Illinois Nursing License
How to get your Illinois nursing license
- Complete an approved nursing program (RN or LPN/LVN).
- Pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN examination.
- Apply to the Illinois Board of Nursing for licensure by examination or endorsement.
- Complete the required criminal background check and pay licensure fees.
Illinois licensing at a glance
| Continuing education | 20 hours / 2 years |
|---|---|
| Compact (NLC) member | No |
20 CE contact hours are required per 2-year renewal (licenses expire May 31 of even years). License-fee figures conflict across official sources and are omitted here pending a board fee-schedule confirmation. Not an NLC member — an individual Illinois license is required even with a multistate compact license.
Official resources
- Illinois Board of Nursing — apply, renew, and check requirements.
- Verify a nursing license (Nursys)
- Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) map — which states honor a multistate license.
- Directory of state boards of nursing (NCSBN)
Illinois nursing license FAQ
- Does my compact nursing license let me work in Illinois?
- No. Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so you must hold an individual Illinois nursing license even if you carry a multistate compact license.
- How many continuing-education hours does Illinois require?
- Illinois requires 20 hours / 2 years for RN license renewal.
- How do I verify a Illinois nursing license?
- Verify any U.S. nursing license through Nursys, the national verification system operated by the state boards of nursing.