LPN License Renewal in Illinois (2026)

LPN license renewal in Illinois is handled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing, which requires Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)s to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Illinois LPN renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	Biennial. All Illinois LPN licenses expire January 31 of every odd-numbered year, regardless of the date of issuance (e.g., the current cycle ends January 31, 2027). Renewal notices are mailed roughly three months before expiration.
CE hours required	20 hours
Renewal fee	$80.00
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing

Go to the official Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing. automated research workflow (official illinois Board of Nursing), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for LPNs in Illinois

LPNs must complete 20 contact hours of approved continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle (per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.130; beginning with the Jan 31, 2013 renewal). All CE must be completed in the 24 months preceding expiration. The first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CE. Embedded within (not in addition to) the 20 hours are several mandated topics: 1 hour sexual harassment prevention; 1 hour implicit bias awareness; 1 hour cultural competency (required once every six years, effective Jan 1, 2025); 1 hour Alzheimer's/dementia diagnosis, treatment and care for LPNs with direct patient contact with adults 26 and older; and mandated reporter (child abuse) training every six years for those working with children. CE from another state's board may be applied toward Illinois requirements. Licensees self-retain CE records; documentation is not submitted at renewal but must be available for audit. Note: this 20-hour LPN total is the same as the Illinois RN requirement and lower than the APRN requirement (80 hours).

Need approved hours? Compare Illinois LPN CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your LPN license in Illinois

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing portal.
Complete the required 20 CE hours.
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Illinois uses the title Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN); only California and Texas use Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), so LVN does not apply here. Renewal fee verified as $40/year (= $80 for the 2-year cycle) per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.30. The "late fee" is not a flat amount: restoration of a lapsed (non-inactive) license costs $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $250 (so $50 is the base/minimum); Illinois provides no practice grace period for an expired license. Several widely-cited third-party guides incorrectly state the expiration as 'May 31 of even years' — the official IDFPR LPN instruction sheet and CE FAQ both confirm it is January 31 of odd-numbered years. Online renewal is via the IDFPR online portal (online-dfpr.micropact.com). Illinois does NOT use CE Broker; licensees maintain their own CE records.

LPN license renewal in Illinois: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my LPN license in Illinois?

Illinois LPN licenses renew every 24 months. Biennial. All Illinois LPN licenses expire January 31 of every odd-numbered year, regardless of the date of issuance (e.g., the current cycle ends January 31, 2027). Renewal notices are mailed roughly three months before expiration.

How many CE hours are required to renew an LPN license in Illinois?

Approximately 20 continuing-education hours per cycle. LPNs must complete 20 contact hours of approved continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle (per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.130; beginning with the Jan 31, 2013 renewal). All CE must be completed in the 24 months preceding expiration. The first renewal after initial licensure is exempt from CE. Embedded within (not in addition to) the 20 hours are several mandated topics: 1 hour sexual harassment prevention; 1 hour implicit bias awareness; 1 hour cultural competency (required once every six years, effective Jan 1, 2025); 1 hour Alzheimer's/dementia diagnosis, treatment and care for LPNs with direct patient contact with adults 26 and older; and mandated reporter (child abuse) training every six years for those working with children. CE from another state's board may be applied toward Illinois requirements. Licensees self-retain CE records; documentation is not submitted at renewal but must be available for audit. Note: this 20-hour LPN total is the same as the Illinois RN requirement and lower than the APRN requirement (80 hours). Confirm the current requirement with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing.

Can I renew my Illinois LPN license online?

Yes — Illinois offers online renewal through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing. Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Illinois LPN license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $50 may apply. Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation / Illinois Board of Nursing promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN) renewal