Nurse state crossing · Illinois licensing · NLC status table · LPN/LVN list
RN work list: Illinois
What an RN has to do to work in Illinois. Pick where you live and the page shows your route.
Illinois is not a compact state, so a multistate licence does not cover work here. You need a Illinois licence; the steps are below.
Illinois: Not a Nurse Licensure Compact state
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 8 Oct 2026
Home and work in Illinois
If you already hold a licence Illinois issued, there is no state line to cross. Renewal and continuing-education rules are on the Illinois licensing page.
Moved here from another state? Illinois does not honour multistate licences yet, so you need a Illinois licence to work here. The endorsement steps are below.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 8 Oct 2026
Route B: get a Illinois licence by endorsement
For everyone else. Each step comes from Illinois’s own licensing sources; tick it off as you go.
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Current out-of-state RN license
- Detail
- Provide licensure verification and application materials for endorsement.
Education/examination records
- Detail
- The endorsement packet requests education and original licensure/examination records; some documents may not be required for every applicant.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
All documents and forms required for licensure by endorsement must
idfpr.illinois.gov · State Board of Nursing
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State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Registered Professional Nurse (RN) – Endorsement: Online Application
idfpr.illinois.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Amount
- 50
- Per
- application
Conditions & source context
Packet IL486-1971 (RN), marked 2/24; separate temporary permit fee is $25 if requested.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
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- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Exemption
- Applicants holding active Illinois LPN licensure do not need to submit a new criminal background check.
Conditions & source context
The current RN endorsement packet confirms fingerprint processing through Illinois State Police or a designated agent, with an explicit exception for active Illinois LPN license holders.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 9 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Criminal Background Check: All applicants for initial licensure must submit to a criminal background check and provide evidence of fingerprint processing from the Illinois State Police or its designated agent. See attached “Important Notice – Criminal Background Check Information” for more information concerning this requirement. Applicants who hold active licensure in Illinois as a licensed practical nurse do not need to submit to a criminal background check.
idfpr.illinois.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Available
- Yes
- Type
- Temporary Permit
- Duration (months)
- 6
- Eligibility
- The endorsement packet states current licensure in at least one other U.S. jurisdiction is required; application materials and permit form are required.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
The permit is valid for six months from the date of issuance
idfpr.illinois.gov · State Board of Nursing
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RN
- Hours
- 20
- Mandated topics
Sexual harassment prevention
- Hours
- 1
Implicit bias awareness
- Hours
- 1
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Hours
- 1
- Any category
- 17
Conditions & source context
Nurse-practice rules and official IDFPR material state 20 hours per two-year cycle; mandated topic hours count within total where applicable.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Each individual (non-business) license holder must complete a one-hour sexual harassment prevention course during each renewal cycle
idfpr.illinois.gov · State Board of Nursing
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Complete 20 approved CE hours in each two-year cycle; recurring state training includes sexual-harassment prevention, implicit-bias awareness, and Alzheimer’s/dementia training as applicable.
Conditions & source context
Review current renewal notice for initial-renewal exceptions and current topic implementation details.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
one-hour course in implicit bias awareness training per renewal period
idfpr.illinois.gov · State Board of Nursing
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Our Illinois record has nothing sourced for RNs on: licence verification, any jurisprudence exam, processing time. Get those from the board directly: idfpr.illinois.gov.
State Board of Nursing · idfpr.illinois.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Built from the Illinois nursing licensing record and the compact status table. A step appears only when the record has a sourced answer for it; anything else points to the board. Informational only: confirm with the board of nursing before you apply.