Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Nursing · NP

80 hours. Every two years. On a fixed renewal cycle.

Below is exactly what Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from IDFPR(—N~5 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 80 hours is the total CME requirement. Illinois also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 80-hour total.

Pharmacology[1]
20 hrs
Biennial
A minimum of 50 of the 80 required CE hours must be in CE programs; within those 50 hours, no less than 20 hours must be pharmacotherapeutics. These 20 hours count within the 80-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of 50 hours of the continuing education shall be obtained in continuing education programs that shall include no less than 20 hours of pharmacotherapeutics, including 10 hours of opioid prescribing or substance abuse education.”
225 ILCS 65/65-60 / Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130See source [1] in Primary Sources
Opioid / controlled substances[1]
10 hrs
Biennial
Within the required 20 pharmacotherapeutics hours, at least 10 must be on opioid prescribing or substance abuse education. These 10 hours are included within the 20 pharmacotherapeutics hours, which are included within the 50 program CE hours, which are within the 80-hour total.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of 50 hours of the continuing education shall be obtained in continuing education programs that shall include no less than 20 hours of pharmacotherapeutics, including 10 hours of opioid prescribing or substance abuse education.”
225 ILCS 65/65-60 / Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130See source [1] in Primary Sources
Professional Boundaries[1]
1 hr
Biennial
1 of the 80 required CE hours must be a sexual harassment prevention training course. Effective for renewals after January 1, 2020.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“1 of the 80 hours of CE required for APRN and FPA-APRN license renewal must be a sexual harassment prevention training course.”
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130See source [1] in Primary Sources
Cultural competency[1]
1 hr
Biennial
1 of the 80 required CE hours must be an implicit bias awareness training, beginning as a license renewal requirement in 2024. Separate from the once-every-six-years cultural competency requirement.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Starting 2024, 1 of the 80 hours of CE required for APRN and FPA-APRN license renewal must be an implicit bias awareness training.”
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130See source [1] in Primary Sources
Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Illinois cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalAlzheimer’s & dementia[1]
1 hr
Biennial

APRNs who provide health care services to and have direct patient interaction with adults 26 years of age and older

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Beginning with the 2024 APRN and FPA-APRN renewal, Illinois APRNs and FPA-APRNs 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.”
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
3 hrs
Biennial

APRNs renewing Controlled Substances Registrations (DEA-registered prescribers)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Opioid Education: Prescribers renewing Controlled Substances Registrations must complete 3 hours focused on safe prescribing practices, included within total renewal hours.”
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130See source [1] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral CME[1]
0 hrs
Biennial

APRNs renewing their Illinois APRN license for the first time after initial licensure

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an IL APRN or FPA-APRN license.”
Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(a)See source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Illinois Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
min 50 hrs
A minimum of 50 of the 80 APRN CE hours must come from CE programs (as opposed to alternative credit types). ANCC-accredited providers are the most common qualifying source. Up to 30 hours may come from presentations, publications, research, QI projects, or preceptor hours.Source225 ILCS 65/65-60 / Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130[2]
Board-approved credit
max 30 hrs
Up to 30 hours may be earned through presentations in clinical specialty, evidence-based practice, quality improvement projects, publications, research projects, or preceptor hours. Precepting one student for an academic semester = 10 CE hours. Specialty recertification exams = 60 CE hours.SourceIll. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(a)[2]
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

First-time APRN renewals are exempt from CE requirements. No CE is required for the first renewal of an Illinois APRN or FPA-APRN license.

CE waivers may be granted for extreme hardship: full-time active military service, incapacitating illness documented by a licensed provider, or physical inability to access approved CE sites.

FAQ
Does Illinois require pharmacology CE for NPs?
Yes. Within the 80-hour APRN CE requirement, at least 50 hours must come from CE programs, and within those 50 hours, at least 20 must be in pharmacotherapeutics — including 10 hours specifically on opioid prescribing or substance abuse education. These minimums are nested within the 80-hour total. Additionally, APRNs renewing a Controlled Substances Registration must include 3 hours on safe opioid prescribing practices within their total hours.
Is Illinois in the APRN Compact?
No. Illinois is neither a member of the APRN Compact nor the NLC (Nursing Licensure Compact). All APRN and RN licenses must be obtained and maintained individually with IDFPR. Illinois nurses who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain APRN licensure or certification in those states individually.
Does Illinois require national certification for APRN renewal?
Yes. Illinois requires APRNs to maintain current national certification as a condition of APRN licensure. The accepted certifying organizations include ANCC, AANPCB (AANP), NCC, PNCB, and other bodies recognized by IDFPR for the applicable APRN specialty and population focus. Certification documentation is required at renewal.
Where can I check my Illinois APRN license renewal date?
Illinois APRN and RN license information is available through IDFPR's License Lookup at https://www.idfpr.com/LicenseLookUp/liclookupmain.asp. The Illinois Nursing Workforce Center at nursing.illinois.gov provides CE requirement documents, approved sponsor information, and renewal links. Nurses may contact IDFPR at 888-NURSE07 (888-687-7307) or email FPR.ILCenterforNurses@Illinois.gov. APRN licenses renew on the June 1 – May 31 even-year fixed cycle.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Illinois APRN CE Re-Licensure FAQs
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “A minimum of 50 hours of the continuing education shall be obtained in continuing education programs that shall include no less than 20 hours of pharmacotherapeutics, including 10 hours of opioid prescribing or substance abuse education.”225 ILCS 65/65-60 / Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130
    “1 of the 80 hours of CE required for APRN and FPA-APRN license renewal must be a sexual harassment prevention training course.”Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130 · Effective 2020-01-01
    “Starting 2024, 1 of the 80 hours of CE required for APRN and FPA-APRN license renewal must be an implicit bias awareness training.”Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130 · Effective 2024-01-01
    “Beginning with the 2024 APRN and FPA-APRN renewal, Illinois APRNs and FPA-APRNs 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.”Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130 · Effective 2024-01-01
    “Opioid Education: Prescribers renewing Controlled Substances Registrations must complete 3 hours focused on safe prescribing practices, included within total renewal hours.”Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130
    “A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an IL APRN or FPA-APRN license.”Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(a)
  2. Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130 — Continuing Education
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Nursing, or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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