Getting a Illinois nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published. Illinois (IDFPR) does not publish an endorsement review timeframe; the only posted figure is a 2 to 4 business-day lag for an approved license to appear in its system. You have three years from the date IDFPR receives your application to complete it.

Illinois endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Illinois licenses out-of-state nurses by endorsement (license method Endorsement, profession code 041). You verify an existing license and submit the supporting education and licensing-board forms.
Processing time: Not published. Illinois (IDFPR) does not publish an endorsement review timeframe; the only posted figure is a 2 to 4 business-day lag for an approved license to appear in its system. You have three years from the date IDFPR receives your application to complete it.
Work while waiting: Yes. Illinois issues a temporary practice permit to endorsement applicants under the Nurse Practice Act, valid for six months (or until the license issues, or the Department signals intent to deny, whichever comes first). Submit the TP-NUR form, proof of a current out-of-state license, and proof of fingerprint submission.
Requirements: Verify your license through Nursys, or the CT-NUR form for non-Nursys states (covering your original state, current state, and any state practiced in within five years). Complete an Illinois State Police and FBI fingerprint background check, or the OOS-FP form if fingerprinted out of state. Submit the ED-NUR education certificate or official transcripts. A Social Security or ITIN number is required.
Fees: $50 endorsement application fee, plus $25 for the temporary permit if you want one (submit $75 combined). Fingerprint vendor fees are separate.
Compact rules: Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not cover Illinois. Every out-of-state nurse needs an Illinois license by endorsement.
Military spouse: Illinois expedites the initial application review for an active-duty service member or spouse (or within two years of active duty), completing the review within 30 days once the full application and fee are in.

Source: Illinois IDFPR, RN licensure by endorsement instruction sheet, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Illinois

1Confirm you need a Illinois license: Illinois is not a compact state, so an out-of-state license will not cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

Illinois endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Illinois nursing license by endorsement?: Not published. Illinois (IDFPR) does not publish an endorsement review timeframe; the only posted figure is a 2 to 4 business-day lag for an approved license to appear in its system. You have three years from the date IDFPR receives your application to complete it.
Can I work in Illinois while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. Illinois issues a temporary practice permit to endorsement applicants under the Nurse Practice Act, valid for six months (or until the license issues, or the Department signals intent to deny, whichever comes first). Submit the TP-NUR form, proof of a current out-of-state license, and proof of fingerprint submission.
Do I need a Illinois license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not cover Illinois. Every out-of-state nurse needs an Illinois license by endorsement.
How much does Illinois endorsement cost?: $50 endorsement application fee, plus $25 for the temporary permit if you want one (submit $75 combined). Fingerprint vendor fees are separate.

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Getting a Illinois nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Illinois endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: Illinois licenses out-of-state nurses by endorsement (license method Endorsement, profession code 041). You verify an existing license and submit the supporting education and licensing-board forms.
Processing time: Not published. Illinois (IDFPR) does not publish an endorsement review timeframe; the only posted figure is a 2 to 4 business-day lag for an approved license to appear in its system. You have three years from the date IDFPR receives your application to complete it.
Work while waiting: Yes. Illinois issues a temporary practice permit to endorsement applicants under the Nurse Practice Act, valid for six months (or until the license issues, or the Department signals intent to deny, whichever comes first). Submit the TP-NUR form, proof of a current out-of-state license, and proof of fingerprint submission.
Requirements: Verify your license through Nursys, or the CT-NUR form for non-Nursys states (covering your original state, current state, and any state practiced in within five years). Complete an Illinois State Police and FBI fingerprint background check, or the OOS-FP form if fingerprinted out of state. Submit the ED-NUR education certificate or official transcripts. A Social Security or ITIN number is required.
Fees: $50 endorsement application fee, plus $25 for the temporary permit if you want one (submit $75 combined). Fingerprint vendor fees are separate.
Compact rules: Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not cover Illinois. Every out-of-state nurse needs an Illinois license by endorsement.
Military spouse: Illinois expedites the initial application review for an active-duty service member or spouse (or within two years of active duty), completing the review within 30 days once the full application and fee are in.

Source: Illinois IDFPR, RN licensure by endorsement instruction sheet, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into Illinois

1Confirm you need a Illinois license: Illinois is not a compact state, so an out-of-state license will not cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Illinois endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a Illinois nursing license by endorsement?

Can I work in Illinois while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. Illinois issues a temporary practice permit to endorsement applicants under the Nurse Practice Act, valid for six months (or until the license issues, or the Department signals intent to deny, whichever comes first). Submit the TP-NUR form, proof of a current out-of-state license, and proof of fingerprint submission.

Do I need a Illinois license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license from another state does not cover Illinois. Every out-of-state nurse needs an Illinois license by endorsement.

How much does Illinois endorsement cost?

$50 endorsement application fee, plus $25 for the temporary permit if you want one (submit $75 combined). Fingerprint vendor fees are separate.