Put Your Illinois Nursing License on the Correct Track
Most people searching for the Illinois Board of Nursing are not looking for a board-meeting page. They need to verify a nurse, renew an RN or APRN, restore an expired license, check an application or find out which online portal actually handles their transaction.
Illinois licensing is administered by IDFPR, while the Board of Nursing advises on rules, discipline and education-program approval. This guide places the useful license, renewal, CE, fee, application and troubleshooting details before the official action links.
Use IDFPR License Lookup for public primary-source verification. Use the existing IDFPR Online Services Portal for most RN/APRN renewals and applications. New LPN and Temporary LPN applications entered the newer CORE system in May 2026.
Verify a nurse
Check license type, status, original date, expiration and discipline.
Renew or reinstate
Check whether online renewal remains open after the extended deadline.
Check application status
Review an online application, deficiencies, messages and license issuance.
Apply by endorsement
Submit education, examination, license verification and fingerprints.
Verify a nursing school
Check the exact approved LPN, ADN, BSN or graduate-entry program.
Illinois nursing-license facts that change your next action
Current 2026 position: the special RN, APRN, APRN-FPA and related controlled-substance renewal extension ended on June 30, 2026. Check the live portal immediately. If it no longer offers renewal, IDFPR instructs the licensee to request reinstatement.
RN licenses use even-year cycles
Illinois registered professional nurse licenses ordinarily expire May 31 of each even-numbered year.
LPN licenses use odd-year cycles
Illinois practical nurse licenses ordinarily expire January 31 of each odd-numbered year.
APRN renewal also requires the RN
The underlying Illinois RN license must be renewed for APRN or full-practice-authority renewal.
Single-license lookup updates daily
The state identifies License Lookup as primary-source verification. Bulk lookup data is normally updated weekly.
Illinois uses paperless licensing
Print or save an electronic license through the IDFPR “Print My License” service rather than waiting for a mailed card.
CNA records use IDPH
Certified nursing assistants are checked through the Illinois Department of Public Health Health Care Worker Registry.
Illinois Board of Nursing vs IDFPR
The Illinois Board of Nursing is part of the state regulatory structure, but license applications, renewals, public verification, account services and enforcement administration are handled through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
IDFPR handles transactions
Use IDFPR for applications, renewal, license lookup, reinstatement, address changes, printed licenses and complaints.
The Board advises and reviews
The Board recommends rules, participates in hearings and disciplinary conferences and recommends nursing-program approval or denial.
The Nurse Practice Act controls
Licensing standards, renewal cycles, practice authority and discipline arise from the Nurse Practice Act and administrative rules.
Searching only for a “Board of Nursing login” can lead to the wrong page. Begin with your task: public lookup, existing online account, CORE application, Nursys verification or reinstatement.
How to verify an Illinois nursing license
Use IDFPR’s Single License Lookup for an individual nurse. The state describes it as primary-source verification and updates the underlying data daily.
Open the official IDFPR lookup page
Use the state page instead of relying on an employer copy, screenshot or commercial directory.
Open IDFPR License LookupSelect an individual license search
Bulk reports are useful for datasets but are not the best route for verifying one person today.
Search by license number when possible
If the number is unavailable, enter the legal name. Use less information when an exact search returns no result.
Match the correct nursing credential
Confirm whether the record is for an LPN, registered professional nurse, APRN, APRN-FPA or controlled-substance registration.
Read the entire license record
Check current status, original date, effective date, expiration and any displayed disciplinary information.
Record the verification date
Employers should retain the result and the date checked under their credentialing process.
| Status shown | What it generally means | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The displayed credential is current for the period shown. | Confirm the license type, expiration and any separate APRN or controlled-substance record. |
| Not renewed / expired | The renewal cycle ended without a completed renewal. | Do not practise on it; follow reinstatement or restoration instructions. |
| Inactive | The license was placed in inactive status. | Complete reactivation before resuming Illinois nursing practice. |
| Probation / restricted | The license remains subject to conditions or an enforcement order. | Review enforcement details and confirm permitted duties. |
| Suspended / revoked | The credential does not provide ordinary authority to practise. | Review the complete state enforcement action. |
| Temporary permit | The person has time-limited authority connected to a pending application. | Check the permit expiration and permanent application status. |
The monthly Active License Report is informational and is not an official verification of one nurse’s current status. Use Single License Lookup for the live primary-source check.
No result found?
Renew an Illinois RN, APRN or nursing registration
The normal RN and APRN expiration was May 31, 2026, but IDFPR extended the renewal deadline for listed nursing credentials to June 30, 2026. That extension has now ended.
Missed June 30? Open the live renewal portal first because the nursing page may still display a renewal option. If the portal will not allow the transaction, IDFPR says you must request reinstatement rather than opening another ordinary renewal.
Verify status
Check whether the license is active, expired, inactive or already renewed.
Finish CE
Complete profession-specific and statutory training before attesting.
Use the correct account
Recover the original portal account instead of creating a duplicate.
Submit and recheck
Complete every question, pay and verify the updated public record.
Check the live expiration and status
Do not assume that an email, employer file or previous PDF shows the current result.
Verify Current StatusComplete all applicable continuing education
RN and LPN renewal normally requires 20 hours. APRN renewal requires 80 hours in the advanced-practice specialty.
Check Current CE MandatesOpen the current renewal page
IDFPR lists professions currently in renewal and links the correct online transaction.
Open Online RenewalSelect “Create/Continue a Renewal”
Inside the legacy Online Services Portal, choose Online Services, then the renewal option, and start beside the correct license number.
Answer every question and submit
Saving the form does not complete renewal. Finish the application, certification and payment steps.
Allow the record to update
IDFPR asks users to allow 2–4 business days for the processed renewal to post and the public status to change.
On the legacy renewal form, answer “Yes” to the address question only when the address moved outside the United States. A domestic address change is handled with the Edit Address option.
Why renewal may not appear
IDFPR Online Services or CORE—which portal should a nurse use?
Illinois is moving professions into CORE in phases. Not every nursing transaction is in the same system yet.
Illinois nursing portal router
Start with the type of transaction, not with whichever login appears first in search results.
Do not create a duplicate legacy account or manipulate personal information to force a new registration. IDFPR warns that duplicate-account activity can delay or reject processing.
Illinois nursing CE requirements for RN, LPN and APRN
Complete the total profession-specific hours during the 24 months before expiration. Required statutory courses generally count inside—not in addition to—the profession’s total hours.
| License type | Total CE | Timing and composition |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Professional Nurse | 20 hours | Approved CE completed during the 24 months preceding expiration. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | 20 hours | Approved CE during the two-year LPN renewal cycle. |
| APRN / APRN-FPA | 80 hours | Specialty-focused CE. Completion of the 80 hours satisfies the RN CE requirement. |
| APRN clinical-program minimum | At least 50 hours | Must come from qualifying CE programs and include no fewer than 20 pharmacotherapeutics hours. |
| APRN opioid/substance education | 10 hours | Included within the pharmacotherapeutics component of the 80-hour total. |
| First Illinois renewal | Profession total normally exempt | Do not assume every separate statutory attestation is waived; read the live renewal questions. |
Statutory training inside the CE total
| Training | Who needs it | Frequency or trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual-harassment prevention | Individual license holders under IDFPR. | One hour during each renewal cycle, beginning with the first renewal after initial licensure. |
| Implicit-bias awareness | Health professionals whose licenses require CE. | One hour per applicable renewal period. |
| Maternal-health implicit bias | Professionals reporting that they provide prenatal or postnatal maternal health services. | For renewals on or after July 1, 2026, implicit-bias education must include specified maternal-health risks. |
| Alzheimer’s and other dementias | Professionals with direct patient interaction with adults age 26 or older. | One hour before the first CE-required renewal on or after January 1, 2025, then once every six years. |
| Cultural competency | Health professionals covered by the statutory requirement. | One hour before the first CE-required renewal on or after January 1, 2025, then once every six years. |
| Mandated reporter | Nurses whose professional work involves children. | Training and renewal attestation requirements apply under the child-reporting law. |
Required topics count toward the total
Sexual-harassment, implicit-bias, dementia and cultural-competency hours may be applied toward the profession-specific minimum when the course otherwise qualifies.
Keep completion certificates
On-time renewal usually relies on attestation, but proof may be requested for an audit, late renewal, reinstatement or restoration.
Useful CE rules
Illinois does not maintain one single list containing every valid nursing CE provider. A provider may qualify under the Nurse Practice Act rules without holding a separate Illinois CE-sponsor license.
Illinois nursing application, renewal and restoration fees
The administrative rule calculates RN, LPN and APRN renewal at $40 per year. A normal two-year renewal therefore has a base state fee of $80 per license.
| Transaction | Published base fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| RN two-year renewal | $80 | $40 per year under Section 1300.30. |
| LPN two-year renewal | $80 | $40 per year under the same rule. |
| APRN or APRN-FPA two-year renewal | $80 | The underlying RN license must also be renewed. |
| RN or LPN license application | $50 | Examination and testing-service charges are separate. |
| APRN or APRN-FPA application | $125 | Controlled-substance or other related registrations can require separate transactions. |
| Temporary restoration or endorsement permit | $25 | Supporting application and fingerprint requirements still apply. |
| Certification of license record | $20 | Nursing verification to another board is routed through Nursys. |
| Restoration of expired license | $50 plus lapsed fees | The rule caps the added lapsed renewal fees at $250. |
The online portal controls the actual amount due for the selected transaction. Testing, fingerprint, payment-processing, Nursys and controlled-substance charges may be separate.
Reinstate, restore or reactivate an Illinois nursing license
“Renewal,” “reinstatement,” “restoration” and “reactivation” are not interchangeable. Begin with the live status and the date the license expired or became inactive.
| Situation | Likely route | Core requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Renewal portal still accepts the transaction | Complete online renewal immediately. | Required CE, questions, fee and any related credential renewal. |
| Missed renewal and portal is closed | Request reinstatement. | Application, fees, CE and any requested supporting information. |
| License is inactive | Reactivate from inactive status. | Current renewal fee and CE requirements. |
| Expired five years or less | Restoration under the standard nursing rule. | Forms, required fees and current CE. |
| Expired or inactive over five years | Expanded restoration review. | CE, fingerprints and proof of fitness such as active practice, examination, refresher training or current APRN certification. |
| Disciplinary status | Petition or restoration from discipline. | Follow the order and the profession-specific petition process. |
Find the license number and expiration date
Use License Lookup before requesting the wrong restoration form.
Open the IDFPR reactivation page
RN and LPN licensees are directed to the profession-specific reinstatement or restoration chart.
Start ReactivationMatch the date and current status
The amount and application route depend on when the license expired and whether it is inactive, non-renewed or disciplined.
Complete CE and fingerprints where required
Illinois nursing restoration rules require current CE and fingerprint processing in specified cases.
Submit exactly as instructed
Some restoration transactions still require printed forms and mailing rather than ordinary online renewal.
Practice on an expired Illinois nursing license is unlicensed practice and is grounds for discipline under the nursing rules.
Check an Illinois nursing application and deficiency
Illinois does not provide one public status tracker for every nursing application. Online applicants should sign in to the exact account and system used to submit the application.
Identify which portal received the application
RN and APRN applications may be in the legacy Online Services Portal. New LPN and Temporary LPN applications entered CORE in May 2026.
Use the original login
Recover the user ID, password or ILogin account rather than registering again.
Open the submitted application
Check whether the status is incomplete, pending, deficient, approved or issued.
Read every deficiency notice
Do not respond with unrelated documents. Identify the exact education, examination, verification, fingerprint or personal-history requirement.
Confirm who must send the item
A school, licensing board, Nursys or fingerprint vendor may need to send the information directly.
| Pending item | What to verify | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint processing | Fingerprints were taken for IDFPR and processed through the required Illinois route. | Keep the vendor receipt and confirm the application information matched. |
| Official transcript | The nursing program sent the final official record showing completion. | Ask the school for the date and delivery method. |
| License verification | The original or current licensing jurisdiction sent verification through Nursys or another accepted route. | Order the missing verification. |
| NCLEX or testing requirement | The testing application, exam registration and result were matched to the Illinois file. | Follow the testing-process instructions linked from the nursing page. |
| Personal-history review | The application requested criminal, disciplinary or explanatory records. | Provide the complete official documents requested. |
| No visible progress | The application is in the correct portal and has not generated a deficiency notice. | Contact IDFPR with the profession, application date and portal reference. |
“I am contacting IDFPR about my _____ nursing application. I submitted it through _____ on _____. My application or reference number is _____. The account currently shows _____. The document named _____ was sent by _____ on _____. Please confirm whether it was matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
Illinois RN or LPN licensure by endorsement
Endorsement is the route for an applicant already licensed in another state or jurisdiction who meets Illinois education, examination, verification and fingerprint requirements.
Correct application
RN endorsement is linked from the nursing page through the existing IDFPR portal. New LPN applications use CORE.
Fingerprint processing
Applicants use an Illinois-licensed fingerprint vendor or the approved out-of-state processing route.
Official verification
Verification from original and relevant jurisdictions may be required through Nursys or the issuing board.
Select the endorsement application
Do not choose examination if you already hold qualifying nursing licensure based on the accepted national examination.
Open Official Nursing PageSubmit the application and base fee
The nursing rule lists a $50 application fee for RN or LPN licensure, separate from testing or other service fees.
Complete fingerprint processing
Fingerprints should be taken within the period required by the application and processed through the Illinois-authorized route.
Order official licensure verification
Use Nursys when the relevant nursing board participates. Follow the issuing board’s direct route when it does not.
Start Nursys VerificationArrange education records
The Department may require official nursing-program transcripts or an approved credentials evaluation for international education.
Monitor the online account
Check for deficiencies instead of sending duplicate applications or multiple unrequested document copies.
Internationally educated applicants may need an approved credentials evaluation and an accepted English-proficiency examination unless a waiver condition applies.
Illinois rules provide a temporary endorsement-permit process for qualifying RN and LPN applicants. The published permit fee is $25, and the rule describes issuance within 14 days after receipt of a complete permit application.
License Lookup, Nursys or certification—which service do you need?
| Your task | Correct service | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Check whether an Illinois nurse is currently licensed | IDFPR Single License Lookup | Free primary-source public verification updated daily. |
| Verify many Illinois licenses | Bulk License Lookup | Weekly-updated dataset for multiple records. |
| Send Illinois nursing verification to another board | Nursys | Nursing certification or verification transmitted through the national nursing system. |
| Obtain a state-sealed certification for a non-nursing purpose | IDFPR Certification of Licensure instructions | Certification can include status, issue date, expiration, method and discipline, but nursing-board verification is still routed to Nursys. |
| Obtain disciplinary documents | IDFPR enforcement reports or FOIA | Official enforcement material rather than a basic verification printout. |
IDFPR’s certification page specifically states that nursing-profession certifications or verifications must be made through Nursys rather than mailed directly to IDFPR.
Check an Illinois-approved nursing education program
The official list revised July 2, 2026 identifies currently approved practical-nursing, hospital, associate-degree, baccalaureate and master’s-entry programs, including extension campuses and school codes.
Open the current IDFPR program PDF
Use the state list rather than relying only on the college website or an advertisement.
Open Approved ProgramsMatch the exact pathway
Confirm whether the student is entering a stand-alone LPN, ladder option, ADN, BSN, hospital diploma or master’s-entry program.
Match the campus and school code
Extension campuses can differ from the main campus. Record the listed US49 school-code prefix and program code.
Compare five years of NCLEX results
Do not judge a school from one percentage alone. Consider candidate count, several years and whether a blank means no data.
Check Five-Year Pass RatesVerify accreditation and student outcomes separately
IDFPR approval, national nursing accreditation, institutional accreditation, completion rates and financial-aid eligibility are separate checks.
The pass-rate report notes that an empty cell means no data, not a zero-percent pass rate. A new or small program can also produce volatile percentages.
Illinois CNA verification is not an IDFPR nursing-license search
The Illinois Department of Public Health maintains the Health Care Worker Registry, which shows CNA training, background-check information and administrative findings.
Use the IDPH registry
Search the Health Care Worker Registry for CNA eligibility and required public findings.
Search CNA RegistryActive Illinois RN or LPN
An Illinois RN or LPN with a current valid license in good standing can work as a CNA without a separate registry listing under the stated IDPH rule.
CNA work lapse
A CNA who has not provided paid nursing-related services for 24 consecutive months can lose approved certification and may need recertification.
IDPH Health Care Worker Registry help: 844-789-3676, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., or DPH.HCWR@Illinois.gov.
Recover your account, change details and print an Illinois license
Forgot the legacy user ID
Use the official IDFPR user-ID recovery tool rather than registering another account.
Account Recovery LinksCORE or ILogin problem
Use the CORE account-recovery or problem-report options for a CORE-created LPN application.
CORE Account HelpName or contact detail changed
IDFPR requires licensees to keep their name, mailing address, email and telephone number current and to upload supporting proof where required.
Update Personal InformationPrint an electronic license
Illinois no longer relies on a traditional mailed paper license. Use the Print My License service.
Print My LicenseSomeone is contacting IDFPR for you
Use the current Third Party Authorization form when an employer, attorney or agency needs permission to discuss the application.
Unexpected payment demand
Verify the license and contact IDFPR through the official state page before paying or disclosing sensitive account information.
The printed license is evidence for convenience, but employers should use the live IDFPR License Lookup record for current primary-source verification.
Review enforcement or file a nursing complaint
File a complaint
Use the Division of Professional Regulation complaint process for unsafe, fraudulent or unlicensed professional conduct.
File a DPR ComplaintReview enforcement actions
IDFPR publishes monthly enforcement reports covering licensed professionals and businesses.
Enforcement ReportsRequest disciplinary documents
When a basic lookup does not provide the document needed, use the official FOIA process identified by IDFPR.
A license status alone may not explain the duties permitted under a probation or restriction order. Review the complete official action before making a credentialing decision.
Illinois nursing licensing phone numbers and offices
Prepare the license or application number, profession code, portal used, submission date and exact deficiency before contacting IDFPR.
General IDFPR and Division of Professional Regulation contact line.
Online application and CORE assistance identified by IDFPR.
Accessibility telephone line.
5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661.
3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786.
The Board includes APRNs, educators, RNs, an LPN, nursing leadership and a public member.
“I am calling about an Illinois _____ nursing license or application. The license or application number is _____. I used the _____ portal and submitted _____ on _____. The account or lookup currently shows _____. Please identify the exact transaction, form or deficiency I should complete next.”
Before calling
Check License Lookup, the online account and the nursing-profession page. This prevents a general agent from having to identify the transaction from incomplete information.
Before travelling
Confirm that an in-person visit can resolve the task. Many applications, renewals and deficiencies must still be completed through the assigned online or written process.
Illinois Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify an Illinois nursing license?
Use IDFPR Single License Lookup. Search by license number when possible, open the correct LPN, RN or APRN record and review status, expiration and discipline.
Is Illinois License Lookup primary-source verification?
Yes. IDFPR states that its License Lookup is approved for primary-source verification and that single-license data is updated daily.
What was the Illinois RN renewal deadline in 2026?
The ordinary May 31 deadline for RN, APRN, APRN-FPA and listed related credentials was extended to June 30, 2026.
What should I do after missing the June 30, 2026 deadline?
Check the live online renewal portal first. If it no longer allows renewal, IDFPR instructs the licensee to request reinstatement.
How much is Illinois RN renewal?
The nursing rule sets renewal at $40 per year, making the base fee $80 for a normal two-year RN license cycle.
How many CE hours does an Illinois RN need?
An Illinois RN normally needs 20 hours of approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle.
How many CE hours does an Illinois LPN need?
An Illinois LPN normally needs 20 hours of approved CE per two-year renewal cycle.
How many CE hours does an Illinois APRN need?
An APRN or APRN-FPA normally needs 80 hours in the advanced-practice specialty. At least 50 hours must be obtained through qualifying CE programs, including pharmacotherapeutics requirements.
Is the first Illinois nursing renewal exempt from CE?
The nursing rule exempts the first Illinois license renewal from the profession-specific CE total. The licensee should still read every statutory training and attestation question in the live renewal.
When do Illinois RN and APRN licenses normally expire?
RN and APRN licenses ordinarily expire on May 31 of each even-numbered year.
When does an Illinois LPN license normally expire?
An Illinois LPN license ordinarily expires on January 31 of each odd-numbered year.
Should I use IDFPR Online Services or CORE?
Use the legacy Online Services Portal for most existing RN and APRN applications and renewals. New LPN and Temporary LPN applications entered CORE in May 2026. A license created in CORE can use CORE for its renewal.
How long does renewal take to appear?
IDFPR asks users to allow approximately 2–4 business days for a processed license renewal to post and the public status to update.
How do I verify Illinois nursing licensure for another state?
Nursing certifications and verifications for another licensing board must be requested through Nursys rather than sent directly to IDFPR.
Does the Illinois Board of Nursing regulate CNAs?
CNA training and registry status are maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health Health Care Worker Registry, not IDFPR License Lookup.
How do I check an Illinois nursing application?
Sign in to the original IDFPR Online Services or CORE account used to file the application and review the application status, messages and deficiencies.
What is the Illinois nursing licensing phone number?
The general IDFPR contact number is 1-888-473-4858. The Department also lists 1-800-560-6420 for licensing and CORE assistance.
Illinois government pages used for this guide
Renewal availability, deadlines, CE mandates and portal routing can change. Recheck the relevant state page before submitting a payment, application or employer verification.
For employers and public users
Use Single License Lookup, match the exact nurse and credential, review status and enforcement information and record the verification date.
For applicants and licensees
Use the account that received the application, complete the exact renewal or reinstatement route and monitor the public record after processing. This independent guide cannot access private IDFPR records.