Renew a Nursing License in Illinois: 3 Steps

If you’re a nurse in Illinois, you’re part of an impressive healthcare system that serves more than 12.5 million people. Illinois is also home to colleges and universities with some of the nation’s leading nursing programs, such as University of Illinois – Chicago, Rush University, and Loyola University Chicago.

To make sure you stay in good professional standing and are legally qualified to practice, it’s important that you promptly renew a nursing license in Illinois. Read on to learn what steps to take, as well as some useful information about the nursing profession in Illinois. And to learn about general nursing regulations in this state, check out our article on the Illinois Nurse Practice Act.

Illinois Nursing Facts

If you’re thinking about moving to Illinois to either pursue a nursing career or advance your education with an additional healthcare degree, here are some valuable facts to know about the state.

Is Illinois part of the nursing licensure compact (NLC)? No.

How much do nurses in Illinois earn?

• The average CNA salary in Illinois is $41,300 per year.
• The average LPN salary in Illinois is $64,630 per year.
• The average RN salary in Illinois is $87,650 per year.
• The average NP salary in Illinois is $126,900 per year.

How can I contact the Illinois Board of Nursing?

Illinois Board of Nursing Contact Number: 888-473-4858
Website: https://www.idfpr.com/profs/nursing.asp

Illinois Board of Nursing – Chicago
555 West Monroe., 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661

Springfield physical address:
320 W. Washington, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786

Mailing address:

IDFPR/Nursing Unit
320 W. Washington St., 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786

How to Renew a Nursing License in Illinois

The following steps are for current nursing professionals licensed in Illinois. If you need to obtain an Illinois RN license or LPN license by way of examination or endorsement, carefully review this RN application checklist or LPN application checklist provided by the IDFPR.

Step 1: Determine the Deadline for Renewal

The first step to renew a nursing license in Illinois is knowing when your renewal application is due. In the past, nursing licenses in Illinois expired on May 31 of even-numbered years. The process has been that you could renew your license online approximately two to three months before the expiration date by going to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), logging in to your account, and paying the required fee. (Note that if you visit the IDFPR site outside of the renewal period, you won’t see an application link on the site.)

In 2022, however, the state granted a variance that omitted the renewal fees and pushed the expiration date to August 31. This is why it’s wise to check with your state’s board of nursing site to see if there are any changes to renewal requirements during an expiration year.

If this is the first time you have to undertake nursing license renewal in Illinois, check out this handy explainer for setting up an individual account on the IDFPR online portal.

Step 2: Satisfy Continuing Education Requirements

As you’re very much aware, your nursing education is ongoing. To ensure you’re up to date on the latest developments in healthcare and patient issues, you must complete state-specific continuing education requirements. In order to renew a nursing license in Illinois, the following requirements must be met during each licensing period:

• RN/LPN: 20 hours of approved continuing education per two-year license renewal cycle
• APRN: 80 hours of approved continuing education per two-year license renewal cycle

To keep your CNA certification active, you must work at least one eight-hour shift in 24 months. You must be for paid for providing nursing-related services under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

Need to earn more contact hours to satisfy your continuing competency requirements for Illinois license renewal? You can access a variety of courses at IntelyEdu, which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Step 3: File Your Renewal Application

Go to the IDFPR site within the renewal period and find the link for nursing renewals in order to submit your application. Remember, if you visit the site during a time that is not within the renewal period, there will be no nursing renewal links visible on the site.

To verify that your nursing license renewal in Illinois has been completed, check your status by visiting the IDFPR online services portal. It will take approximately two to four days for your information to be added to the system.

And that’s it! After your renewal is processed, you can begin looking for nursing jobs in Illinois, whether you’re an NP, RN, LPN, or CNA.

Spotlight on Chicago Nursing Jobs

The Chicago metropolitan area is the third largest in the country for employment of registered nurses and of nursing assistants, behind New York City and Los Angeles. It’s also among the top 10 cities for employment of licensed practical nurses. That means there are ample jobs for nursing professionals in Chicago — and also in nearby Rockford, IL — whether you’re seeking full-time, part-time, contract, temporary, or per diem positions.

Find Your Next Nursing Job in Illinois

Now that you know how to renew a nursing license in Illinois, it’s time to seek out great job opportunities. IntelyCare helps you find the nursing positions you want in Illinois, and beyond. Get started right now.