Illinois Board of Nursing

The agency that licenses and disciplines nurses in Illinois — how to reach it, what it charges, and what it requires to keep a licence active.

Contact the board

Website idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/nursing.html

Phone 1-888-473-4858

Contact via online portal

Verify a Illinois licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in Illinois, with what it costs to get and what it takes to keep. Initial cost totals application, examination, and fingerprinting fees.

Credential	Initial cost	Renewal	CE hours
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant	$145	— every 2 yrs	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$310	$80 every 2 yrs	20
RN Registered Nurse	$310	$80 every 2 yrs	20
NP Nurse Practitioner	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	80
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	80
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	80
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	80

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Illinois nurse aide registry, run by Illinois Department of Public Health / Health Care Worker Registry — a separate agency from the nursing board.

Multistate practice

Illinois is not an NLC member. A licence from this board is valid only in Illinois; practising elsewhere means applying by endorsement in that state.

Illinois is NOT a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). You must hold an Illinois-specific license to practice in Illinois.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the Illinois Board of Nursing?

Phone: 1-888-473-4858. Website: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/nursing.html. The board is the authoritative source for licence status, disciplinary records, and application questions. Contact it directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, including this one.

What licences does the Illinois Board of Nursing issue?

It handles Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Illinois nurse aide registry, run by Illinois Department of Public Health / Health Care Worker Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is Illinois a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

No. Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a licence issued here is valid only in Illinois. Practising elsewhere means applying for a licence by endorsement in that state.

How do I verify a Illinois nursing licence?

Use the board's public verification tool, which is free and does not require an account. It shows current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary action. Nursys also carries Illinois data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do Illinois nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 2 years, LPN/LVN every 2 years, RN every 2 years, NP every 2 years, CNM every 2 years, CNS every 2 years, CRNA every 2 years. Continuing education requirements are set per credential and are listed in the table above.

Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team

Based on 6 official sources • Last verified: July 2026

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