CE requirements › Illinois RN
Illinois Registered Nurse: CE & renewal requirements
20 CE contact hours every 2 years
Biennial, fixed date — all RN licenses expire May 31 of every even-numbered year.
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) · confirmed 2026-06. Requirements change — always verify with the board.
Required topics
- 1 hr Implicit Bias Awareness
- 1 hr Cultural Competency
- 1 hr Sexual Harassment Prevention
First renewal & exemptions
No CE is required for your first renewal after initial licensure.
If your license lapses
No grace period — on June 1 of an even year the license is expired and you can't practice. Reinstatement under 5 years needs back-CE plus a fee; 5+ years is a fuller restoration.
How CE is tracked
Self-attest at IDFPR online renewal; proof isn't submitted but must be retained for audit.
Watch out: The three 1-hour mandates (implicit bias, cultural competency, sexual harassment) are small slices buried in the 20 hours — auditors specifically check for them, and the implicit-bias hour is the most-missed.
Are you on track? Check free
Enter your license expiration and CE hours completed — see what you still owe, the pace to finish, and your reminder schedule. No signup.
Informational only, based on the numbers you enter — not legal or licensing advice, and not an official record. Confirm your exact requirement and current status with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).