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Illinois vs New Jersey for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$310
IL
vs
$465
NJ
Timeline
2-4 wks
IL
vs
4-8 wks
NJ
Renewal Fee
$60
IL
vs
$120
NJ

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category Illinois New Jersey
Total Fees $310 $465
Application Fee $50 $200
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 2-4 weeks 4-8 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 2 years
Renewal Fee $60 $120
CE Hours 20 hrs 30 hrs
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

Illinois is $155 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Illinois

Processing Speed

Illinois processes applications in 2-4 weeks.

Winner: Illinois

NLC Compact

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

Winner: New Jersey

Renewal Cost

Illinois has lower renewal fees at $60 per cycle.

Winner: Illinois

Category Winners

Lower Cost
Illinois $310
vs New Jersey ($465)
Faster Processing
Illinois 2-4 wks
vs New Jersey (4-8 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
Illinois $60
vs New Jersey ($120)

Illinois Board

Illinois Board of Nursing

Official Website →

New Jersey Board

New Jersey Board of Nursing

Official Website →

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