Illinois Nursing License Renewal
Illinois renews nursing licenses on statewide deadlines: every LPN in the state renews by the same date, and every RN by another. The next one is close: LPN licenses expire January 31, 2027.
Deadlines
| License | Expires | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | January 31 of odd years | January 31, 2027 |
| Registered Professional Nurse (RN) | May 31 of even years | May 31, 2028 |
| Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) | Shown on each license | Many show May 31, 2028 |
Because every LPN shares one deadline, agencies with LPNs on staff have a single crunch period each cycle. Confirm any one nurse's date with the IDFPR license lookup.
Continuing education: 20 hours every two years
| Required course | Hours | Who and how often |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual harassment prevention | 1 | Every licensee, every renewal |
| Implicit bias awareness | 1 | Every renewal |
| Alzheimer's disease and dementia care | 1 | Nurses with direct care of adults 26 and older; repeated every six years |
| General nursing CE | The rest of the 20 | Every renewal |
The required courses count toward the 20 hours rather than adding to them. RNs renewing for the first time are exempt from CE. A separate maternal health implicit bias training applies from July 1, 2026 to professionals who provide maternal care. See IDFPR's continuing education page.
What employers should watch
- The January 2027 LPN deadline. Every LPN on your team has to renew by January 31, 2027. Anyone who doesn't renew shows as "not renewed" and can't practice.
- One date, many nurses. Statewide deadlines mean you can check your whole team right after each deadline passes.
- Keep proof. Save a dated license verification for each nurse at hire and after each deadline.
Common questions
When do Illinois LPN licenses expire?
When do Illinois RN licenses expire?
How many CE hours do Illinois nurses need?
How can an employer check an Illinois nurse's license?
Screen your Illinois staff every month
StaffScreen, our sister service, checks your whole team against the federal OIG and SAM.gov exclusion lists every month and emails you a dated certificate for your compliance file. Illinois customers hear first when the Illinois License Directory roster opens.
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