The practice of nursing in Illinois requires specific state authorization, managed and overseen by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The IDFPR is the sole governing body responsible for issuing and regulating professional licenses. Obtaining an Illinois nursing license is a structured process that depends on whether the applicant is a new graduate or a nurse licensed in another state. The pathway involves meeting educational requirements, undergoing a background check, and completing necessary examinations or verification procedures.
Licensing Authority and Types of Licenses
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) serves as the regulatory agency that administers the Nurse Practice Act and issues all nursing credentials. This department establishes the standards for education, examination, and professional conduct for all nurses practicing within the state. The IDFPR delineates three primary categories of nursing licenses, each with a distinct scope of professional responsibility.
Registered Professional Nurse (RN)
The Registered Professional Nurse (RN) license authorizes a broad scope of practice focused on coordinating patient care and developing care plans. RNs are responsible for the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, along with the prevention of illness and injury. This license serves as the foundation for further specialization in advanced practice roles.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
A Licensed Practical Nurse provides direct, basic patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse, or physician. The LPN scope of practice involves tasks like administering medications, monitoring patient vital signs, and ensuring patient comfort. LPNs generally focus on data collection and routine care rather than comprehensive nursing assessment and diagnosis.
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)
The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) license requires a nurse to have completed graduate-level education and hold national certification in a specialized role. Examples include Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Nurse Midwife, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. An applicant must first hold an active Illinois Registered Professional Nurse license before applying for the APN license. The APN role grants an expanded scope of practice, including the authority to prescribe medications and practice with greater autonomy.
General Prerequisites for Licensure
All applicants seeking an initial Illinois nursing license must satisfy several requirements. A primary requirement is completing an approved nursing education program that meets IDFPR standards. The curriculum must provide both theoretical knowledge and clinical instruction, preparing the graduate for entry-level professional practice.
A mandatory component of the application process is a criminal background check, requiring the submission of fingerprints. In-state applicants must schedule an appointment with an approved Illinois Live Scan Fingerprint Vendor and receive a Transaction Control Number (TCN) to submit with their application. Applicants residing out-of-state must follow a specific procedure involving the completion of an Out-of-State Fingerprint Form (OOS-FP) and submitting prints to an approved vendor for processing.
The IDFPR requires applicants to pay an application fee to begin the review process. While the total cost varies depending on the specific license type, the general application fee for an RN license is $50. The application is submitted electronically through the IDFPR’s online portal, which allows the applicant to track the status of the process.
Licensure Pathway by Examination (New Graduates)
The pathway for new graduates involves a process culminating in the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Graduates must submit an application for licensure by examination through the IDFPR portal and concurrently register directly with Pearson VUE, the testing service, to be eligible to take the NCLEX.
Once both the IDFPR application and Pearson VUE registration are processed, the applicant receives an Authorization to Test (ATT). The ATT confirms eligibility and provides details for scheduling the NCLEX, which must be taken within 90 days of issuance. Failure to test within this timeframe requires the candidate to re-register and repay fees to both the testing service and the IDFPR.
Upon successful completion of the NCLEX, results are sent to the IDFPR for processing. Illinois does not issue a temporary permit to practice before the NCLEX is passed. However, new graduates who pass the examination may practice as a license-pending Registered Nurse under the direct supervision of a licensed RN for up to three months while awaiting their permanent license.
Licensure Pathway by Endorsement (Out-of-State Nurses)
Nurses who hold an active license in another U.S. jurisdiction must apply for an Illinois license by endorsement. This requires submitting an application and paying the required fee to the IDFPR. A primary step involves verifying the applicant’s current license status and examination history from the original state of licensure.
License verification is conducted through the Nursys system, the national database for nursing license information, if the nurse’s original state participates. The applicant must request verification confirming they passed the NCLEX or its equivalent and that their license is in good standing. The nurse must also demonstrate proof of active nursing practice within the last five years or hold current active licensure in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Endorsement applicants are eligible for a Temporary Practice Permit, allowing them to work in Illinois while the application is processed. This permit is valid for six months and is usually issued within two weeks of the IDFPR receiving a complete application and all required documentation, including the fingerprinting receipt. The temporary permit automatically terminates upon the issuance of the permanent Illinois license.
Maintaining and Renewing Your Illinois Nursing License
After a license is issued, nurses must adhere to requirements to maintain it. Registered Professional Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse licenses operate on a biennial renewal cycle, expiring on May 31st of every even-numbered year. The IDFPR sends renewal notifications approximately three months before the expiration date.
To renew the license, an RN or LPN must complete 20 contact hours of approved continuing education (CE) during the two-year renewal period. Advanced Practice Nurses require 80 contact hours of CE every two years. Mandatory topics must be included, such as one hour on sexual harassment prevention and one hour on implicit bias awareness training. The CE requirement also includes one hour of training on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias for nurses who provide care to adults aged 26 and older. Applicants are not required to complete CE hours for their first renewal period. Each licensee is responsible for retaining documentation of all completed CE for potential auditing by the IDFPR.