How to Get an RN License in Illinois
A registered nurse (RN) has the education to work virtually anywhere in the world. However, in order to work as a nurse in any given state, a nurse must follow a process to be legally hired at any medical institution in that state. In Illinois, the process culminates in state licensure, which verifies the validity of the nurse's education and abilities. An RN has at least a mandatory two years of education in a nursing program, the equivalent of an associate's degree, but to qualify for more jobs, she will often have a bachelor's of science degree in nursing as well.
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Instructions
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Contact the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation to apply for state licensure. Officials at this department can inform you of the licensure level you need and what is required to obtain that license. Depending on your situation, it may require examination, endorsement or restoration. Visit the Division of Professional Regulation website for more information.
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Apply for state licensure through one of the three methods: examination, endorsement or restoration. Examination is required when you relocate to Illinois from a state that has substantially different RN requirements. Endorsement simply means the state of Illinois endorses the licensure requirements in the state in which you received that RN license. The restoration process is invoked if your license to practice in Illinois has been inactive for five years or more.
Visit the Division of Professional Regulation for application forms and requirements for all three methods of obtaining an RN license. The examination and endorsement packets provide forms for references and information about resources. This packet includes an application to work in the state of Illinois as a registered nurse. If your application is approved, you will be notified about when and where to take the examination that follows.
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Submit to a criminal background check. This includes proof of fingerprint processing from the Illinois State Police department.
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Practice under supervision. Once you have passed the Illinois state licensure exam, you are eligible to practice under the supervision of a registered nurse for three months on a license-pending basis. This will allow you to seek employment while waiting to receive your state-authorized license to practice in Illinois.
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