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How many CE hours does a nurse need to renew in Illinois?

If you hold an Illinois RN or LPN license, Illinois lists 20 hours of approved CE per two-year renewal cycle. Complete them in the 24 months before the license expires. Your first renewal does not require CE.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
RNs complete 20 hours of approved CE per two-year renewal cycleAdd up your approved hours before you renew.
Verified. idfpr.illinois.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
CE must be completed in the 24 months before the license expiresCheck each course date against that window.
Same source and date as above
Rule
Nurse Practice Act Rules, Section 1300.130 (Continuing Education)The IDFPR FAQ quotes this rule as the source of the hours.
Same source and date as above
Online accepted
Approved independent study, including home study programs, may be usedIDFPR gives this answer when asked about a course taken on-line or through a nursing journal.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check what applies to you. RNs and LPNs each complete 20 hours of approved CE per two-year renewal cycle. The hours must fall in the 24 months before the license expires. The first renewal of an Illinois RN or LPN license does not require CE.

  2. Step 2. Pick a sponsor that counts. A CE sponsor must be pre-approved under Rule 1300.130 or hold a CE sponsor license, and IDFPR says there is no single list of valid sponsors. Pre-approved sponsors, among them ANCC accredited or approved providers and providers that another state's board of nursing has approved, are listed in Rule 1300.130(c). To check whether a sponsor holds an Illinois CE sponsor license, use the IDFPR License Look Up, type Nurse CE Sponsor, then type the name of the sponsor.

  3. Step 3. Fit the required topics inside your hours, among them the following. Nurses who work with children must complete mandated reporter training at least every 6 years. For LPNs, 1 of the 20 hours must be on sexual harassment prevention and 1 on implicit bias awareness. For RNs, a law that took effect on January 1, 2020 requires 1 hour on sexual harassment prevention, and implicit bias awareness training is required starting with the 2024 renewal. IDFPR says both are included in the hours already required.

  4. Step 4. Keep your certificate. You must receive a Certificate of Completion for your CE and retain it. If you renew on time, you do not need to provide it, but you may be asked to confirm that you completed the training. You may need to provide it if you renew late, restore or reinstate an expired license, or are included in a CE audit.

Before you pay

We haven't confirmed a course price. The IDFPR FAQs we read describe the 2024 RN renewal and the 2025 LPN renewal, so check the current cycle with IDFPR. Before you pay, ask whether the sponsor is pre-approved under Rule 1300.130 or holds a CE sponsor license.

Questions

Is there a required Alzheimer's course?

For some nurses, yes. Beginning with the 2024 RN renewal and the 2025 LPN renewal, Illinois RNs and LPNs who provide health care services to and have direct patient interaction with adults 26 years of age and older must complete a one-hour course on Alzheimer's disease and other dementia types. IDFPR says the course may count toward the regular CE requirements.

Do CE hours from another state count?

Yes, for RNs and LPNs, if the courses meet the provisions in subsection (c) of Section 1300.130. IDFPR says CE hours used to satisfy the CE requirements of another jurisdiction may be applied to Illinois re-licensure under subsection (c) of Section 1300.130, the part titled Approved CE Sponsors and Programs.

Can CPR or life support courses count?

Up to 5 CE hours may be earned for skills certification courses. A maximum of 2 hours may be in CPR certified by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Health and Safety Institute or another qualified organization. A maximum of 3 hours may be for BLS, ACLS or PALS certification or recertification, or the equivalent.

Can college credits count?

Not all of them. IDFPR says audited college or university courses may not be used for CE credit. Degree, core or general education credits such as English, literature, history, math, music and physical education may not be used either.

What to do next

IDFPR says a complete copy of the Illinois Nurse Practice Act and the Rules is on its nursing page. Read the rule there before you pay for a course.

idfpr.illinois.gov

Sources we read