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Illinois State Board of Nursing
Processing time
6–8 weeks
Temporary licenses are usually issued within 1–2 weeks
Fees
License: $50
Renewal: $40
Temporary license: $25
Compact state
No
Application links
Illinois license
Biennially, every two years
RN
Every two years prior to May 31st of EVEN-numbered years
LPN
Every two years prior to January 31st of ODD-numbered years
Yes
Valid for a period of six months after date of issuance or until permanent license is issued or denied
20 hours of continuing education required within a 2-year licensure period
One hour must be on the topic of sexual harassment prevention
Please note that while Fusion Medical Staffing strives to provide the most current and accurate information in our Nursing Licensing Guide, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information provided. Regulations, requirements, and processes can change frequently. Healthcare travelers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult directly with the respective state board's official website to ensure they have the most accurate and up-to-date information. Fusion Medical Staffing is not liable for any outdated information or errors in the guide.
Processing Time
6-10 weeks
From complete application
Application Fee
$50
Renewal: $40 · Temp license available
Compact (Nurse Licensure Compact)
No
Not a Nurse Licensure Compact member state
Renewal
20 hours
Every 2 years
Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state. Travelers must obtain an Illinois-specific license through the endorsement process to practice here.
Illinois uses an online portal endorsement process for registered nurses already licensed in another state. You'll need to submit your completed application along with supporting documents and the $50 application fee.
License verification is handled through Nursys or direct board verification. Illinois requires verification from every state where you hold or have held a registered nurse license, so request verification early to avoid delays.
Background check requirements vary by applicant — confirm the current fingerprinting and screening steps with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Division of Professional Regulation. Where fingerprinting applies, submit your authorization as early as possible, since background check processing is one of the most common sources of delay.
After all components are received, the Board reviews applications on a rolling basis. Check the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — Division of Professional Regulation website for status updates on your application.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Endorsement Application | $50 |
| Renewal | $40 (every 2 years) |
| Fingerprinting | $25-75 (fingerprinting) |
| Nursys verification | $30 |
| Estimated First-Time Cost | $105–$155 |
Travelers should factor these licensing costs into their assignment budgeting. Many staffing agencies, including Fusion Medical Staffing, offer licensure reimbursement programs to help offset these expenses.
Illinois issues temporary nursing licenses valid for 6 months, allowing registered nurses to begin practicing while their permanent endorsement application is being processed. For travelers, this is often the fastest path to starting an assignment.
Eligibility requirements:
Issuance timeline:
Denial risks:
Important for travelers: Temporary license expires automatically at 6 months with no extension option; if permanent license is delayed beyond 6 months, nurse cannot legally practice and must stop working. Temporary license is revoked immediately upon permanent license denial. Any disciplinary action taken against applicant during temporary license period can trigger revocation before 6-month expiration.
Illinois registered nurse endorsement applications typically take 6-10 weeks to process. The timeline is subject to moderate variability depending on the completeness of your application and external factors.
In the best-case scenario, processing can be as fast as 5-6 weeks if all documents are complete at submission, original state board verifies immediately, and background check processes without delay.
Common sources of delay:
Illinois does not offer an expedited processing track. The best way to minimize your wait time is to ensure all application components — fingerprints, verification, and any required exams — are completed before or immediately after submitting your application.
Illinois requires 20 contact hours of continuing education every 2 years for registered nurse license renewal.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation -- Division of Professional Regulation
Board Website·Application Portal·License Verification
Phone: (888) 473-4858
Email: [email protected]
Please note that while Fusion Medical Staffing strives to provide the most current and accurate information, we cannot guarantee the completeness or timeliness of the information provided. Requirements and processes can change frequently. Healthcare professionals are strongly encouraged to verify details directly with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation -- Division of Professional Regulation's official website.
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