Illinois Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Illinois is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so its licenses are single-state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 20 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Illinois nursing license
The lookup runs on Illinois's state licensing portal, which covers RNs alongside other licensed professions. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Illinois Board of Nursing (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR, Division of Professional Regulation) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Illinois
Illinois RNs renew every two years, with licenses expiring May 31 of even-numbered years; the board directs nurses to renew during the month before that expiration date. Renewal requires 20 hours of continuing education, including brief mandatory training in sexual harassment prevention and implicit bias every cycle, plus one-time or periodic training in Alzheimer's disease and dementia care, cultural competency, and mandated reporting for nurses who work with children. The profile does not state what happens if a license lapses without renewal.
Renewing an Illinois RN license costs $80, compared with the $50 fee charged for an initial license application. Nurses should keep in mind that the NCLEX-RN exam registration fee and any required criminal background check or fingerprinting are handled and paid for separately, outside of the renewal fee itself, since these apply mainly to first-time applicants rather than to routine renewal.
Required CE topics
- 1sexual harassment prevention training 1 hr (every renewal)
- 2implicit bias awareness training 1 hr (every renewal, from 2024)
- 3Alzheimer's disease and other dementias diagnosis/treatment/care 1 hr (before first CE renewal, then once every 6 years)
- 4cultural competency training 1 hr (before first CE renewal, then once every 6 years)
- 5mandated reporter training 1 hr every 6 years (only if the nurse works with children)
Illinois Board of Nursing (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR, Division of Professional Regulation) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-02
How much does a Illinois RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Illinois board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Illinois: endorsement and temporary permits
Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license issued by another compact state does not let a nurse practice in Illinois. Registered nurses moving to Illinois must apply for licensure by endorsement rather than relying on compact privileges. A bill that would have added Illinois to the compact, HB1706, was re-referred to the House Rules Committee on March 21, 2025, and has not passed.
A nurse already licensed in another U.S. state applies for Illinois endorsement online, submitting proof of graduation from an approved nursing program, evidence of passing the NCLEX-RN or an accepted earlier exam, and verification of every license held through Nursys. Illinois also requires a fingerprint-based criminal history check and a $50 application fee. The profile does not mention any separate state jurisprudence exam. While the endorsement application is pending, a nurse can obtain a temporary permit for $25 that remains valid for six months.
Education and exam for an RN license in Illinois
Illinois requires RN applicants to graduate from a nursing education program approved by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; the board's application materials do not distinguish between associate, bachelor's, or diploma programs, so any approved pathway qualifies. Candidates must also pass the NCLEX-RN, registering for the exam through Continental Testing Services. The profile found no separate Illinois jurisprudence or state law exam required for licensure.
What do RNs earn in Illinois?
BLS OES May 2025 · 138,910 RNs employed in Illinois · RN salary in Illinois by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | No | Every 2 years | 20 hours | $50 | Verify |
| Indiana | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $50 | Verify |
| Iowa | Yes | Every 3 years | 36 hours | $143 | Verify |
| Kentucky | Yes | Every year | 14 hours | $125 | Verify |
| Missouri | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $0 | Verify |
| Wisconsin | Yes | Every 2 years | None | $57 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Illinois Board of Nursing (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR, Division of Professional Regulation) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/R…
- idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/R…
- idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/faq/dpr/rn-ce-faqs.pdf
- idfpr.illinois.gov/dpr/continuing-education.html
- idfpr.illinois.gov/checklicense.html
- ilga.gov/commission/Jcar/admincode/068/068013000A00300R.html
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Illinois RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.