Illinois Pharmacist CE Courses (2026)
To renew your Pharmacist license in Illinois you need to satisfy the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy (under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR)'s continuing education (CE) requirement — about 30 hours per 2-year cycle. Below is what the board requires and a comparison of course providers that offer qualifying CE. This is an unofficial guide — confirm any course is board-approved before you buy.
What Illinois requires for Pharmacist renewal
| CE hours required | 30 hours per cycle |
|---|---|
| Renewal cycle | 24 months |
| Governing body | Illinois State Board of Pharmacy (under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR) |
A Registered Pharmacist must complete 30 hours of continuing education each 24-month license cycle; no CE is required for the very first license cycle. All CE must be from providers accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Within the 30 hours, mandated topics are: 1 hour Sexual Harassment Prevention, 1 hour Implicit Bias Awareness, and 1 hour Cultural Competency (the cultural competency requirement began January 1, 2025). Pharmacists authorized to administer vaccines/immunizations must include 2 hours of ACPE-approved immunization-related CE per licensing period. CE may be earned in person or remotely (live or pre-recorded). The fact sheet does not impose a separate pharmacy-law/jurisprudence or patient-safety hour requirement on RPh (those two extra hours apply to Certified Pharmacy Technicians, not pharmacists). One-time CE waivers are available for military service, documented incapacitating illness, or undue hardship.
Full Pharmacist renewal guide for Illinois (deadlines, fees & CE) →
Illinois Pharmacist CE course providers
- Power-Pak C.E.
Free and low-cost ACPE-accredited pharmacy CPE across clinical and law topics.
- Pharmacist's Letter (TRC Healthcare)
Subscription CPE plus drug-information resources for pharmacists.
- freeCE
Live and home-study ACPE pharmacy CPE, including law and immunization courses.
- CEimpact
ACPE-accredited pharmacy CPE subscriptions and certificate programs.
Illinois Pharmacist CE courses: frequently asked questions
How many CE hours do I need to renew my Pharmacist license in Illinois?
Illinois requires about 30 continuing-education hours per renewal cycle. A Registered Pharmacist must complete 30 hours of continuing education each 24-month license cycle; no CE is required for the very first license cycle. All CE must be from providers accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). Within the 30 hours, mandated topics are: 1 hour Sexual Harassment Prevention, 1 hour Implicit Bias Awareness, and 1 hour Cultural Competency (the cultural competency requirement began January 1, 2025). Pharmacists authorized to administer vaccines/immunizations must include 2 hours of ACPE-approved immunization-related CE per licensing period. CE may be earned in person or remotely (live or pre-recorded). The fact sheet does not impose a separate pharmacy-law/jurisprudence or patient-safety hour requirement on RPh (those two extra hours apply to Certified Pharmacy Technicians, not pharmacists). One-time CE waivers are available for military service, documented incapacitating illness, or undue hardship.
Do online Pharmacist CE courses count in Illinois?
Online courses generally count when the provider is approved by or recognized by the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy (under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR). Always confirm a course is accepted before you buy it.
Where do I report my Illinois Pharmacist CE?
Illinois generally has you attest to CE at renewal and keep your own documentation in case of an audit. Confirm the current process with the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy (under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR).
Requirement last verified 2026-06-01 from the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy (under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR). Always confirm current rules with the board before relying on this.