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How to Get a Nurse (RN/LPN) License in Illinois (2026)

Quick answer

LPNs also need 20 CE hours per two-year renewal, including one hour each of implicit-bias awareness and sexual-harassment prevention; first Illinois LPN renewal is exempt from the CE requirement.

Renewal

All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.

View official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

How do I get this license?

  1. Check the licensing authority

    Board

    Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

    Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
    Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
    Official source

    Official agency page

    Open the official agency page

    Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
    Registered Professional Nurse (RN) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
    Official source
  2. Prepare your application

    Apply with the agency

    Open the official agency page

    Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
    RN & LPN Applications
    Official source
  3. Confirm your next step with the agency

    Review the official instructions for your situation before applying.

    Open the official agency page

What else should I know?

Agency guidance

LPNs also need 20 CE hours per two-year renewal, including one hour each of implicit-bias awareness and sexual-harassment prevention; first Illinois LPN renewal is exempt from the CE requirement.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
all licensed practical nurses shall complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle. 1 of the 20 hours of CE required for LPN license renewal must be a sexual harassment prevention training course. 1 of the 20 hours of CE required for LPN license renewal must be an implicit bias awareness training course. a renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois LPN license
Official source

Agency guidance

Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois licensed nurses must complete one hour of cultural-competency training, repeated once every six years. Nurses working with children must complete mandated-reporter training at least every six years.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Starting January 1, 2025 health care professionals who hold a professional license (including Illinois licensed nurses) listed in this Section shall complete a one-hour course in cultural competency. The course shall be repeated once every six years. nurses who work with children in their professional or official capacities must complete mandated reporter training at least every 6 years.
Official source

Agency guidance

LPNs who provide health care services and have direct interaction with adults 26 or older must complete one hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementia types.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Beginning with the 2025 LPN renewal, Illinois LPNs who provide health care 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.
Official source

Agency guidance

LPN licenses expire January 31 in every odd-numbered year regardless of issue date.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
All Licensed Practical Nurses licenses expire on January 31 of every odd-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.
Official source

Agency guidance

For the 2026 RN renewal only, IDFPR granted an extension through June 30, 2026. Renewed licenses retain the ordinary next expiration date.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Licensees are granted until June 30, 2026 to complete the process. Licenses renewed through June 30, 2026, during the extended renewal period granted by this Variance, shall expire at the end of the ordinary renewal period designated by the relevant regulation applicable to the profession.
Official source

Agency guidance

The first renewal of an Illinois RN license is exempt from the CE requirements.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
a renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois RN license, Nurse Practice Act Rules: Section 1300.130 a) 4).
Official source

When do I renew, and is CE required?

Renewal

All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.
Official source

License term in years

2 years

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
all licensed practical nurses shall complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle.
Official source

Continuing education topics

RN renewal requires 20 approved CE hours per two-year cycle, earned within the 24 months before expiration. Required topics include one hour of implicit-bias awareness and one hour of sexual-harassment prevention; one hour on Alzheimer's/dementia applies to RNs with direct patient interaction with adults 26 or older.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
shall complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle. All CE courses must be completed in the 24 months preceding expiration of the license. Implicit bias awareness training CE requirement for Illinois RNs is a license renewal requirement. completion of this 1 hour CE course may count towards meeting the credit hours must also complete 1 hour of CE on the topic of sexual harassment prevention training. Illinois RNs who provide health care 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.
Official source

Have a license or permit? Use the expiration date printed on it to set up your calendar and reminders.

What does it cost?

Confirm the charges and conditions for your application with the official agency.

What are the common questions?

How often do I renew a registered nurse and lpn renewal and continuing education license in Illinois?

All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.

Source and quotation
All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Which official sources support this guide?

Official sources and verification (12)

Last verified Oct 25, 2026. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.

Board

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Official agency page

Open the official agency page

https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/nursing.html

Registered Professional Nurse (RN) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Apply with the agency

Open the official agency page

https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/nursing.html

RN & LPN Applications
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

License term in years

2 years

2

all licensed practical nurses shall complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

LPNs also need 20 CE hours per two-year renewal, including one hour each of implicit-bias awareness and sexual-harassment prevention; first Illinois LPN renewal is exempt from the CE requirement.

LPNs also need 20 CE hours per two-year renewal, including one hour each of implicit-bias awareness and sexual-harassment prevention; first Illinois LPN renewal is exempt from the CE requirement.

all licensed practical nurses shall complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle. 1 of the 20 hours of CE required for LPN license renewal must be a sexual harassment prevention training course. 1 of the 20 hours of CE required for LPN license renewal must be an implicit bias awareness training course. a renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois LPN license
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois licensed nurses must complete one hour of cultural-competency training, repeated once every six years. Nurses working with children must complete mandated-reporter training at least every six years.

Starting January 1, 2025, Illinois licensed nurses must complete one hour of cultural-competency training, repeated once every six years. Nurses working with children must complete mandated-reporter training at least every six years.

Starting January 1, 2025 health care professionals who hold a professional license (including Illinois licensed nurses) listed in this Section shall complete a one-hour course in cultural competency. The course shall be repeated once every six years. nurses who work with children in their professional or official capacities must complete mandated reporter training at least every 6 years.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

LPNs who provide health care services and have direct interaction with adults 26 or older must complete one hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementia types.

LPNs who provide health care services and have direct interaction with adults 26 or older must complete one hour on Alzheimer's disease and other dementia types.

Beginning with the 2025 LPN renewal, Illinois LPNs who provide health care 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.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

LPN licenses expire January 31 in every odd-numbered year regardless of issue date.

LPN licenses expire January 31 in every odd-numbered year regardless of issue date.

All Licensed Practical Nurses licenses expire on January 31 of every odd-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

For the 2026 RN renewal only, IDFPR granted an extension through June 30, 2026. Renewed licenses retain the ordinary next expiration date.

For the 2026 RN renewal only, IDFPR granted an extension through June 30, 2026. Renewed licenses retain the ordinary next expiration date.

Licensees are granted until June 30, 2026 to complete the process. Licenses renewed through June 30, 2026, during the extended renewal period granted by this Variance, shall expire at the end of the ordinary renewal period designated by the relevant regulation applicable to the profession.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Agency guidance

The first renewal of an Illinois RN license is exempt from the CE requirements.

The first renewal of an Illinois RN license is exempt from the CE requirements.

a renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois RN license, Nurse Practice Act Rules: Section 1300.130 a) 4).
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Continuing education topics

RN renewal requires 20 approved CE hours per two-year cycle, earned within the 24 months before expiration. Required topics include one hour of implicit-bias awareness and one hour of sexual-harassment prevention; one hour on Alzheimer's/dementia applies to RNs with direct patient interaction with adults 26 or older.

RN renewal requires 20 approved CE hours per two-year cycle, earned within the 24 months before expiration. Required topics include one hour of implicit-bias awareness and one hour of sexual-harassment prevention; one hour on Alzheimer's/dementia applies to RNs with direct patient interaction with adults 26 or older.

shall complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle. All CE courses must be completed in the 24 months preceding expiration of the license. Implicit bias awareness training CE requirement for Illinois RNs is a license renewal requirement. completion of this 1 hour CE course may count towards meeting the credit hours must also complete 1 hour of CE on the topic of sexual harassment prevention training. Illinois RNs who provide health care 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.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Renewal

All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.

All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance. Applies to: Illinois RN licenses; LPN timing and the 2026 RN extension are documented separately.

All Registered Nurses licenses expire on May 31 of every even-number year, regardless of the date of issuance.
Official source

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Not yet verified: license fee, required hours, exam — see the official agency.

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Registered nurse and LPN renewal and continuing education in neighboring states

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Related licenses in Illinois

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Last verified Oct 25, 2026.

Official sources (6)

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