Illinois Advanced Practice Registered Nurses CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

Illinois Nurses

In support of improving patient care, NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation Board of Nursing accepts courses from any provider who is ANCC accredited.

Continuing Education Requirement

The Illinois Department of Professional Regulation Board of Nursing accepts NetCE courses.

RNs and LPNs are required 20 contact hours every two years.

APRNs are required 80 contact hours every two years. A minimum of 50 hours shall be obtained in continuing education programs that include at least 20 hours of pharmacotherapeutics, including 10 hours of opioid prescribing or substance abuse education. APRNs with Schedule II included in their Controlled Substances Registration must complete 3 hours specific to safe opioid prescribing practices.

NEW Beginning with renewals on and after January 1, 2025, health care professionals who are licensed prescribers of controlled substances have an updated statutory mandate of at least 1 hour on safe opioid prescribing practices. (720 ILCS 570/315.5 IL Controlled Substances Act amended per PA 103-0531 enacted 8/11/2023 eff 1/1/2025)

NEW Beginning with renewals on and after January 1, 2025, health care professionals have a new statutorily mandated continuing education requirement of at least 1 hour in cultural competency. Completion deadline is within 3 biennial renewal periods. A health care professional may count this one hour for completion of this course toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. (PA 103-0531 enacted 8/11/2023 effective 1/1/2025)

Beginning with DEA initial registrations or renewals starting June 27, 2023, all DEA-registered practitioners (with the exception of DVM-only license holders) are required 8 hours on treating and managing patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, including the appropriate clinical use of all FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of a substance use disorder, one-time only.

Beginning January 1, 2023, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements for license registration or renewal and provides health care services to patients 26 years of age and older, is required at least 1 hour in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer disease and other dementias every renewal period. A health care professional may count this 1 hour toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education. This requirement begins for RNs and APRNs renewing in 2024 (and LPNs who renewed in 2023).

Beginning January 1, 2023, a health care professional who has continuing education requirements for license registration or renewal must complete at least a one-hour course in training on implicit bias awareness per renewal period. A health care professional may count this one hour for completion of this course toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education.

Beginning January 1, 2020, all licensees are required to complete 1 hour of continuing education specific to sexual harassment prevention every renewal.

Beginning January 1, 2021, all licensees who are considered mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect are required to complete training on the subject within 3 months of engagement in a professional or official capacity as a mandated reporter. RNs, LPNs, and APRNs must complete the training at least every 6 years thereafter. The training will count toward meeting a licensee's required continuing education, and is provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

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All Accreditations and Approvals
License Renewal Instructions

For More Information

Please contact the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation Board of Nursing at (800) 560-6420, or visit their website at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/Nursing.asp.

Additional information regarding your continuing education requirements may be found at:
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068013000A01300R.html - RNs, LPNs, and APNs.
https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/072005700K303.05.htm - APNs with Schedule II controlled substances prescriptive or dispensing authority.

Licensees may complete the DCFS mandated reporter training online at https://www.dcfstraining.org/vtc/home/home.action.