Is Illinois a compact (multistate) nursing state?

No. Illinois has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. Bills to join have been introduced repeatedly in the General Assembly, but none has passed, so a multistate license from another state is not valid in Illinois and nurses must hold an Illinois license.

Who regulates nursing licenses in Illinois?

Nursing licenses are issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR); the Illinois Board of Nursing acts as the professional advisory board for nursing practice and education within IDFPR.

How do I register for the NCLEX in Illinois?

Apply for licensure through IDFPR, then register for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN with NCSBN and pay the fee. After you are found eligible you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) and can schedule at a Pearson VUE test center. NCLEX is administered by NCSBN and delivered through Pearson VUE; NursingCEA is not affiliated with either.

How do I verify an Illinois nursing license?

Use IDFPR's online license lookup to verify an Illinois nurse's license by name or license number. Because Illinois is not a compact state, its licenses are single-state and are verified through the IDFPR portal.

What are some nursing schools in Illinois?

Illinois nursing programs include the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, and Northern Illinois University's School of Nursing in DeKalb.

IL· Nursing licensure & NCLEX prep

NCLEX practice questions for Illinois nurses & students

Illinois nurses are licensed by the Illinois Board of Nursing, an advisory board that sits within the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), which issues and renews the licenses. The Chicago area concentrates much of the state's acute-care nursing — Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, University of Chicago Medicine, Advocate Health Care, and UI Health — and its major universities feed that workforce. Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state; compact legislation has been introduced several times but has not become law, so nurses practicing in Illinois need an Illinois license.

Study mode explains each answer the moment you submit it; timed mode scores you at the end. Practice logged out, or create an account to save scores and track weak areas by topic.

Board of Nursing: Illinois Board of Nursing
Compact status: Not a Nurse Licensure Compact member
License verification: Verify a Illinois nursing license

Take the mixed practice exam Read the study guides

Nurse Licensure Compact

Not a Nurse Licensure Compact member

Illinois has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. Compact bills have been introduced repeatedly in the General Assembly, but none has passed, so Illinois issues only single-state licenses.

Who regulates nursing

Illinois Board of Nursing

Nursing licensure in Illinois is set by the Illinois Board of Nursing, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). For official, current requirements, use the board directly.

Verify a nursing license

How to register for the NCLEX in Illinois

1. Apply for licensure by examination with the Illinois Board of Nursing and meet its eligibility requirements.
2. Register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE and pay the exam fee.
3. Once the board finds you eligible, you receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) and schedule at a Pearson VUE test center.
4.Use NursingCEA’s topic quizzes and study guides to prepare in the meantime.

Nursing schools in Illinois

A few of the nursing programs based in Illinois:

University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Rush University College of Nursing (Chicago)
Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing
Northern Illinois University School of Nursing (DeKalb)

License renewal & continuing education in Illinois

License renewal: every two years (RN licenses expire May 31 of even-numbered years)
RN continuing education: 20 contact hours of approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle
Required topics: One hour of sexual harassment prevention training, One hour of implicit bias awareness training, One hour on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (nurses who provide direct patient care to adults age 26 and older), Mandated reporter training on child abuse and neglect (nurses who work with children)

The mandated one-hour topics are counted within the 20 required hours and do not add to the total. The continuing-education requirement is waived for a nurse's first Illinois license renewal.

Illinois Board of Nursing renewal details How nursing CE works

NursingCEA does not provide continuing-education credit, contact hours, or certificates — we offer free practice questions and study material only. Requirements are set by the Illinois Board of Nursing and change over time; always confirm the current rules with the board.

Illinois nursing & NCLEX — frequently asked

: No. Illinois has not enacted the Nurse Licensure Compact. Bills to join have been introduced repeatedly in the General Assembly, but none has passed, so a multistate license from another state is not valid in Illinois and nurses must hold an Illinois license.
: Nursing licenses are issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR); the Illinois Board of Nursing acts as the professional advisory board for nursing practice and education within IDFPR.
: Apply for licensure through IDFPR, then register for the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN with NCSBN and pay the fee. After you are found eligible you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) and can schedule at a Pearson VUE test center. NCLEX is administered by NCSBN and delivered through Pearson VUE; NursingCEA is not affiliated with either.
: Use IDFPR's online license lookup to verify an Illinois nurse's license by name or license number. Because Illinois is not a compact state, its licenses are single-state and are verified through the IDFPR portal.
: Illinois nursing programs include the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago's Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, and Northern Illinois University's School of Nursing in DeKalb.

Free · no spam

Get a free high-yield NCLEX question every week

One carefully written practice question plus a short study tip, emailed weekly. Unsubscribe anytime — we never share your address.

All material on this site is original and for practice and study only — it is not official licensure guidance. For current licensure requirements, rely on the Illinois Board of Nursing. NursingCEA is not affiliated with the Illinois Board of Nursing.

Free NCLEX prep for Illinoisnurses & students

Licensure is the paperwork; the NCLEX is the hurdle. Everything you need to prepare in Illinois is free here — no account needed to start.

Free NCLEX practice test

A full-length practice exam across all eight nursing topics — every answer explained and cited to a clinical source.

Study guides by topic

High-yield concepts and the key values worth memorizing before you drill the questions.

Nursing CE & license renewal

How continuing education and license renewal work once you’re licensed — the rules by state, explained.

Practice questions by topic

Eight topic quizzes with a cited rationale on every question — pick one to study it in depth.

PHARM

Pharmacology

MEDSURG

Medical-Surgical

PEDS

Pediatrics

OB & Maternity

PSYCH

Mental Health

FUND

Fundamentals

DOSE

Dosage Calculations

LEAD

Leadership & Management