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How to Become a Nurse in Illinois

How to Become a Nurse in Illinois

Are you interested in becoming a nurse in Illinois? Illinois has one of the largest nursing workforces in the country. On 1 December 2025 the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) counted 226,770 active registered nurse (RN) licenses, 166,592 of them held by nurses with an Illinois address, plus 25,139 licensed practical nurse (LPN) licenses and 21,294 advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) licenses: certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners (NPs), who must hold an RN license as well. Illinois has a vast amount of opportunities available to become a nurse and, if desired, to expand your knowledge and schooling to become an APRN. Here are some Illinois RN facts from the state's 2024 Registered Nurse Workforce Survey, which 49,842 Illinois RNs answered:

  • 41% of Illinois RNs are 44 years of age or younger, and 60% of nursing faculty are 55 or older.
  • 91% of Illinois RNs are actively employed in nursing, and 51% practice in a hospital or other acute-care setting.
  • The Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg metropolitan division employs 82,290 RNs, well over half of the 138,910 RNs working in the state.
  • 63% of Illinois RNs have a bachelor's, master's or doctorate as their highest nursing degree.
  • 13% of Illinois RNs are a nurse manager, administrator or executive, and 3% are nursing faculty.
  • 52% of male Illinois RNs are 44 years of age or younger.

Educational Requirements

The first step to becoming an Illinois RN is to obtain your high school diploma or equivalent. The next step is to decide what type of nursing school to attend. IDFPR currently lists 143 approved nursing education programs in Illinois (43 associate degree, 36 bachelor's degree, 12 master's entry and 1 hospital program for RNs, 38 practical nursing programs and 13 ladder programs that let RN students sit the LPN exam part-way through, as of September 2026) with varying tuitions and requirements. If possible, try not to limit yourself by applying to one program. Sometimes the wait lists can be extensive and seats limited.

Choose carefully. In 2025, 6,351 graduates of Illinois programs took the NCLEX-RN for the first time and 85% passed, against a national pass rate of 87%; Illinois LPN graduates passed at 88%. IDFPR publishes five years of pass rates for every approved program, so check a program's numbers before you enroll.

Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

An ADN is offered at many community colleges and takes approximately 2-3 years. Obtaining an ADN is a great start to your nursing career in a cost-efficient way.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

A BSN is a 4-year program that is offered at many Illinois State Universities and some private colleges. While an ADN can open most doors for prospective nurses, obtaining your BSN may provide a higher earning potential or better opportunities for career advancement.

Master's Entry Level Program (MSN)

A Master of Science in Nursing Direct Entry program is an option for students with bachelor's degrees in another field and want to pursue nursing. This program takes approximately 2 years.

State Licensing Requirements

The Illinois Board of Nursing (BON) and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) are key resources to completing all necessary tasks to be an Illinois RN. Illinois splits the process in two: you apply to sit the exam first, and you apply for the license after you pass. The steps below follow IDFPR's Registered Nurse New Application Checklist and its Overview of the Nurse Testing Application Process:

  • Get fingerprinted by one of IDFPR's licensed fingerprint vendors within 60 days before you apply. Keep the receipt: you enter its 16-character Transaction Control Number (TCN) on your application, and the Illinois State Police send the results to IDFPR electronically.
  • Apply to sit the NCLEX-RN through IDFPR's testing vendor, Continental Testing Services, and register with the exam provider. The examination application fee is $98 and is not refundable. Once your transcripts, fingerprint receipt and other documents are in, the testing vendor approves you to test and you receive your Authorization to Test by email and schedule your exam date.
  • Pass the exam. The testing vendor mails your official pass letter and forwards your file to IDFPR; the letter tells you to apply for licensure with IDFPR, which then matches your licensure application against your testing file before issuing the license.
  • Already licensed in another state? Apply by endorsement through IDFPR's online portal ($50, or $75 plus $25 for a Temporary Nursing Permit that lets you practice while the permanent license is pending). You will need your Nursys identification number or the other state's verification, your Education Form signed by your nursing program and your official transcripts.
  • Educated outside the United States? IDFPR requires a credentials evaluation report from CGFNS, CES or ERES, and proof of passing the TOEFL or IELTS if English is not your first language.

Your Social Security number (or an SSN affidavit) is mandatory, and you have three years from the date your application is received to complete the process before the application is denied and the fee forfeited. Note that Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact and had no compact legislation pending as of October 2026, so an Illinois RN license is a single-state license and nurses moving in from compact states still apply by endorsement.

NCLEX-RN Examination

Regardless of the nursing program you graduated from, all nursing graduates take the same National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX)-RN. This is a computerized test that is given 6 days a week. It is recommended to take this exam as soon as you can after graduation as this is when you have the most knowledge retention and are likely to have a better success rate. Visit the NCLEX Test Centers website for locations.

If you are interested in taking NCLEX prep classes, multiple options are available online. Some are listed below. Before signing up for one, talk with your instructors and classmates to see if they have had success with a previous program or recommend one.

Job Outlook and Opportunities

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) projects registered nurse employment in Illinois to grow from 149,040 jobs in 2024 to 165,794 in 2034, an increase of 11.2% and about 9,490 openings a year once nurses who retire or change careers are counted. Nurse practitioners are projected to grow fastest of all, up 41.0% over the same ten years, while licensed practical nurses grow 5.8% and nursing assistants 8.5%. The aging population contributes to the seemingly consistent demand for RNs.

Pay follows the market. IDES's 2025 wage survey puts the median annual wage for registered nurses in Illinois at $98,677 ($47.44 an hour), with entry-level RNs earning around $74,427 and experienced RNs around $108,114. However, certain areas in Illinois pay more than others. If you want to maximize your salary, the Chicago-Naperville-Schaumburg metropolitan division leads with a median of $104,175 ($50.08 an hour), whereas RNs in the Southern region around Carbondale and Marion earn a median of $82,441 ($39.64 an hour). For the other routes into nursing, the statewide medians are $77,099 for licensed practical nurses and $47,124 for nursing assistants. Many employers also offer shift differentials, which are specific shifts that pay more than others (e.g., evening or night shifts, weekends).

Resources and Support

There are many state and national resources available for nurses as you navigate through schooling and the difficulties of working in this new field.

Why nursing? Nursing is a rewarding career with countless opportunities to advance your career or specialize. Nursing will always be in demand, and you can find your nursing niche that provides the most personal and professional rewards. This could be working in the hospital in an inpatient unit, as an APRN, or even behind the scenes with an insurance company. Becoming a nurse in all these career opportunities has the same timeline:

  • Graduate with a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Apply and complete a nursing program
  • Get fingerprinted, apply to sit the exam through IDFPR's testing vendor, and complete their requirements
  • Take the NCLEX-RN
  • Apply to IDFPR for your license, then find a job!

Nursing is a work of heart – become a part of the nursing community today.

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