Registered Nurses (RNs) in Illinois must comply with specific continuing education (CE) requirements set forth by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to renew their license. Understanding these mandates ensures an RN remains qualified to practice and avoids complications during the renewal process. This article details the total hours, required subjects, and administrative expectations for all Illinois RNs.
Core CEU Requirements for Illinois RNs
Registered Nurses in Illinois must complete twenty contact hours of approved continuing education during the standard two-year renewal cycle established by the IDFPR. These contact hours must be relevant to the practice of nursing, patient care, or professional development to be accepted for credit.
The continuing education must be completed within the 24 months immediately preceding the license expiration date. The twenty hours are a minimum requirement, ensuring nurses remain current with advancements and best practices in the healthcare field.
Mandatory Specific Course Topics
Within the total twenty contact hours, Illinois mandates specific subject matter training.
Sexual Harassment Prevention
Every renewal cycle, RNs must complete one hour of continuing education on sexual harassment prevention training. This training is required for all licensees who must complete CE to renew their license.
Implicit Bias Awareness
Nurses must also complete one hour of training dedicated to implicit bias awareness. This course must cover the causes and effects of implicit bias and provide strategies to recognize and mitigate its impact in the healthcare setting.
Dementia Care
An additional one-hour training requirement covers the diagnosis, treatment, and care of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This course applies to RNs who provide health care services and have direct patient interaction with adults 26 years of age and older. This dementia-related training is required once every six years.
Understanding the Licensing Renewal Cycle
The official deadline for Registered Nurse license renewal in Illinois is May 31st of every even-numbered year. This biennial schedule dictates the timeline for completing all continuing education requirements. All twenty contact hours must be finalized before this expiration date to ensure continuous licensure.
Missing the deadline results in a lapsed license, which requires a separate process and often higher fees for reinstatement. Nurses must keep their contact information, including their current mailing address and email, updated with the IDFPR to receive timely communication regarding the renewal period.
Approved CE Sources and Documentation
Continuing education hours must be obtained from an approved sponsor to be considered valid for renewal. Acceptable providers include those accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), state nursing associations, or accredited educational institutions.
Nurses are personally responsible for maintaining accurate records of all completed continuing education. The IDFPR does not require submission of CE certificates during the renewal process itself, but licensees must be prepared to produce them upon request for audit purposes. Documentation, such as certificates of completion, must be retained for a minimum of five years following the renewal period.
Special Scenarios and Renewal Exemptions
A key exemption exists for newly licensed Registered Nurses in Illinois. An RN is not required to complete the twenty hours of continuing education for the first renewal of their license if they were licensed for less than twelve months before the first renewal deadline.
Nurses who hold an Illinois license but reside and practice in another state must still comply with Illinois’ specific CE requirements. However, CE hours used to satisfy requirements for another jurisdiction may be applied to fulfill the Illinois CE requirements, provided they meet the criteria. For a license that has been inactive or lapsed, the requirements for reinstatement may be different and often involve a higher number of CE hours.