If you hold an Illinois RN license, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation requires 20 contact hours of continuing education every two-year renewal cycle. Several of those hours must cover mandated topics — sexual harassment prevention, implicit bias awareness, and cultural competency — with mandated reporter training also required for nurses who work with children. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
20 hours / 2 years
Twenty contact hours each biennial renewal cycle.
Sexual harassment (1 hr)
1 hour of sexual harassment prevention each renewal.
Implicit bias (1 hr)
1 hour of implicit bias awareness each renewal.
Cultural competency (1 hr)
1 hour of cultural competency each renewal.
How many CE hours Illinois RNs need
Illinois requires 20 contact hours every two years, tied to your biennial license renewal. Five of those hours are typically devoted to mandated topics, with the remainder as electives.
Mandated subject requirements
- Sexual harassment prevention: 1 hour each renewal.
- Implicit bias awareness: 1 hour each renewal.
- Cultural competency: 1 hour each renewal.
- Mandated reporter training: for nurses who work with children, at least once every six years.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Illinois RN licenses renew every two years, with the cycle ending May 31 of even-numbered years. Complete and document your 20 hours before that date.
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View pricingIllinois Registered Nurses (RN) CME at a glance
- Sexual Harassment Prevention1 hr · every renewal
1 contact hour of sexual harassment prevention training is required each renewal (counts toward the 20-hour total).
- Implicit Bias Awareness1 hr · every renewal
1 contact hour of implicit bias awareness training is required each renewal (counts toward the 20-hour total).
- Cultural Competency1 hr · every renewal
1 contact hour of cultural competency is required each renewal (counts toward the 20-hour total).
- Mandated Reporter TrainingRequired · every 6 years
Nurses who work with children must complete mandated reporter training at least once every six years.
Always confirm with your licensing board
Illinois RN licenses renew biennially (May 31 of even-numbered years). RNs must complete 20 contact hours per cycle, including several mandated one-hour topics. Mandated reporter training applies to nurses who work with children.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with IDFPR before relying on these figures.
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation / Illinois Nursing Workforce Center. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Nurse Licensure Compact: active. Active. One multistate RN/LPN license from the home state authorizes practice in member states; practice-state requirements (including CE) may still overlay.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Illinois or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Illinois RN Continuing Education Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Illinois RNs need?
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20 contact hours every two years.
Is implicit bias training required for Illinois RNs?
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Yes — 1 contact hour of implicit bias awareness training is required each renewal.
Do Illinois RNs need sexual harassment prevention training?
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Yes — 1 contact hour of sexual harassment prevention training is required each renewal.
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