Colorado vs Illinois for RN Licensing

Total Fees

$283

$310

Timeline

4-8 wks

2-4 wks

Renewal Fee

$108

$60

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category	Colorado	Illinois
Total Fees	$283 ✓	$310
Application Fee	$43 ✓	$50
Exam Fee	$200	$200
Processing Time	4-8 weeks	2-4 weeks ✓
Renewal Cycle	2 years	2 years
Renewal Fee	$108	$60 ✓
CE Hours	N/A	20 hrs
NLC Compact Member	Yes	No

Key Differences

→

Cost

Colorado is $27 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Colorado

→

Processing Speed

Illinois processes applications in 2-4 weeks.

Winner: Illinois

→

NLC Compact

Colorado is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: Colorado

→

Renewal Cost

Illinois has lower renewal fees at $60 per cycle.

Winner: Illinois

Category Winners

Lower Cost

Colorado $283

vs Illinois ($310)

Faster Processing

Illinois 2-4 wks

vs Colorado (4-8 wks)

Cheaper Renewal

Illinois $60

vs Colorado ($108)

Colorado Board

Colorado State Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Full Colorado RN requirements →

Illinois Board

Illinois Board of Nursing

Official Website →

Full Illinois RN requirements →

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