Resource Center: The Complete Guide to Nursing in Illinois
Are you interested in being a nurse in Illinois? Or perhaps you’re looking for nursing resources in Illinois? This page has everything you need to know about nursing in Illinois, including the job outlook for nurses, scholarships, nursing license information, continuing education requirements and more.
How to Apply for an Illinois Nursing License
To become a nurse in Illinois, you first need to apply for an Illinois nursing license. One way is through the Acceptance of Examination method. You’ll have to submit an online application via Continental Testing Services (CTS), an outside testing vendor used by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The following is required:
- Dual application: You must complete the CTS online RN application and National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) exam registration.
- Application fees: Currently, CTS requires a $107 application fee. Pearson VUE, which administers the NCLEX exam, requires a $200 testing fee. Please confirm any possible fee changes directly with CTS or Pearson VUE, respectively.
- Certification of education: Your nursing school must submit a certification of education to CTS.
- Original fingerprint receipt: Applicants must submit an original fingerprint receipt from an approved fingerprint vendor to CTS. It’s valid for 60 days from the date that you submit your application.
Once the applications, fees and supporting documents have been submitted, the Illinois nursing regulatory body (NRB) will determine your eligibility for an Illinois nursing license. If you qualify, Pearson VUE will send an Authorization to Test (ATT), which is valid for 90 days.
For additional information about Illinois nursing licenses, such as application by endorsement or international applicant requirements, visit the Illinois Board of Nursing website or the IDFPR’s Registered Nurse New Application Checklist.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
Continuing Education Requirements
Illinois registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are required to complete 20 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. Beginning January 1, 2020, one of the required 20 hours must be a sexual harassment prevention training course.*
*CE can be earned through a variety of classes and seminars, but it must be taken from an approved CE sponsor. Additionally, those renewing their license for the first time do not need to complete the required CE hours. Illinois nursing license renewal information can be found on the IDFPR Renewals page.
For more information about Illinois nursing continuing education requirements, including FAQs, visit the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center website.
Demand for Nurses in Illinois
The job outlook for nurses in Illinois is bright, according to O*NET:
- The agency projects that employment of registered nurses (RNs) in Illinois will grow 5% through 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations in Illinois.
- There are 7,870 annual projected job openings.
- Nursing jobs in Illinois are growing at about the same rate as for the nation as a whole. From 2021 through 2031, employment of registered nurses in the United States is expected to grow 6%.
Illinois Licensing Agency for Nurses
Nurses in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The IDFPR has two offices: one in Springfield and the other in Chicago.
Phone: (888) 473-4858
Springfield Address: 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786
Chicago Address: 555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
Illinois Board of Nursing
Visit the Illinois Board of Nursing Website
Illinois Board of Nursing Online Contact Form
Phone (scope of practice): (312) 814-2715
Phone (professional licensing): (800) 560-6420
Springfield Address: IDFPR/Nursing Unit, 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786
Chicago Address: IDFPR/Nursing Unit, 555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60661
Top Healthcare Employers in Illinois
If you’re looking for nursing jobs in Illinois, check out the healthcare employers below. This list was developed based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s profile of the state’s largest employers.
Healthcare Networks and Systems in Illinois
- University of Chicago Medicine
- NorthShore University HealthSystem
- OSF Healthcare System
- Edward-Elmhurst Health
- Health Care Service Corporation
- University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
- Advocate Health Care
- Northwestern Medicine
- Northwest Community Healthcare
- Mercyhealth
- Siu Health Care
- Riverside Healthcare
- Sinai Health System
Hospitals and Medical Centers in Illinois
- Rush University Medical Center
- Johnston R. Bowman Health Center
- OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
- John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
- Comer Children’s Hospital
- Edward Hospital – Main Campus
- Advocate Christ Medical Center
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
- Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital
- Carle Foundation Hospital
- HSHS St. John’s Hospital
Other Health Care Employers in Illinois
Nursing Organizations and Scholarships in Illinois
Professional Organizations for Nurses in Illinois
The Illinois Chapter of the American Nurses Association advocates for Illinois nurses, ensuring they’re considered in nursing practice legal and regulatory decisions.
ANA Illinois Online Contact Form
Phone: (779) 529-2012
Address: PO Box 636, Manteno, Illinois 60950
The Illinois Health Care Association (IHCA) consists of more than 500 long-term care facilities for developmentally disabled individuals living in the state. The IHCA seeks “to lead in advocacy and education for our members.”
Email: info@ihca.com
Phone: (800) 252-8988
Additional phone numbers: consult the Staff Contacts page
Address: 1029 South Fourth Street, Springfield IL 62703-2224
The Illinois League for Nursing (ILN) is part of the National League for Nursing. Members have access to nursing experts, events, programs and development opportunities.
Illinois League for Nursing Website
Phone: consult the ILN Officers page
The Illinois Nurses Association is a union committed to advocating for quality wages, benefits and working conditions for Illinois nurses. It provides continuing education and professional development.
Illinois Nurses Association Website
Email: update@illinoisnurses.com
Chicago Phone: (312) 419-2900
Springfield Phone: (217) 523-0783
Chicago Address: 910 West Van Buren Street, Suite 502, Chicago, IL 60607
Springfield Address: 911 South Second Street, Springfield, IL 62704
Specialty Nursing Organizations in Illinois
The mission of the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetists (IANA) is to support nurse anesthetists in Illinois through health policy advocacy, education and leadership, promoting patient safety and access to quality care.
Phone: (217) 528-6221
Address: 100 East Washington Street, Springfield, IL 62701
The Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) supports school nurses in Illinois and promotes healthy school programs for children. The IASN is affiliated with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN).
Email: iaschoolnurses@gmail.com
Phone: (779) 529-0218
Address: PO Box 656, Manteno, Illinois 60950
The Illinois Organization for Nurse Leaders (IONL) is an affiliate of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership™ (AONL). The IONL advances nursing leadership in Illinois through professional development, networking, research and more
Email: info@ionl.org
Phone: (312) 265-3927
Address: 225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60606
The National Association of Hispanic Nurses – Illinois Chapter (NAHN-IL) enhances Hispanic nurses’ careers by providing mentorship, academic promotion and professional development. The NAHN-IL is the largest NAHN chapter in the country, and it’s committed to increasing the number of bilingual and bicultural nurses in Illinois.
Email: illinois.nahn@gmail.com
Phone: (859) 469-5800
The Student Nurses Association of Illinois (SNAI) is devoted to fostering the development of Illinois nursing students. It’s run by nursing students for nursing students.
Email: president@snaillinois.com
Phone: (779) 529-2012
Address: PO Box 636, Manteno, Illinois 60950
Nursing Scholarships for Illinois Residents
The IASN’s Margaret I. Winters Memorial Scholarship is worth $1,500, and it’s annually awarded to a licensed Illinois professional educator and endorsed school nurse pursuing a graduate degree related to school nursing.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) offers a Nursing Education Scholarship Program to increase the number of nurses in Illinois. Scholarships are available to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing, a graduate nursing degree or a certificate in practical nursing.
The Illinois Farm Bureau and Rural Illinois Medical Student Assistance Program (RIMSAP) sponsor a Rural Nurse Practitioner Scholarship Program that awards $4,000 scholarships to RNs pursuing nurse practitioner (NP) education. Scholarship recipients must serve two years in a rural Illinois community.
The IHCA offers multiple scholarships with its affiliate, the Long Term Care Nurses Association (LTCNA). The Joseph F. Warner Long Term Care Nurses Scholarship Fund is specifically for those pursuing long-term care nursing jobs in Illinois.
The Illinois Nurses Foundation (INF) offers various scholarships for Illinois residents. Scholarship winners are announced in June, and applications are accepted annually from January 1 to March 15. These scholarships are aimed at students majoring in nursing or nurses who are interested in continuing their education.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) offers a Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program to help nurse educators repay up to $5,000 of student loans. The program addresses the lack of nurse educators in Illinois and incentivizes educators to continue teaching.
The NAHN-IL offers scholarships to its Illinois nursing members pursuing an accredited nursing program. The number of scholarships varies depending on the amount in its scholarship fund.
Earn a Nursing Degree Online in Illinois
Are you a nurse who wants to take the next step in your career? Purdue University Northwest’s an online RN-to-BSN program and online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program are the right fit for your busy schedule.
Notes and Conditions
For informational purposes only. Students should confirm stated information independently on their own.
Sample of employment and nursing scholarships listed above is for general reference and does not include all available sources. Purdue Northwest is not affiliated with and does not endorse any of the providers listed in the sample.
NCLEX Exam: NCLEX is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
RN Job Growth Projections: Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, O*Net, Illinois Employment Trends for Registered Nurses and Occupational Outlook Handbook, Registered Nurses