How do I renew my expired nursing license in Illinois?

1. How can I renew my license? Can I mail in a paper renewal application?

Illinois nurses must renew their license online through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Portal (https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/) once it opens on or before July 1, 2022. The Department typically opens the renewal portal 60-90 days before the renewal deadline.

Table of Contents Show

How do I reactivate my nursing license in Illinois?
How much does it cost to reinstate your nursing license in Illinois?
What does a nurse need to do to have his or her license reinstated in Illinois?
How long does it take to renew Illinois RN license?

2. Is it true that renewal fees have been waived for nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) this 2022 renewal period?

Yes! According to a March 2022 announcement from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, renewal fees have been reduced from $80 to $0 in order to “further strengthen the healthcare workforce during the State’s continued battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

3. Why was the renewal deadline for nurses and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) moved back from May 31st to August 31, 2022?

Due to transition in the operating systems used by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation for online license renewal, the deadline for professional nurses and APRNs has been pushed back from its original deadline of May 31, 2022 to August 31, 2022. In a March 2022 announcement, the Department determined that some licensees did not receive notice or instructions of these changes.

More information on the 2022 deadline extension can be found on the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s formal Variance announcement. (https://www.idfpr.com/Forms/COVID19/SIGNED%20Variance%20Nursing%20Renewal%20Fee%20Waiver%20to%202022-08-31.pdf)

4. What happens if I don’t renew my license before the August 31, 2022 deadline?

All nurses who miss the August 31st renewal deadline will need to file for a license reinstatement if they wish to continue practicing in the state of Illinois. This process comes with additional fees, and also requires nurses to submit proof of completed continuing education.

To reinstate a lapsed license, nurses must fill out a Reinstatement Application, found under the ‘RN & LPN Applications’ tab at https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068013000A00300R.html. Fees must be paid by check or money order, and nurses must include proof of completed continuing education in order for their request to be processed.

5. Besides the new renewal deadline of August 31, 2022, and the $0 renewal fee, are any other requirements being waived?

No. According to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, all other renewal requirements are still in place. This includes continuing education requirements and consequences of missing the new August 31, 2022 renewal deadline.

6. Is the Illinois Board of Nursing waiving any renewal requirements this year due to COVID?

Yes! According to a March 2022 announcement from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, the deadline for renewal for professional nurses and advanced practice registered nurses has been moved from May 31, 2022, to August 31, 2022. Renewal fees have also been reduced to $0, all in part to, “further strengthen the healthcare workforce during the State’s continued battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

7. What are the continuing education requirements for the 2022 renewal period?

All nurses must complete 20 hours of approved continuing education per each two-year license renewal cycle. While there are several ways to obtain these credit hours, most nurses take traditional continuing education courses.

Of these 20 hours, one hour must fulfill the Nurse Practice Act’s Sexual Harassment training requirement, as well as one hour of Implicit Bias training.

(Nursing CE Central’s 2022 Illinois Renewal Bundle includes both of these required courses.)

8. How can I check that my renewal application is complete?

You can verify your license at https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/. Due to heavy volume, the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation says it may take 2-4 business days for a license to post in their systems and for a license status to update.

9. Do I have to keep documentation proving I completed my 2022 continuing education requirements for renewal?

Yes! While most nurses who renew their license on or before the August 31, 2022 deadline will not need to submit proof of their completed continuing education, those who miss the deadline will need to submit copies during the license reinstatement process.

Furthermore, each nurse is responsible for keeping individual records of continuing education completion, should the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation request it. Nursing CE Central suggests keeping these records for a minimum of three renewal cycles, or six years, should a nurse be selected for an audit.

Looking for more information on Illinois nursing license renewal requirements, or to start your Illinois required CEUs? See our Illinois-specific renewal page!

How do I reactivate my nursing license in Illinois?

If you wish to have your license reinstated permanently, please email [email protected] and request a reinstatement application. How do I check the status of my application? You will receive an email once your application has been reviewed. Please allow at least a week for processing.

How much does it cost to reinstate your nursing license in Illinois?

Yes! According to a March 2022 announcement from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, renewal fees have been reduced from $80 to $0 in order to “further strengthen the healthcare workforce during the State's continued battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

What does a nurse need to do to have his or her license reinstated in Illinois?

(b) A licensee seeking restoration of a license after it has expired or been placed on inactive status for more than 5 years shall file an application, on forms supplied by the Department, and submit the restoration or renewal fees set forth by the Department.

How long does it take to renew Illinois RN license?

You will be able to renew for approximately 2-3 months prior to the expiration date shown on your license. If you don't know your expiration date, you may find it by using the IDFPR License Lookup application. Please allow 2-4 business days for your license to post in our systems and your license status to update.