Illinois CE Requirements for Registered Nurses

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 20 hours is the total CE requirement. Illinois also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Professional Boundaries & Conduct[1]

1 hr

Biennial

Sexual Harassment Prevention — one of the 20 required CE hours must be a sexual harassment prevention training course. Required for renewals after January 1, 2020.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“All persons who hold a professional license issued by the Division and are subject to a continuing education requirement shall complete a one-hour course in sexual harassment prevention training.”

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1130.400(a) (division-wide rule — 'all persons who hold a professional license issued by the Division'; IDFPR licenses RNs, per this file's own boardName. Captured under illinois/md/.)See source [1] in Primary Sources

Implicit Bias[1]

1 hr

Biennial

Implicit Bias Awareness Training — 1 of the 20 required CE hours must be an implicit bias awareness training course. Required beginning with 2024 renewal cycle.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“All health care professionals who hold a professional license listed in this Section shall complete a one-hour course in implicit bias awareness training.”

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1130.500(a); role list at (b)(5) names 'Registered nurse'. Captured under illinois/md/.See source [1] in Primary Sources

Cultural Competency & Health Equity[1]

1 hr

Custom

1 contact hour cultural competency course, repeated once every 6 years (eff. 2025-01-01); counts within the existing 20-hour total (not additive), max 1 hr per renewal period. Per Public Act 103-0531. Distinct from the implicit bias requirement.

View sourceVerbatim from source

“All health care professionals who hold a professional license listed in this Section shall complete a one-hour course in cultural competency.”

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1130.525(a); role list at (b)(5) names 'Registered nurse'. Captured under illinois/md/. 6-year repeat cycle: 'The course shall be repeated once every six years.'See 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 Disease & Dementia[1]

1 hr

Biennial

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

View sourceVerbatim from source

“All health care professionals who hold a professional license listed in this Section shall complete a one-hour course on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.”

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1130.550(a); role list at (b)(5) names 'Registered nurse'; the 26+-direct-patient-interaction gate is native to the rule text ('does not apply to health care professionals whose practice is limited to persons under the age of 26'). Captured under illinois/md/.See source [1] in Primary Sources

ConditionalGeneral[2]

0 hrs

Biennial

RNs renewing their Illinois license for the first time after initial licensure

View sourceVerbatim from source

“All CE must be completed in the 24 months preceding expiration of the license. First-time renewals are exempt from CE requirements.”

Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(a)See source [2] in Primary Sources

Accepted credit

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) — Nursing accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for RNs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit system Notes

Credit system	Notes
ANCC Contact Hour	ANCC-accredited CE accepted. 1 CNE (contact hour) = 1 contact hour = 60 minutes. Also accepted: 1 AMA credit = 1 contact hour; 1 CME = 1 contact hour.Source`Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(a)`[2]
Board-approved credit	CE from IDFPR-approved sponsors required. Approved sponsors include recognized certification bodies, ANCC-accredited providers, nursing associations, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and accredited schools. Out-of-state CE requires pre-approval from IDFPR (individual program approval request form + $25 fee, within 90 days before license expiration).Source`Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(c)/(e)`[2]

ANCC Contact Hour

ANCC-accredited CE accepted. 1 CNE (contact hour) = 1 contact hour = 60 minutes. Also accepted: 1 AMA credit = 1 contact hour; 1 CME = 1 contact hour.SourceIll. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(a)[2]

Board-approved credit

CE from IDFPR-approved sponsors required. Approved sponsors include recognized certification bodies, ANCC-accredited providers, nursing associations, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and accredited schools. Out-of-state CE requires pre-approval from IDFPR (individual program approval request form + $25 fee, within 90 days before license expiration).SourceIll. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130(c)/(e)[2]

Documentation & audit

Records retention: CE certificates must be retained for audits. IDFPR may conduct random audits requiring evidence of completion.

Waivers & exemptions

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

Waivers may be granted for extreme hardship — full-time active military service, incapacitating illness documented by a licensed health care provider, or physical inability to access approved program sites.

FAQ

How many CE hours do Illinois RNs need for license renewal?

Illinois RNs must complete 20 contact hours of approved CE per two-year license renewal cycle under 225 ILCS 65/60-40 and Ill. Admin. Code tit. 68, § 1300.130. All 20 hours must be completed in the 24 months before license expiration. The current renewal cycle runs June 1, 2024, through May 31, 2026. First-time renewals are exempt from the CE requirement. IDFPR may grant hardship waivers for military service, illness, or inability to access approved CE.

What are the mandatory CE topics for Illinois RN renewal?

Illinois mandates three specific CE topics within the 20-hour total: one hour of sexual harassment prevention training (required since January 1, 2020), one hour of implicit bias awareness (required beginning 2024), and — for RNs with direct patient interaction with adults 26 and older — one hour on Alzheimer's disease and dementia diagnosis, treatment, and care (beginning 2024). A fourth recurring topic, one hour of cultural competency, is required once every six years and counts within whichever biennial cycle it falls. All mandatory hours count within the 20-hour total.

Is Illinois in the NLC nursing compact?

No. Illinois is not a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC). All nurses practicing in Illinois must hold an Illinois-specific RN license issued by IDFPR regardless of any compact licenses held in other states. There is no multistate license option for Illinois. Nurses must complete the full Illinois renewal and CE requirements for each biennial renewal cycle.

How does IDFPR handle out-of-state CE for Illinois RN renewal?

Out-of-state CE programs not sponsored by an IDFPR-approved Illinois provider require advance approval from IDFPR before being counted toward Illinois renewal. Nurses must submit an individual program approval request form with a $25 fee, either before participation or within 90 days before license expiration. Late approval submissions carry a penalty of $50 per CE hour, capped at $300. Illinois-licensed nurses who regularly attend CE outside the state should plan for this approval process to avoid unexpected costs.

Where can I check my Illinois RN license renewal date?

Illinois RN license information is available through IDFPR's License Lookup tool at https://www.idfpr.com/LicenseLookUp/liclookupmain.asp. The Illinois Nursing Workforce Center at nursing.illinois.gov provides CE requirement guidance and links to renewal forms. RN licenses renew on the fixed June 1 – May 31 even-year cycle, not on a birth-month schedule. Nurses can contact IDFPR at 888-NURSE07 (888-687-7307) or email FPR.ILCenterforNurses@Illinois.gov with CE and renewal questions.

Illinois CE Requirements for Registered Nurses

Never miss an Illinois CE deadline.

Other roles in Illinois

Sources & Citations

Never miss an Illinois CE deadline.

Other roles in Illinois

CE requirements for Registered Nurses in other states

Sources & Citations