-approved nurse aide training program, pass the state competency test, and be listed on the Indiana Aides Registry run by the Indiana Department of Health. Some employers hire uncertified nursing assistants for limited roles, but a CNA title requires the certification.
How much do CNAs make in Indianapolis?
Most Indianapolis CNAs earn roughly $17.50 to $21.50 an hour, with the metro median near $18.69 in federal wage data. Night and weekend differentials, sign-on bonuses and retention bonuses can push take-home pay higher.
How much does the Indiana CNA test cost?
The state competency test costs $100 for both the written and skills portions, or $90 for one portion. It is administered through Ivy Tech Community College's CNA/QMA Central Testing Office, and passing both parts puts you on the Indiana Aides Registry.
Do Indianapolis hospitals hire CNAs?
The large Indianapolis hospital systems mostly hire patient care technicians instead of using the CNA title, though a CNA certification is strong preparation for those roles. Long-term acute care hospitals, the VA, nursing homes and senior living communities are where CNA postings appear most often.
How do I keep my Indiana CNA certification active?
You need to work at least 8 hours in nursing-related duties every two years to stay active on the Indiana Aides Registry. Renewal is free and handled through the state's online licensing system.
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