Illinois · RN Endorsement
Get Your Illinois RN License Without Guessing.
Illinois is not a compact state, so your out-of-state license does not cover you. Three questions give you your route, the fee, and the documents IDFPR asks for.
Chicago lakefront, Illinois — DimiTalen, CC0 (public domain dedication)
Do you need an Illinois RN license?
Yes. What you choose is how soon you start.
Work on a temporary permit.
File the endorsement application and a Temporary Endorsement Permit together. IDFPR must issue the permit no later than 14 days after it receives a completed application, and it lets you work while the permanent license is pending. It runs 6 months.
File once and wait.
One application, $50. The paperwork is the slowest part: fingerprints processed by an Illinois Livescan vendor and taken within 60 days of applying, plus license verification from every state you have practiced in.
Decision path
Which path are you on?
Three questions. Your answer appears immediately — no email required.
Which describes you?
Illinois endorsement is for nurses who already hold a license in another U.S. jurisdiction when they apply. Active means unexpired and in good standing right now.
Do you need to work before the permanent license is issued?
This is the timing choice Illinois offers. The temporary permit is applied for alongside the endorsement application, not after it.
Have you already been licensed as an RN in the United States?
Illinois treats an internationally educated nurse who already holds a U.S. license differently from one who has never been licensed in the U.S.
Your path
Endorsement plus a temporary permit.
File the endorsement application and the temporary permit application together. IDFPR must issue the temporary endorsement permit no later than 14 days after it receives a completed application, and the permit lets you work while the permanent license is pending.
- Application
- $50RN licensure, non-refundable
- Temporary permit
- $25Fee schedule — see the note
- Issued within
- 14 daysOf a completed application
- You need current active licensure in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- Send photocopies of every current active nursing license and temporary permit you hold elsewhere.
- IDFPR checks your record against the Nursys disciplinary databank before issuing.
- The permit runs 6 months and ends if the application isn't finished by then. Extensions are granted only for hardship.
Your path
Illinois licensure by endorsement.
One application, one $50 fee. Illinois asks for more license verifications than most states, and it is specific about how your fingerprints are processed.
- Application
- $50Non-refundable
- Renewal
- $80$40/yr on a 2-year cycle
- Expires
- May 31Each even-numbered year
- Licensure verification from your original licensing state, your current state, and every state where you have actively practiced.
- Proof you passed the NCLEX or the State Board Test Pool Examination.
- Fingerprints taken within the 60 days before you apply and processed by an Illinois Livescan vendor — out-of-state prints are allowed, out-of-state processing is not.
- Proof of graduation from a nursing program meeting the standards in Section 1300.340.
Your path
Get your other license active first.
Endorsement is for nurses licensed in another jurisdiction, and the temporary permit separately requires current active licensure in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Neither is open to you until that license is active again.
- First step
- ReactivateWith the issuing board
- Then apply
- $50Illinois endorsement
- Temp permit
- BlockedUntil a license is active
- Reactivate or renew with the board that issued the license before you file in Illinois.
- If it is an Illinois license that lapsed, restoration is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees, capped at $250.
- Fingerprints are still required, and they still expire 60 days after they are taken.
- Restoration, reactivation, and endorsement are different applications with different requirements.
Your path
Endorsement, and your evaluation may already be covered.
You were educated abroad but hold a U.S. license. Illinois lets you satisfy the foreign credentials evaluation with proof of licensure in a state that required such a report for initial licensure, so you may not need a new one.
- Application
- $50Non-refundable
- Evaluation
- MaybePrior state licensure may cover it
- English test
- WaivableSee the conditions below
- A CGFNS CES or ERES credentials evaluation is required unless your prior state required one for initial licensure.
- A CGFNS Certificate Program or VisaScreen certificate also satisfies it, if it was based on licensure in your country of education.
- TOEFL (560 paper / 220 computer / 83 internet) or IELTS Academic (6.5 overall, 7.0 spoken) if your first language is not English.
- The English requirement can be waived if your nursing program was conducted in English or you passed an approved licensing exam in English.
Your path
You apply by examination, not endorsement.
Endorsement is for nurses already licensed in another jurisdiction. If Illinois would be your first U.S. license, you file the Registered Nurse Examination Application under Section 1300.300 instead.
- Application
- $50Same RN application fee
- Plus
- NCLEXExam fee paid separately
- Route
- ExaminationNot endorsement
- On top of the $50, you pay the Division or the testing service for eligibility and the examination itself.
- Missing your scheduled exam date after your application is acknowledged forfeits the examination fee.
- Educated outside the U.S.? You need a CGFNS CES or ERES credentials evaluation report.
- If you do not pass within 3 years of your application date, you must enroll in an NCLEX review course before retaking.
What you do
Your Illinois RN endorsement checklist
Have an active RN license elsewhere
Endorsement is for nurses licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction. You also need proof you passed the NCLEX or the State Board Test Pool Examination, and proof of graduation from a qualifying nursing program.
IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementFingerprints: Illinois vendor, within 60 days
Prints must be processed by an Illinois Livescan vendor and taken within the 60 days before you apply. You can be printed out of state; it still has to be processed by an Illinois vendor.
IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementRequest verification from every state
Your original licensing state, your current state, and any other state where you have actively practiced. Not just the first one.
IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementApply and pay
$50 for the RN application, filed through the IDFPR online portal. Add the temporary endorsement permit application if you need to work before the permanent license is issued. Fees are non-refundable.
IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30 — FeesFinish within 6 months if you took the permit
The temporary permit ends if the application process isn't complete 6 months after it was issued. Track your application in IDFPR License Look-Up.
IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementBefore you start
Your fingerprints expire
They have to be taken within the 60 days before you apply. Printed too early and the application is incomplete — which also means the 14-day permit clock never starts.
Verification is the slowest part
Every board you have been licensed with sets its own turnaround, and Illinois wants more than one of them. Request them all before you file, not after.
Illinois CE follows you out of state
Nurses licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states still comply with the Illinois CE requirement. Holding the license is what triggers it, not living here.
Renewal is a fixed date, not your birthday
Every Illinois RN license expires on May 31 of each even-numbered year, so the next deadline is May 31, 2028 whenever yours is issued. Practicing on an expired license is unlicensed practice.
Cost
What it costs
Illinois nurse fees are fixed in the Administrative Code and are non-refundable. RN renewal is quoted per year but billed across the two-year cycle.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| RN application (endorsement or examination) | $50 |
| Temporary endorsement permit | $25* |
| RN renewal | $40 per year ($80 per 2-year cycle) |
| Restoration (other than from inactive) | $50 + lapsed renewal fees, max $250 |
| Certification of your license record | $20 |
| Out-of-state CE program approval | $25 (late: +$50 per CE hour, max $300) |
| Fingerprint processing | Vendor cost — the rule sets no figure |
Source: 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30. Verified September 15, 2026. *The fee schedule sets the temporary permit at $25, but the endorsement rule cross-references the $125 APRN application fee. Confirm the amount at checkout.
How long it takes
IDFPR must issue the temporary endorsement permit no later than 14 days after it receives a completed application.
For the permanent license, IDFPR publishes no processing time. Track your application in IDFPR License Look-Up.
Build My Illinois Checklist
Tell us where you're licensed and when you need to start working in Illinois. You'll get the requirements that apply to you, in the order you need them.
Requirements
Illinois RN requirements
| Requirement | What you need to know | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply by endorsement | A nurse licensed in another jurisdiction, with proof of passing the NCLEX or the State Board Test Pool Examination and proof of graduation from a nursing program meeting Section 1300.340. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement | |
| Which states verify you | The jurisdiction that originally licensed you, your current licensure, and any other jurisdiction where you have been actively practicing. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement | |
| Fingerprints | Taken within the 60 days before you apply and processed by an Illinois Livescan vendor. Out-of-state prints are allowed; out-of-state processing is not. Practical nurses already licensed in Illinois are exempt when applying for an RN license. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement | |
| Application fee | $50 for the RN application, and all nurse fees in the rule are non-refundable. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30 — Fees | |
| Temporary endorsement permit | Lets you work pending issuance of the license. Requires current active licensure in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, photocopies of all current active nursing licenses, fingerprint verification, and a Nursys disciplinary check. Issued no later than 14 days after a completed application. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement | |
| Temporary permit fee | $25 in the fee schedule. The endorsement rule cross-references the $125 APRN application fee instead — the two sections conflict, so confirm the amount at checkout. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30 — Fees | |
| Temporary permit duration | 6 months. It ends earlier on issuance of the permanent license, a felony conviction, a nursing-related misdemeanor within 5 years, or discipline in another jurisdiction within 5 years. Renewable beyond 6 months only for hardship. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement | |
| Renewal | $40 per year, billed as $80 across the two-year cycle. Every RN license expires on May 31 of each even-numbered year, and practice on an expired license is unlicensed practice. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.40 — Renewals | |
| Continuing education | 20 hours per two-year renewal cycle, all completed in the 24 months before expiration. Not required for the first renewal of an Illinois license. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.130 — Continuing Education | |
| CE while living in another state | Still required — nurses licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing elsewhere comply with the Illinois CE requirement. CE from an unapproved out-of-state sponsor needs an individual program approval and a $25 fee, or $25 plus $50 per CE hour (max $300) if filed late. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.130 — Continuing Education | |
| Educated outside the United States | A CGFNS CES or ERES credentials evaluation, unless you provide proof of licensure in a state that required one for initial licensure. TOEFL 560 paper / 220 computer / 83 internet, or IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and 7.0 spoken — waivable if your program was conducted in English. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement | |
| Non-traditional or correspondence program | Licensable if you hold an advanced graduate nursing degree from an approved program with concurrent theory and clinical practice, or you are currently licensed elsewhere with 2 years of clinical practice — at least 1,500 hours of direct patient care a year. Telephone or triage nursing and case management do not count. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.300 — Application for Examination or Licensure | |
| If Illinois would be your first U.S. license | That is examination, not endorsement. If the exam is not passed within 3 years of the application date you must enroll in an NCLEX review course before retaking — a rule that does not apply to nurses already licensed in another jurisdiction. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.310 — Examinations | |
| Endorsement processing time | Not published. IDFPR gives no turnaround for the permanent license by endorsement. Track your application in IDFPR License Look-Up. | IDFPR nursing page | |
| Fingerprint cost | Not published. The rule sets the fee as the cost of processing, payable to the State Police Services Fund; the Livescan vendor sets the amount. | 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30 — Fees |
FAQ
Common questions
Does my compact multistate license let me work in Illinois?
No. Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, and Illinois law gives a nurse licensed elsewhere one route in: licensure by endorsement under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320. The Illinois fee schedule contains no multistate license fee and the renewal rule contains no multistate category.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementHow much does an Illinois RN license cost in 2026?
The RN application fee is $50, and the temporary restoration or endorsement permit fee is $25. Renewal is calculated at $40 per year, which is $80 across the two-year cycle. All nurse fees in the rule are non-refundable.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30 — FeesHow long does Illinois RN endorsement take?
IDFPR publishes no processing time for the permanent license. The one deadline in the rule is the temporary endorsement permit: the Division issues it no later than 14 days after receipt of a completed application.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementCan I work in Illinois while my application is pending?
Yes, if you qualify for a Temporary Endorsement Permit. It allows you to work pending issuance of the license by endorsement. You must hold current active licensure in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, submit photocopies of all current active nursing licenses, and have your record checked against the Nursys disciplinary databank. It lasts 6 months.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementWhich states do I need license verification from?
More than one. Illinois requires verification of licensure status from the jurisdiction where you were originally licensed, your current licensure, and any other jurisdiction in which you have been actively practicing.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementWhat are the Illinois fingerprint rules?
Fingerprints must be taken within the 60 days prior to application and verified as processed through the Illinois State Police or its designated agent. Out-of-state residents may have prints taken by an out-of-state vendor, but they must be processed by an Illinois Livescan vendor. Practical nurses already licensed in Illinois are not required to be fingerprinted when applying for an RN license.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by EndorsementWhen does an Illinois RN license expire, and what CE is required?
Every Illinois RN license expires on May 31 of each even-numbered year, making the next deadline May 31, 2028. Renewal requires 20 hours of approved continuing education per two-year cycle, all completed in the 24 months preceding expiration. CE is not required for the first renewal of an Illinois license.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.40 — RenewalsI hold an Illinois license but live and work in another state. Does Illinois CE still apply?
Yes. Nurses licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states comply with the Illinois CE requirements. CE earned in another jurisdiction can be applied, but if it was not given by an approved sponsor you file an individual program approval request with a $25 processing fee before participating, or within 90 days prior to expiration. Filed late, it is $25 plus $50 per CE hour, not to exceed $300.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.130 — Continuing EducationI graduated from a non-traditional or correspondence program. Can I still endorse?
Possibly. Illinois may license an applicant from such a program who either holds an advanced graduate degree in nursing from an approved program with concurrent theory and clinical practice, or is currently licensed in another state and has been actively practicing clinical nursing for at least 2 years. A year means not less than 1,500 hours of direct patient care. Telephone or triage nursing and case management do not count.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.300 — Application for Examination or LicensureI was educated outside the United States. What extra steps apply?
A credentials evaluation report from CGFNS CES, ERES, or another approved service — which can be satisfied by proof of licensure in a state that required such a report for initial licensure. If your first language is not English you need TOEFL (560 paper / 220 computer / 83 internet) or IELTS Academic (6.5 overall, 7.0 spoken), waivable if your program was conducted in English or you passed an approved licensing exam in English. Credentials not in English need a certified translation.
Source: IDFPR · 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.320 — RN Licensure by Endorsement