Illinois Nursing License Guide (2026)

Illinois has over 200,000 licensed nurses and is one of the largest non-compact states in the country. If you’re planning to practice nursing here—whether in Chicago, Springfield, or anywhere in between—you’ll need an Illinois-specific license. This guide covers what you need to know about getting licensed in Illinois.

Illinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR)

Detail	Information
Agency	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Licenses	RN, LPN, APRN (NP, CNS, CNM, CRNA)
Website	idfpr.illinois.gov
Phone	1-888-473-4858
Portal	online-dfpr.micropact.com

Illinois uses the IDFPR rather than a standalone nursing board. All nursing license applications go through their online portal.

Illinois Is NOT an NLC Compact State

This is the biggest thing to understand about Illinois licensing. Unlike Texas, Florida, or most other large states, Illinois has not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

What This Means for You

Scenario	Impact
Moving to Illinois	You need a separate Illinois license, even with a multistate license
Travel nursing in Illinois	Must apply for Illinois endorsement
Telehealth into Illinois	Need Illinois license to treat Illinois patients
Working near state borders	Can’t practice in Illinois on a compact license

If you hold a multistate license from a compact state like Texas or Ohio, that license doesn’t cover Illinois. You’ll need to apply for endorsement.

Will Illinois Join the Compact?

There have been legislative discussions, but as of 2026, Illinois has not enacted NLC legislation. The Illinois Nurses Association and various stakeholders continue to debate the issue. Check the NLC compact page for current membership status.

Illinois RN License

New Graduate (Examination)

Requirements:

• Graduate from a state-approved nursing program (ADN or BSN)
• Complete fingerprint background check
• Submit online application through IDFPR portal

Application Process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Create account at online-dfpr.micropact.com	Free
2	Submit RN examination application	$50
3	Complete fingerprinting (Illinois State Police)	$60
4	School submits transcript verification	—
5	Receive ATT from IDFPR	—
6	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
7	Pass NCLEX-RN	—
8	License issued	—

Timeline:

• Application posting: 2-4 business days
• ATT issuance: After application approval
• License after NCLEX: 1-3 days
• Total time: 2-4 weeks (varies based on NCLEX scheduling)

RN Endorsement

If you’re licensed in another state and moving to Illinois, you’ll apply for endorsement.

Requirements:

• Active, unencumbered RN license in another state
• Complete endorsement application
• Pass fingerprint background check
• License verification (Nursys or direct from state)

Endorsement Process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit online endorsement application	$50
2	Complete fingerprinting	$60
3	Request license verification	~$30
4	IDFPR reviews application	—
5	License issued	—

Timeline: 2-4 weeks for complete applications

RN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial examination application	$50
Endorsement application	$50
Biennial renewal	$60
Fingerprinting	$60
NCLEX-RN exam	$200
Total for new graduates	$310

RN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial (every 2 years)
CE hours	20 contact hours
Mandatory topics	None specified
Fee	$60
Online renewal	Yes, through IDFPR portal
Grace period	None—practice must cease on expiration

Illinois LPN License

Illinois uses the LPN designation (not LVN like Texas or California).

New Graduate (Examination)

Requirements:

• Graduate from approved practical nursing program
• Complete fingerprint background check
• Submit online application

Application Process:

Step	Action	Cost
1	Submit LPN examination application	$50
2	Complete fingerprinting	$60
3	School submits eligibility verification	—
4	Receive ATT	—
5	Register with Pearson VUE	$200
6	Pass NCLEX-PN	—
7	License issued	—

Timeline: 2-4 weeks to ATT

LPN Endorsement

Same process as RN endorsement, with LPN-specific application.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks

LPN Fees Summary

Fee Type	Amount
Initial examination application	$50
Endorsement application	$50
Biennial renewal	$50
Fingerprinting	$60
NCLEX-PN exam	$200
Total for new graduates	$310

LPN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial
CE hours	20 contact hours
Fee	$50

Illinois APRN Licenses

Overview

Illinois recognizes four APRN roles:

• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
• Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)

APRN Requirements

Common requirements for all APRNs:

• Active Illinois RN license
• Graduate from accredited APRN program (MSN or DNP)
• National certification in role and population focus
• Fingerprint background check

Nurse Practitioner (NP) Practice Authority

Illinois has reduced practice for NPs, but with a path to full practice authority:

Status	Requirements
Initial practice	Collaborative agreement with physician required
Full practice authority	After 250 hours collaboration AND 4,000 patient contact hours

The 4,000 patient contact hours requirement is significant—that’s roughly 2-3 years of full-time practice depending on your patient load.

NP Application

Step	Action	Cost
1	Hold active Illinois RN license	—
2	Submit NP/APRN application	$125
3	Submit national certification proof	—
4	Complete background check	~$60
5	File collaborative agreement (if applicable)	—

Timeline: 4-8 weeks

APRN Fees

Fee Type	Amount
APRN application	$125
Biennial renewal	$80

APRN Renewal Requirements

Requirement	Details
Cycle	Biennial
CE hours	80 contact hours total
Opioid education	10 hours required
Pharmacology	20 hours required
Certification	Must maintain national certification

The 80-hour CE requirement for APRNs is significantly higher than the 20 hours required for RNs and LPNs.

Background Check Process

Fingerprinting

All Illinois nursing applicants must complete fingerprinting through an approved vendor:

Process:

1. Receive fingerprint instructions with application
2. Schedule appointment with approved vendor
3. Complete fingerprinting (~$60)
4. Results sent to Illinois State Police then IDFPR
5. IDFPR reviews for clearance

Timeline: Results typically process within 1-2 weeks

Criminal History Considerations

Illinois IDFPR reviews criminal history on a case-by-case basis. If you have concerns about your background:

• Be honest on your application
• Provide certified court documents
• Include a detailed personal statement
• Expect additional processing time

Continuing Education Details

Accepted CE Providers

Illinois accepts CE from:

• Illinois Board-approved providers
• ANCC-accredited providers
• Academic nursing courses
• Certification or recertification courses

CE Exemptions

First-time renewals may be exempt from CE requirements if you’ve been licensed less than a full renewal cycle. Check your specific situation with IDFPR.

Tracking Your CE

Keep records of all CE certificates for at least 5 years. Illinois conducts audits, and you’ll need documentation if selected.

Working in Illinois vs. Surrounding States

Since Illinois is not a compact state, here’s what to know about the border situation:

Bordering State	Compact Member?	Cross-Border Practice
Wisconsin	Yes	Need Illinois license for IL patients
Indiana	Yes	Need Illinois license for IL patients
Kentucky	Yes	Need Illinois license for IL patients
Missouri	Yes	Need Illinois license for IL patients
Iowa	Yes	Need Illinois license for IL patients

All of Illinois’ neighboring states are NLC members. If you work near a state border, you may need to maintain licenses in multiple states.

Major Illinois Healthcare Markets

Market	Key Employers	Notes
Chicago	Northwestern, Rush, U of I Health	Largest market, high competition
Suburbs	Advocate, NorthShore, Amita	Strong community hospital systems
Springfield	Memorial Health, HSHS	State capital, regional hub
Rockford	OSF, Mercyhealth	Northern Illinois market
Peoria	OSF, UnityPoint	Central Illinois hub

Application Tips

Speed Up Your Application

1. Apply online — Paper applications take significantly longer
2. Complete fingerprints early — Don’t wait for application approval
3. Monitor your portal — Check status regularly
4. Respond quickly — To any requests for additional information
5. Use Nursys — For fastest license verification

Common Delays

• Incomplete applications (missing signatures, documents)
• Fingerprint processing delays
• Background check holds requiring additional documentation
• Transcript verification delays from nursing schools
• Missing or expired national certification

Illinois vs. Other States

Advantages of Illinois

Factor	Detail
Large job market	Over 200,000 nursing positions
Major academic medical centers	Northwestern, Rush, U of I
Fast processing	2-4 weeks for most applications
Reasonable fees	$310 total for new graduates
Path to NP full practice	Available after collaboration period

Considerations

Factor	Detail
Not compact member	Separate license required
State income tax	4.95% flat rate
NP collaboration initially	4,000 hours before full practice
High APRN CE requirements	80 hours vs. 20 for RN

Next Steps

Ready to get your Illinois nursing license?

1. Check specific requirements — Illinois RN | Illinois LPN
2. Create IDFPR account — online-dfpr.micropact.com
3. Schedule fingerprinting — Use approved vendor list
4. Submit application — Through online portal
5. Track status — Monitor your IDFPR account

Illinois offers a strong nursing market with major healthcare systems, academic medical centers, and diverse practice settings. While the lack of NLC membership means extra steps for out-of-state nurses, the licensing process itself is straightforward and efficient.