How to become a nurse in Illinois
Illinois licenses nurses through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation - Nursing. The route is the same for every state: finish an approved program, apply to the board, pass the NCLEX, then renew on schedule. This page covers what is specific to Illinois.
The steps
Finish a board-approved nursing program
Choose the level you want to start at: a practical nursing certificate (about a year), an associate degree (about two years) or a bachelor's degree (about four). Illinois has 35 bachelor's, 44 associate degree and 50 practical nursing programs in our data. Compare BSN programs in Illinois.
Apply to the board for a license by examination
You apply to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation - Nursing before you can test. The board's fee for registered nurses is $98. Expect a fingerprint background check.
Register for and pass the NCLEX
The NCLEX-RN (or NCLEX-PN for practical nursing) is the national licensing exam. Registration costs $200 through Pearson VUE, rising to $350 for registrations from February 1, 2027. The exam asks between 85 and 150 questions and allows 5 hours. 84.8% of Illinois graduates passed the NCLEX-RN on their first try in 2025, against 86.7% nationally in 2025. NCLEX pass rates in Illinois.
Receive your license, then keep it current
Licenses renew every 2 years, with continuing education required (details in the table below).
Working in more than one state
Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a license here covers Illinois only.
Source: Nurse Licensure Compact
Illinois licensing at a glance
| Licensing board | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation - Nursing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Board application fee, RN by exam | $98'Acceptance of Examination' application fee for RN (041), paid to IDFPR's testing vendor Continental Testing Services; non-refundable. Pearson VUE NCLEX fee is separate. | Source |
| Board application fee, LPN by exam | $98'Acceptance of Examination' application fee for LPN (043), paid via Continental Testing Services; non-refundable. Pearson VUE NCLEX fee is separate. | Source |
| Fingerprint background check | YesFingerprints by an Illinois-licensed Live Scan vendor (out-of-state residents use form OOS-FP), taken within 60 days before the application date. | Source |
| State law exam (jurisprudence) | Not requiredNo jurisprudence exam listed in IDFPR's RN application checklist. | Source |
| License renewal | Every 2 years20 hours of approved CE per 2-year cycle (first renewal exempt), including 1 hour sexual harassment prevention, 1 hour implicit bias awareness, a 1-hour cultural competency course once every 6 years, and 1 hour on Alzheimer's/dementia for RNs caring for adults 26+. RN licenses expire May 31 of even years; LPN licenses January 31 of odd years. | Source |
Board fees are separate from the NCLEX registration fee paid to Pearson VUE. Fees and rules change; confirm with the board before you apply.
Good to know in Illinois
- Exam applicants apply to IDFPR and Continental Testing Services, then register separately with Pearson VUE (source: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/forms/dpr/043-cts-online-application-instructions.pdf)
- An exam application is valid for 3 years; after 3 years without passing, reapplication requires proof of an NCLEX review course (source: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/forms/dpr/043-cts-online-application-instructions.pdf)
- LPN license renewal CE window for the January 31, 2027 renewal is February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2027 (source: https://nursing.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/nursing/documents/pdf/2025-10-17-il-lpn-ce-relicensure-faqs.pdf)
What nurses earn in Illinois
| Role | Median yearly pay | Employed in Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | $95,990 | 138,910 |
| LPN or LVN | $75,000 | 17,440 |
| Nurse practitioner | $130,680 | 9,270 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. The median registered nurse in Illinois earns $1,560 less than the national median of $97,550.