(2014-10) This document is to be construed as an informal statement reflecting the interpretation of the Department on
the particular matter you described and is not intended as an official opinion of the State of IL. Only the Attorney General
of the State of IL is empowered to render formal opinions concerning the laws of this State.
555 West Monroe Street, 5
th
Floor Chicago, Illinois 60661 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3
rd
Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
Illinois APRN and FPA-APRN Continuing Education Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Department has received many inquiries regarding continuing education and in particular the
upcoming Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse – Full
Practice Authority (FPA-APRN) license renewal by May 31, 2024. The questions and answers listed
below will hopefully provide some clarification. Please note that a complete copy of the Nurse Practice
Act and the Rules may be found on the Department’s website (www.idfpr.com
) or on the Nursing
Workforce Center’s website (http://nursing.illinois.gov/nursepracticeact.asp).
0. What recent CE requirements are there for Illinois APRNs and FPA-APRNs?
a. Beginning with the 2024 APRN and FPA-APRN renewal, Illinois APRNs and FPA-APRNs
who provide health care services to and have direct patient interaction with adults 26 years
of age and older will be required to complete a one-hour course in diagnosis, treatment and
care of Alzheimer's disease, along with other dementia types. CE Curriculum will involve
how to identify and diagnose Alzheimer's, effective communication strategies and
management and care planning. This course may count toward the regular CE
requirements (Public Act 102-0399, 20 ILCS 2105/2105-365).
b. The implicit bias awareness training CE requirement for Illinois APRNs and FPA-APRNs
will begin as a license renewal requirement in 2024. Implicit bias is a form of bias that
occurs automatically and unintentionally, that nevertheless affects judgments, decisions
and behaviors. A licensee may count this 1 hour completion of this course towards meeting
the credit hours required for relicensure continuing education/CE. (Public Act 102-004,
Admin Code Title 68: Section 1130.500
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068011300E05000R.html
)
c. Sexual harassment prevention training CE requirement. A law went into effect on January
1, 2020, which requires individuals with licenses issued by the Illinois Division of
Professional Regulation (DPR) that require continuing education (CE) to renew their
license, to also complete 1 hour of CE on the topic of sexual harassment prevention
training.
The CE requirement for implicit bias awareness training and the CE requirement for sexual
harassment prevention training is included in the number of hours already required under the
individual Acts and Rules and does not increase the number of hours required to renew a
license. One (1) hour of sexual harassment prevention training CE course is intended to fit
into the APRN and FPA-APRN licensee’s regular CE requirements. One (1) hour of implicit
bias awareness training CE course is intended to fit into the APRN and FPA-APRN licensee’s
regular CE requirements. 1 of the 20 hours of CE required for APRN and FPA-APRN license
renewal must be a sexual harassment prevention training course. 1 of the 20 hours of CE
required for APRN and FPA-APRN license renewal must be an implicit bias awareness
training course.
1. What are the CE rules for APRNs and FPA-APRNs who are renewing their license by
May 31, 2024?
A: Below is an excerpt from the official rules regarding continuing education:
www.idfpr.com
JB PRITZKER
Governor
MARIO TRETO, JR.
Secretary
CECILIA ABUNDIS
Director
(2014-10) This document is to be construed as an informal statement reflecting the interpretation of the Department on
the particular matter you described and is not intended as an official opinion of the State of IL. Only the Attorney General
of the State of IL is empowered to render formal opinions concerning the laws of this State.
555 West Monroe Street, 5
th
Floor Chicago, Illinois 60661 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3
rd
Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
Rules for the Administration of: The Nurse Practice Act: Section
1300.130 Continuing Education
a) Continuing Education (CE) Requirements
1) As required by the Act, all nurses shall complete continuing education
as follows:
C) All advanced practice registered nurses shall complete 80
hours of approved continuing education in the advanced practice
registered nurse’s specialty per 2-year license renewal cycle.
Completion of the 80 hours under this subsection (a)(1)(C ) shall satisfy the
continuing education requirements for renewal of a registered professional
nurse license. An APRN holding more than one APRN license is required to
complete 80 hours of continuing education total per license renewal period.
The 80 hours of continuing education required shall be completed as follows:
i) A minimum of 50 hours of the continuing education shall be obtained in
continuing education programs that shall include no less than 20 hours of
pharmacotherapeutics, including 10 hours of opioid prescribing or substance
abuse education.
ii) A maximum of 30 hours of credit may be obtained by presentations in the
APRN clinical specialty, evidence-based practice, or quality improvement
projects, publications, research projects, or preceptor hours.
2. During what time period must the Continuing Education (CE) be completed?
a. All CE courses must be completed in the 24 months preceding expiration of the
license. For the upcoming 2024 APRN and FPA-APRN renewal, all CE must have
been completed between September 1, 2022 and May 31, 2024.
3. This is my first time renewing my IL APRN or FPA-APRN license – do I need to
complete 80 hours of CE prior to May 31, 2024?
a. No, a renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the
first renewal of an IL APRN or FPA-APRN license, Nurse Practice Act Rules:
Section 1300.130 a) 4).
4. I completed continuing education hours for my nursing license in another state, will I be
able to use those same completed courses for Illinois APRN or FPA-APRN re-licensure
CE courses {Section 1300.130(a)(6)}?
a. Yes, CE hours used to satisfy the CE requirements of another jurisdiction may be
applied to fulfill the CE requirements of the State of Illinois for APRN or FPA-APRN
re-licensure pursuant to the provisions set forth in subsection (c ).
5. Will completion of a skills certification course be used towards Illinois APRN and FPA-
APRN re-licensure in 2024?
a. Up to 5 CE hours may be earned for completion of skills certification courses. A
maximum of 2 hours in cardiopulmonary resuscitation certified by the American Red
Cross, American Heart Association, Health and Safety Institute (HIS), or other
qualified organization may be accepted, while a maximum of 3 hours may be
accepted for certification or recertification of Basic Life Support for Healthcare
Providers (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), or Pediatric Advanced Life
Support (PALS) or their equivalent.
6. Are there equivalencies for Continuing Education CE?
(2014-10) This document is to be construed as an informal statement reflecting the interpretation of the Department on
the particular matter you described and is not intended as an official opinion of the State of IL. Only the Attorney General
of the State of IL is empowered to render formal opinions concerning the laws of this State.
555 West Monroe Street, 5
th
Floor Chicago, Illinois 60661 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3
rd
Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
a. 1 contact hour = 1 CE
b. 1 contact hour = 60 minutes
c. 1 academic semester hour = 15 contact hours/15 CE
d. 1 academic quarter hour = 12.5 contact hours/12.5 CE
e. 1 CME = 1 contact hour/1 CE
f. 1 CNE = 1 contact hour/1 CE
g. 1 AMA = 1 contact hour/CE
7. How do I know if the sponsor is approved or licensed? Is there a list of approved CE
Sponsors and Programs for Illinois APRN and FPA-APRN re-licensure in 2024?
CE sponsors must either be Approved per Rule 1300.130 or must have a CE Sponsor
license. There is no single list of valid CE sponsors.
a. The list of Approved CE Sponsors and Programs is in the Rules for the
Administration of the Nurse Practice, Section 1300.130: c) Approved CE Sponsors
and Programs
1) Sponsor, as used in this Section, shall mean:
A) Approved providers of recognized certification bodies as outlined in
Section 1300.400(a).
B) Any conference that provides approved Continuing Medical Education
(CME) as authorized by the Illinois Medical Practice Act.
C) American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) accredited or approved
providers.
D) Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing (ISAPN).
E) American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).
F) Nurse Practitioner Association for Continuing Education (NPACE).
G) American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) or National Board
of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCNA).
H) National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS).
I) American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM).
J) American Nurses Association-Illinois (ANA-Illinois)
K) Illinois Nurse Association or its affiliates
L) Providers approved by another state's board of nursing
M) Nursing education programs approved under Section 1300.230 or
1300.340 wishing to offer CE courses or programs.
N) Employers licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act [210 ILCS 85] or
the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act [210 ILCS 5].
O) Any other accredited school, college or university, or State agency,
federal agency, county agency or municipality that provides CE in a form
and manner consistent with this Section.
b. To look up whether an organization holds a license as an Illinois Nursing CE
Sponsor, go to the IDFPR website, License Look Up: type in: Nurse CE Sponsor:
https://www.idfpr.com/LicenseLookUp/LicenseLookup.asp
, then type in the name of
the organization.
8. Presenter/lecturer presentations made to other health professionals on topics related to
the certification area may be used for CE credit. Each different individual, non-repetitive
60- minute lecture may be used for 5 CE hours. Full-time educators may not use
(2014-10) This document is to be construed as an informal statement reflecting the interpretation of the Department on
the particular matter you described and is not intended as an official opinion of the State of IL. Only the Attorney General
of the State of IL is empowered to render formal opinions concerning the laws of this State.
555 West Monroe Street, 5
th
Floor Chicago, Illinois 60661 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
320 West Washington Street, 3
rd
Floor Springfield, Illinois 62786 ∙ (888) 473-4858 ∙ TTY (866) 325-4949
presentations/lectures that are part of their job expectations- but may use guest lectures
and other presentations made outside the duties of their job.
9. CE hours may be earned for authoring papers, publications, articles, dissertations, book
chapters or research projects. These must be applicable to the practice area. The
research project must be completed during the prerenewal period. Authoring a paper or
publishing articles may be used for 10 CE hours. Authoring a book chapter, dissertation
or research project may be used for 20 CE hours. APRNs and FPA-APRNs may obtain
a maximum of 30 CE hours earned under this subsection (b)(5).
10. CE hours may be earned through preceptorship of an APRN student. Preceptors must
provide clinical supervision and education to the APRN student. Documentation must
be provided from the school of nursing in which the student is enrolled. Precepting one
student for an academic semester or quarter may be used for 10 CE hours. Not more
than 30 CE hours in each renewal period may come from precepting.
11. Successful completion, during the prerenewal period, of a recertification exam in the
APRN’s or FPA-APRN’s area of specialty as recognized in Section 1300.10 may be
used for 60 CE hours.
12. Is there a safe opioid prescribing practices continuing education (CE) requirement in
effect for all prescribers renewing in 2024?
a. Yes, prescribers with Controlled Substances Registrations are required to complete
3 hours of continuing education (CE) on safe opioid prescribing practices to renew
their Controlled Substances Registration. This requirement can be included in the
total number of hours required to renew a professional license. This requirement
will be in effect for all Controlled Substances Registration renewals in 2020 and
after. For additional information regarding this license renewal requirement
https://www.idfpr.com/FAQ/DPR/Safe%20Opioid%20RX%20CE%20FAQ.pdf
13. Will I have to provide copies of CE course completion documents for Illinois APRNs and
FPA-APRNs re-licensure in 2024?
a. Each licensee is responsible for maintaining records of completion of continuing
education and shall be prepared to produce the records if requested by the
Department.
