Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Field guide · License renewal
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) · 2-year renewal cycle
Verified against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) · Last reviewed · How RenewRN verifies its data
Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources
As of 2026, Illinois RNs must complete 20 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years to renew. The RN renewal fee is $80.
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| Renewal cycle | Every 2 years |
| Renewal deadline | RN/APRN: May 31 of even-numbered years; LPN: January 31 of odd-numbered years |
| Total CE hours (RN) | 20 contact hours |
| Renewal fee (RN) | $80 |
| Compact state (NLC) | No · what if I move to a compact state? |
| License types | RN, LPN, APRN |
| Typical pay | See Illinois nurse salaries |
Illinois requires Registered Nurses (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) to complete 20 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle. RN and APRN licenses expire May 31 of even-numbered years; LPN licenses expire January 31 of odd-numbered years (these are separate cycles). APRNs have a significantly higher requirement of 80 CE hours, including 50 in their specialty area and 20 in pharmacotherapeutics. Several mandatory topics are required each renewal including sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias awareness, and Alzheimer's and dementia training. Illinois is not currently a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state.
Verified against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), last checked 2026-06-22. Found something off? Let me know.
Illinois CE Audit Response Guide
Response deadline, retention rules, board address, and the rejections that get nurses dinged.
Read the full Illinois RN License Renewal Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal
Visit the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) website for the official renewal portal.
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Track your renewal steps with ProYou attest to your CE when you renew and keep your certificates; you only submit documents if the board audits you.
An Illinois RN completes 20 hours of approved CE for the two-year cycle (including four one-hour mandated topics) and ATTESTS to completion in the IDFPR online renewal application; certificates are NOT submitted at renewal. The board CE page: “As required by the Act, all nurses shall complete continuing education as follows: RN Licensure Renewal: 20 hours of approved Continuing Education will be required for the June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2026, license renewal cycle.” The IDFPR RN CE FAQ tells the nurse to keep, not send, the certificate: “Like all other CE you must receive a Certificate of Completion and retain it for your records,” and you are not required “to provide a Certificate if you renew on time, but you may be asked to confirm that you have completed the training. You may need to provide a Certificate if you renew late” or if audited. First renewals are exempt: “A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of Illinois RN license, Nurse Practice Act Rules: Section 1300.130 (a)(4).”
Where it happens: IDFPR Online Services Portal
online-dfpr.micropact.comIDFPR conducts random audits; the nurse retains Certificates of Completion and produces them only if selected or when renewing late. Per the RN CE FAQ the nurse need not provide a certificate to renew on time “but you may be asked to confirm that you have completed the training.” Audit selection, notification, and response-deadline mechanics are governed by 68 Ill. Admin. Code 1300.130 and are not published as a fixed number on the CE page.
Verified 2026-07-03 against nursing.illinois.gov · idfpr.illinois.gov. Always confirm with the board before relying on it.
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| Type | CE hours | Renewal fee |
|---|---|---|
| RN | 20 / 2 yrs | $80 |
| LPN | 20 / 2 yrs | $80 |
| APRN | 80 / 2 yrs | $80 |
APRN renewal in Illinois. The board is only one clock: your national certification and any DEA registration renew on their own cycles. Full Illinois APRN renewal guide
| Category | Hours | Required | Types | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General CE | 20 | Required | RNLPN | Total continuing education contact hours required for biennial renewal |
| APRN General CE | 80 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 80 total CE hours required for APRNs per biennial renewal, including 50 hours in specialty area and 20 hours in pharmacotherapeutics |
| Sexual Harassment Prevention | 1 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention training required every renewal (included in total) |
| Implicit Bias Awareness | 1 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training required every renewal (included in total) |
| Alzheimer's & Dementia | 1 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 1 hour of Alzheimer's disease and dementia training required every 6 years for nurses treating adults age 26+ (included in total) |
| Cultural Competency | 1 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 1 hour of cultural competency training required every 6 years (effective January 1, 2025, included in total) |
| Mandated Reporter Training | 1 | Conditional | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 1 hour of mandated reporter training required within 3 months of initial licensure, then every 6 years (included in total) |
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs): Illinois CNA renewal is handled by the state nurse-aide registry, not the Board of Nursing, and follows a work-hours / in-service model rather than the CE above. Check your state nurse-aide registry for CNA requirements.
Find free Illinois CE. Verified, accredited and state-approved courses. No upsells. Browse free Illinois nursing CE courses
Missed your Illinois renewal deadline?
After expiration the license is restored through reinstatement (CE for the period June 1 of the even year through May 31 must be complete). The previously listed 90-day late-renewal window is not supported by the official sources. Confirm reinstatement requirements with IDFPR.
What to do if your Illinois license lapsedApproved CE Providers
Reinstatement Fees
Already lapsed? The Illinois re-entry guide covers refresher rules, costs by lapse length, and the path back.
Applies to new RN licensure by examination. Verified against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
First-Time Licensee Exemption
First-time licensees in Illinois have a reduced CE requirement for initial renewal
CE Audit Information
Illinois DFPR may audit CE compliance at renewal.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/nursing.htmlThese Illinois renewal figures are free to cite, quote, or republish with attribution and a link (CC BY 4.0). Suggested citation:
RenewRN, “Illinois Nursing License Renewal Requirements” (June 2026), renewrn.net/states/illinois, verified against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
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