The Illinois Board of Nursing, operating under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), establishes the licensing standards for Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) across the state. While the Board oversees nursing regulations and practice standards, IDFPR is responsible for processing applications, issuing licenses, renewals, and license verifications through its official licensing system.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Illinois nursing licensure, including application requirements, licensure by examination and endorsement, renewal procedures, licensing fees, continuing education requirements, license verification, and the latest information on Illinois’ participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Whether you are applying for your first nursing license or transferring an existing license to Illinois, this resource will help you understand the state’s licensing process and maintain compliance with current regulations.

Key Takeaways

– Illinois has more than 254,000 active Registered Nurse (RN) licenses, making it one of the largest nursing workforces in the United States.

– Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Nurses must obtain an Illinois nursing license before practicing in the state, including for telehealth services.

– The application fee is $50 for RN and LPN licensure and $125 for APRN licensure. Most first-time RN applicants must also pay the $200 NCLEX-RN examination fee, in addition to fingerprinting costs.

– Illinois nursing licenses are renewed every two years, with a standard renewal fee of $80. RN licenses expire on May 31 of every even-numbered year unless otherwise extended by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

– Registered Nurses must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal cycle, including required training in sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias awareness, cultural competency, and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care.

– Complete applications submitted by licensure by endorsement are typically processed within 4–6 weeks. Eligible applicants may qualify for a temporary permit, allowing them to practice while their permanent Illinois nursing license is under review.

If you are already licensed in another state, you must apply for Illinois nursing licensure by endorsement, as Illinois does not recognize multistate licenses through the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Applicants should generally allow 4–6 weeks for processing after all required documents have been received by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

To help avoid delays, complete your fingerprint-based background check within the required timeframe and ensure you meet  all continuing education (CE) requirements before renewing your license. Once these requirements are satisfied and your application is complete, the Illinois nursing licensing process is typically straightforward

Illinois Board of Nursing Contact Information

The Illinois Board of Nursing operates under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, which manages nursing licensure, renewals, license verification, and other licensing services. Most nursing-related transactions, including applications, address updates, and license renewals, are completed through IDFPR.

• Official Board site nursing.illinois.gov
• Licensing authority IDFPR, Division of Professional Regulation
• Professional licensing line1-800-560-6420
• General assistance1-888-473-4858
• Complaint Intake Unit1-312-814-6910
• TTY / TDD1-866-325-4949
• Chicago office 555 W. Monroe St., 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
• Springfield office 320 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786
• [email protected]

What the Illinois Board of Nursing Does

The Illinois Board of Nursing establishes the standards for nursing practice and advises on regulations under the Illinois Nurse Practice Act. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is responsible for administering nursing licensure, processing applications and renewals, maintaining license records, and overseeing disciplinary actions. For most applicants and licensees, all licensing services including applications, renewals, continuing education compliance, and license verification is managed through IDFPR’s online licensing system.

Illinois has one of the largest nursing workforces in the United States, with more than 254,000 active Registered Nurse (RN) licenses, ranking among the top five states nationwide. Due to the high volume of license applications and renewals, processing times may be longer during peak renewal periods.

To improve licensing services, IDFPR has transitioned nursing licenses to its CORE online licensing platform, which supports applications, renewals, and license management. Applicants may notice differences in the online system compared to previous years as the state continues to modernize its licensing process.

Is Illinois a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) State?

No. Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) and currently issues single-state nursing licenses only. Nurses who hold a multistate license from another compact state must obtain an Illinois nursing license by endorsement before they can legally practice in Illinois. Likewise, Illinois-issued nursing licenses do not provide multistate practice privileges.

Although legislation to join the Nurse Licensure Compact has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly on several occasions, Illinois has not enacted the necessary legislation to become a compact state. Until any future legislation is approved and implemented, all nurses practicing in Illinois must hold a valid Illinois nursing license.

For nurses relocating to Illinois, this means a multistate license issued by another compact state cannot be used to practice in Illinois. Instead, applicants must complete the licensure by endorsement process and meet all Illinois licensing requirements before beginning employment. Planning ahead and submitting a complete application can help reduce processing delays and ensure a smooth transition into practice.

By the numbers: 43 jurisdictions have enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. Illinois remains one of about a dozen holdouts, in company with California and New York. Even an optimistic 2026 bill would not put multistate licenses in nurses’ hands until 2027 or later.

How to Obtain an Illinois Nursing License

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) offers two primary pathways to Registered Nurse (RN) licensure: licensure by examination for first-time applicants and licensure by endorsement for nurses who are already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction.

Licensure by Examination

Graduates of approved nursing education programs who are applying for their first nursing license must apply through IDFPR. Applicants are required to submit an online application, complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check, arrange for their official nursing transcripts to be sent directly to IDFPR, register for the NCLEX-RN examination through Pearson VUE, and successfully pass the examination before a license can be issued. While the NCLEX is a national licensing examination administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), applicants must also satisfy all Illinois-specific licensing requirements.

Licensure by Endorsement

Nurses who hold an active, unrestricted nursing license in another U.S. state or territory may apply for an Illinois nursing license by endorsement without retaking the NCLEX examination. Applicants must submit the required endorsement application, complete the criminal background check, and provide official license verification. If the original licensing state participates in Nursys, license verification can usually be transmitted electronically, helping to expedite the application process. For states that do not participate in Nursys, applicants must arrange for verification to be sent directly from the original licensing authority, which may increase processing times.

Illinois Nursing License by Endorsement Checklist

Before submitting your Illinois nursing license by endorsement application, make sure you have the following:

– A current, active, and unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license issued by another U.S. state or territory.

– Proof of successful completion of the NCLEX or another Board-approved licensing examination.

– Official license verification submitted through Nurses, when available, or directly from the original licensing authority if the state does not participate in Nurses.

– A completed fingerprint-based criminal background check performed by an approved fingerprint vendor.

– Payment of the required $50 application fee through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) online licensing system.

To help avoid delays, applicants should complete the required fingerprint-based criminal background check within the timeframe specified by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Applicants completing fingerprinting outside Illinois should carefully follow the state’s out-of-state fingerprint submission instructions and submit all required documents as early as possible to prevent processing delays.

If you have a confirmed employment start date, you may be eligible to apply for a temporary nursing permit, allowing you to begin working while your endorsement application is under review. To further streamline the process, it is recommended that license verification through Nursys (when applicable) be requested as soon as the endorsement application is submitted, as verification processing times can vary depending on the issuing jurisdiction.

Illinois Nursing License Fees (2026)

Illinois nursing license fees vary depending on the license type and application pathway. The application fee for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is $50, while Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) pay $125. A temporary endorsement permit costs $25, and nursing licenses are renewed every two years for $80.

First-time applicants should also budget for the $200 NCLEX-RN examination fee, which is paid separately to Pearson VUE.

Fee Type| Amount

RN/LPN Application| $50

APRN Application| $125

Temporary Endorsement Permit| $25

RN/LPN License Renewal (2 Years)| $80

NCLEX-RN Examination*| $200

The NCLEX-RN examination fee is paid directly to Pearson VUE and is separate from Illinois licensing fees.

For most new RN applicants, the total cost of obtaining an Illinois nursing license ranges from $280 to $320, including the application fee, NCLEX examination fee, and fingerprint-based criminal background check. Nurses applying by endorsement generally incur lower costs since they are not required to retake the NCLEX and typically pay only the application fee, license verification, and fingerprinting expenses.

Applicants can help avoid processing delays by submitting all required documentation, including license verification and fingerprint results, as early as possible. A complete application is more likely to be processed efficiently by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Illinois Nursing License Renewal & Continuing Education (CE) Requirements

Illinois Registered Nurse (RN) licenses are renewed every two years through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). RN licenses expire on May 31 of every even-numbered year, and renewal requires completion of the online renewal process, attestation of continuing education (CE) compliance, and payment of the $80 renewal fee.

Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) must complete 20 contact hours of approved continuing education during each renewal cycle. Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are subject to additional continuing education requirements, including 80 contact hours and maintenance of national certification in accordance with Illinois regulations.

As part of the required 20 contact hours for RNs and LPNs, the following mandatory topics must be completed during each applicable renewal cycle:

– 1 hour of Sexual Harassment Prevention Training.

– 1 hour of Implicit Bias Awareness Training.

– 1 hour of Cultural Competency Training.

– 1 hour of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Care Training (required for nurses who provide care to adult patients, as applicable).

These mandatory subjects are included within the required 20 contact hours and do not increase the total CE requirement. Newly licensed nurses are generally exempt from continuing education requirements for their first license renewal. In addition, certain Illinois licensees must complete Mandated Reporter Training within the required timeframe established by state law and renew that training periodically as required.

Nurses applying for licensure by endorsement are not required to retake the NCLEX examination. However, they must complete the Illinois endorsement application, submit license verification, satisfy the fingerprint-based criminal background check requirements, and pay the applicable licensing fees before an Illinois nursing license can be issued.

How to Verify an Illinois Nursing License

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) provides a free online license verification system that allows employers, healthcare organizations, and nurses to confirm the status of an Illinois nursing license. You can also use the Nursys QuickConfirm database for national license verification and endorsement purposes.

The IDFPR License Lookup is the official source for verifying Illinois nursing licenses and typically reflects the most up-to-date licensing information. Users can search by a nurse’s name or license number to view the license type, current status, expiration date, and any publicly available disciplinary actions.

Nursys QuickConfirm, maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is another reliable verification tool, particularly for employers and organizations verifying licenses across multiple states. Because Nursys receives data from participating state boards, updates may occasionally appear slightly later than the official Illinois licensing database.

If you need to locate your own nursing license number, simply search your name using the IDFPR License Lookup or sign in to your IDFPR online account, where you can view your license details and print a copy of your current nursing license.

https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/lookup/licenselookup.aspx

https://www.nursys.com/