Illinois Nursing License Lookup

Verify any Illinois (IL) registered nurse license for free. Below is the official Illinois Board of Nursing lookup tool plus a step-by-step guide on how to use it.

Clinically reviewed by Sarah Johnson, MSN, RN

Based on 6 official sources • Last verified: July 2026

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Official Illinois License Verification

Hosted by the Illinois Board of Nursing. Free, public, and updated in real time.

Open Illinois License Lookup

Official source: Illinois Board of Nursing

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What you'll need to look up a Illinois nurse license

The nurse's first and last name (exactly as registered), OR
The nurse's license number
No login or account required

How to look up a nurse license in Illinois

1
Visit the Illinois Board of Nursing license verification tool (link above).
2
Enter the nurse's first and last name exactly as registered, or enter the license number if you have it.
3
Submit the search and review the results list.
4
Click into the matching record to see license status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions.

What each license status means

Status	Meaning
Active	Licensed and currently eligible to practice.
Inactive	Not currently practicing, but the license can be reactivated.
Lapsed / Expired	License was not renewed on time; nurse cannot practice until renewed.
Suspended	Disciplinary action in place; practice is temporarily prohibited.
Revoked	License was permanently terminated by the state board.

Looking up a multistate compact license?

Illinois does not issue multistate compact licenses directly. If you're trying to verify a nurse who practices in Illinois under a multistate license from another NLC state, use Nursys QuickConfirm, the national database operated by NCSBN.

Open Nursys QuickConfirm

Illinois nurse aide (CNA) registry lookup

Looking up a certified nursing assistant? CNAs are not in the Illinois Board of Nursing RN/LPN lookup. Illinois keeps a separate nurse aide registry, run by Illinois Department of Public Health / Health Care Worker Registry, that shows certification status, expiration, and any findings of abuse or neglect.

Open the Illinois nurse aide registry → Registry phone: (217) 785-5133 Illinois CNA certification guide →

Getting licensed in Illinois?

Requirements, fees, processing times, and renewal rules for each Illinois nursing license.

Comparing states? Nursing license cost by state, cheapest RN license states, and fastest RN license states.

Checking for disciplinary actions

The Illinois Board of Nursing lookup tool shows any disciplinary actions (suspensions, revocations, probation, consent orders) as part of the public record. If you need more detail on a specific disciplinary case, most state boards publish formal action documents on their enforcement page.

Visit the Illinois Board of Nursing website →

Illinois License Lookup FAQs

How do I look up a nurse license in Illinois?

Use the official Illinois Board of Nursing license verification tool. Enter the nurse's full name (or license number if you have it) and the tool will show current license status, expiration date, and any disciplinary actions. Results are free and updated in real time from the state board's records.

Is Illinois nursing license lookup free?

Yes. The Illinois Board of Nursing provides free public license verification. There is no cost to search, and you do not need to create an account for a basic lookup.

What does each license status mean?

Active means the nurse is licensed and in good standing. Inactive means the license is not currently in use but may be reactivated. Lapsed or Expired means the license was not renewed on time. Suspended or Revoked means disciplinary action was taken by the board and the nurse cannot legally practice.

Can I use Illinois license lookup results for hiring decisions?

No. Information from this page and from state board lookup tools is for general reference only. It is not a consumer report and cannot be used to make employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions. Employers who need FCRA-compliant background checks should use a licensed consumer reporting agency.

How current is the license information in Illinois?

The Illinois Board of Nursing maintains the authoritative record. Nursys, NCSBN's national database, shows what this board has submitted to it: NCSBN states that it posts information "when, and as, submitted by the individual boards of nursing" and displays the date each board last updated. That date is the one to check — NCSBN publishes no standard refresh interval, and submission gaps do happen. When a status matters for a decision, verify it against the board's own record.

How do I look up a CNA in Illinois?

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Illinois nurse aide registry, run by Illinois Department of Public Health / Health Care Worker Registry, not on the nursing board's RN/LPN lookup. Search the registry by name or certificate number to confirm the CNA is active and in good standing.

Can I look up a multistate (compact) license from Illinois?

Illinois is not currently a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so licenses issued in Illinois are single-state only. You can still verify the license through the Illinois Board of Nursing directly.