Transfer Your Nursing License to Illinois: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) ↗
Illinois is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so no out-of-state license — multistate or single-state — authorizes practice there. Every incoming RN applies to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) for licensure by endorsement: $50–$75 ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor), typical processing no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials, and the NCLEX is not retaken.
Moving to Illinois from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Plan the timeline first. Because Illinois recognizes no outside license, you cannot legally work a single shift there until its own license (or temporary permit, where offered) is in hand — and unlike compact states, there is no shortcut for travel or telehealth work either.
Non-compact state — NLC multistate licenses are not valid in Illinois; out-of-state RNs must be licensed by endorsement through IDFPR.
Illinois requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $50–$75 ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor) |
| Processing time | no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials |
Step by step
- Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Illinois State Police or its designated agent.
- Hold a current license in at least one other U.S. jurisdiction.
- Request license verification through Nursys (or the CT-NUR form if your state does not participate).
- Submit proof of nursing education (ED form signed by your program director or official sealed transcripts).
- Pay the fees ($50–$75 ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor)) and allow no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Illinois:
All 50 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my nursing license transfer to Illinois?
Illinois is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so no out-of-state license — multistate or single-state — authorizes practice there. Every incoming RN applies to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) for licensure by endorsement: $50–$75 ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor), typical processing no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials, and the NCLEX is not retaken.
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Illinois?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
How much does it cost to transfer an RN license to Illinois?
$50–$75 ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor) ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor).
How long does Illinois take to process an endorsement application?
no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials — no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials.
Is Illinois in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
No. Illinois does not participate as of 2026-07-21, so compact multistate licenses carry no practice privilege there.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- IDFPR — Registered Nurse Instruction Sheet (Examination/Endorsement/Restoration), rev. 4/24 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Nurses profession page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]