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Illinois · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in Illinois

High confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (renews by June 30 of even years)
Total CE hours
80 CE hours per renewal cycle
Pharmacology hours
≥20 hrs pharmacotherapeutics (within ≥50 formal CE hrs); ≥10 of the 20 must be opioid/substance-abuse education
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
Must maintain national APRN certification

State-mandated CE topics

  • Implicit bias: 1 hr — Per renewal, since 2024 cycle.
  • Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hr .
  • Alzheimer's/dementia: 1 hr — APRNs with adult patients 26+, since 2024.
  • Cultural competency: 1 hr — Renewals on/after 2025-01-01, every 6 yrs.
  • Safe opioid prescribing: 3 hrs — To renew Controlled Substances Registration (Schedule II).

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

Illinois licensing boardIllinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR)
AANP certification (national)aanpcert.org/recert
ANCC certification (national)nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/renewals/ancc-certrenewalrequirements.pdf
DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act
DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov
Verify with Illinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR) →

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Illinois, every NP maintains national certification through AANP (100 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacology, plus 1,000 practice hours) or ANCC (75 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacotherapeutics). State CE sits on top of that.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Illinois?

Illinois requires 80 CE hours for nurse practitioners per renewal cycle.

Does Illinois accept AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state CE?

Must maintain national APRN certification.

What topic-specific CE does Illinois require for nurse practitioners?

Implicit bias: 1 hr — Per renewal, since 2024 cycle. Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hr . Alzheimer's/dementia: 1 hr — APRNs with adult patients 26+, since 2024. Cultural competency: 1 hr — Renewals on/after 2025-01-01, every 6 yrs. Safe opioid prescribing: 3 hrs — To renew Controlled Substances Registration (Schedule II).

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in Illinois?

≥20 hrs pharmacotherapeutics (within ≥50 formal CE hrs); ≥10 of the 20 must be opioid/substance-abuse education.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the Illinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR) and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.