Illinois Nursing Continuing Education

Illinois RNs and LPNs both need 20 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle. Of those, 5 hours must be in mandatory topics and 15 hours are electives. APNs require 50 hours per cycle.

Illinois requires CE in several mandatory topics: Sexual Harassment Prevention (1 hr), Implicit Bias Training (1 hr), Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Care (1 hr, if serving adults 26+), Mandated Reporter Training (1 hr, within 3 months of initial licensure and every 6 years after), and Cultural Competency (1 hr, for renewals on or after January 1, 2025).

Illinois RN and APN licenses expire on May 31, 2026, and LPN licenses expire on January 31, 2027. All required CE hours must be completed before your expiration date. Illinois nursing licenses renew on a fixed biennial schedule — RNs and APNs in even years, LPNs in odd years.

Yes. Illinois has no online limitations for continuing education. You can complete all 20 required contact hours through approved online CE courses, including the mandatory topics.

Yes. As of recent legislative changes, Illinois requires 1 hour of Implicit Bias Training for RNs, LPNs, and APNs as part of the mandatory CE requirements each renewal cycle.

Illinois APNs need 50 total CE hours per renewal cycle, including 10 hours in Opioid Prescribing, 20 hours in Pharmacotherapeutics, plus the same mandatory topics required of RNs. APNs registered with the DEA must also complete a one-time 8-hour MATE Act training on substance use disorder treatment.

No roster submission is required. However, you should retain certificates of completion for at least 4 years, as the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) may audit your records at any time.