StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Illinois

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$298
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No official IDFPR source states a fixed minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null rather than guessed. All applicants for initial licensure must submit to a criminal background check and provide evidence of fingerprint processing from an Illinois State Police-licensed fingerprint vendor (taken within 60 days of the application date); applicants who already hold active Illinois LPN licensure do not need to resubmit to a background check. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Illinois requires graduation from a practical nursing education program approved by IDFPR (or a certificate of completion of pre-licensure requirements from another U.S. jurisdiction; foreign-educated applicants need a CGFNS or ERES credentials evaluation). IDFPR's official LPN instruction sheet and application checklist do not publish a fixed statewide total instructional-hour minimum for LPN programs, so left null rather than guessed. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). The $200 NCLEX registration fee is paid to Pearson VUE/NCSBN, separate from IDFPR/CTS's own $98.00 initial 'Acceptance of Examination' application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation with the $98 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Illinois.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $98
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] None specified
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Licensure by Endorsement (out-of-state LPN) [3] $50
Licensure by Endorsement with Temporary Nursing Permit [3] $75
Temporary Nursing Permit (add-on) [3] $25
Reinstatement to inactive status (per official reinstatement reference chart) [3] $80
Reinstatement of a non-renewed (lapsed) license, includes late fee, per official reinstatement reference chart [3] $130

The $98 'Acceptance of Examination' fee (official IDFPR LPN application checklist) is IDFPR's initial application fee and there is no separate license-issuance fee beyond it, so license is null. IDFPR's official nurse-reinstatement reference chart lists an '$80 Inactive only' fee and a '$130 Non-renewed' (lapsed, includes late fee) reinstatement fee for LPNs, but no single official IDFPR page found during this research states the standard on-time active-renewal fee as a distinct figure from those reinstatement amounts, so renewal is left null rather than guessed (third-party nursing-license sites commonly cite $80 for on-time renewal, which may be the same figure as the 'inactive only' fee, but this could not be independently confirmed).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 20 continuing education hours required per cycle.

All Illinois LPN licenses expire January 31 of every odd-numbered year, regardless of issuance date, per IDFPR's official LPN instruction sheet. IDFPR's official nurse-reinstatement reference chart lists a 20-contact-hour continuing education requirement for LPNs (same as RNs) per renewal cycle.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC); it is shown as 'Currently No Action' on the compact commission's official jurisdiction map/table (nursecompact.com), so compacts is left empty. LPNs licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction can instead apply for Licensure by Endorsement ($50, or $75 with a Temporary Nursing Permit) through IDFPR.

32 state-approved training providers in Illinois — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $98
  • $200
Total$298

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for an LPN license in Illinois?

Graduate from an IDFPR-approved practical nursing program, submit fingerprints through an Illinois State Police-licensed vendor, and submit the LPN application with the $98 'Acceptance of Examination' fee to IDFPR/Continental Testing Services before registering for the NCLEX-PN with Pearson VUE.

Who administers the LPN licensing exam in Illinois?

Pearson VUE administers the NCLEX-PN under contract with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Illinois applicants first submit their application and $98 fee through IDFPR's testing vendor, Continental Testing Services, before registering with Pearson VUE and paying the separate $200 NCLEX fee.

How often do I need to renew my Illinois LPN license?

Every 2 years. All Illinois LPN licenses expire January 31 of every odd-numbered year, regardless of when they were issued, and renewal requires 20 hours of continuing education.

Can I transfer my out-of-state LPN license to Illinois?

Illinois is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so you cannot practice on an out-of-state multistate license alone. LPNs licensed elsewhere apply for Licensure by Endorsement ($50) through IDFPR.

Sources

  1. [1] idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/lpn-ex_1.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/forms/online/-043-licensed-practical-nurse-user-guide.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/renewals/apply/forms/f2408.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] nursecompact.com/files/NLC_Map.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10