Of the over 3 million registered nurses working in the United States, over 129,000 of those nurses work in Illinois. If you’re looking to renew your Illinois nursing license, here’s a quick summary of what you need.
Explore CE courses for Illinois nurses.
How do I renew my nursing license in Illinois?
Registered Professional Nurses in Illinois must complete twenty (20) hours of approved CE every two years. The next license renewal deadline is May 31, 2024.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) provides an online portal for nurses looking to renew their nursing license. You can sign in or create an account via this portal. Once signed in, Illinois law requires you to respond to the questions listed in the online renewal regarding compliance with the continuing education requirements.
Continuing education requirements: Illinois RNs
Illinois RNs must complete a one-hour course in implicit bias awareness training beginning with the 2024 RN renewal. Starting with the 2026 renewal, RNs must also complete a one-hour course in cultural competency.
Healthcare professionals who are licensed to prescribe controlled substances must complete a one-hour course on safe opioid prescribing practices beginning with renewals on and after January 1, 2025.
There is also a requirement for Mandated Reporter training within 3 months of initial licensure and at least every 3 years thereafter. The course is provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Illinois RNs who provide healthcare services to and have direct patient interaction with adults 26 years of age and older will be required to complete a one-hour course in diagnosis, treatment and care of Alzheimer’s disease, along with other dementia types. This course may count toward the regular CE requirements.
In addition, all RNs must complete a one-hour CE course in sexual harassment training as part of their 20 hours of required CE.
Save time with the complete 20-hour CE package for Illinois RNs.
Continuing education requirements: Illinois APRNs
Advanced practice registered nurses must complete eighty (80) hours of approved continuing education. These hours must be in the APRN’s specialty per 2-year license renewal cycle. These 80 hours will satisfy the CE requirements for renewal of a registered professional nurse license. The next license renewal deadline for APRNs in Illinois is also May 31, 2024.
- At least fifty (50) CE hours must be obtained through continuing education programs that include:
- No less than twenty (20) hours of pharmacotherapeutics
- Including ten (10) hours of opioid prescribing or substance abuse education
- Presentations in the APRN’s clinical specialty, evidence-based practice, or quality improvement projects, publications, research projects, or preceptor hours count for up to thirty (30) hours of credit
- Healthcare professionals licensed to prescribe controlled substances must complete a one-hour course on safe opioid prescribing practices. This requirement begins with renewals on and after January 1, 2025.
Continuing education requirements: Illinois LPNs
Illinois Licensed Practical Nurses must complete twenty (20) hours of continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle. The next license renewal deadline for LPNs is January 31, 2025.
All healthcare professionals who hold an Illinois professional license, including Illinois LPNs, are required to complete a one-hour course in implicit bias awareness training. This training will begin as a license renewal requirement for Illinois LPNs in 2023. Illinois LPNs are also required to complete a one-hour course in cultural competency beginning with the 2025 renewal.
Like RNs, LPNs in Illinois must also complete Mandated Reporter training within 3 months of initial licensure and at least every 3 years thereafter. The course is provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Illinois LPNs who provide healthcare services to and have direct patient interaction with adults 26 years of age and older must complete a one-hour course in diagnosis, treatment and care of Alzheimer’s disease, along with other dementia types.
Additionally, all LPNs must complete a one-hour CE course in sexual harassment training. This is part of their 20 hours of required CE.
Where can I complete my CE hours?
Browse dozens of nursing CE courses, all accessible 24/7 in Elite’s online library. Click here to learn more about your Illinois nursing continuing education requirements.
Colibri Healthcare, LLC is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation, ANCC Provider # P0456. Nursing boards in most states requiring continuing education (CE) accept courses offered by ANCC accredited providers.
