Free CE for Nurses / Illinois
Illinois RNs must complete 20 hours of approved continuing education every 2 years, with state-mandated one-hour courses that all count within the 20.
✓ Verified against the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) on July 30, 2026
| Topic | Hours | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual harassment prevention | 1 | every renewal; counts within the 20 |
| Implicit bias awareness | 1 | every renewal; counts within the 20 |
| Alzheimer's disease and other dementias | 1 | once before the first CE renewal, then every 6 years — only for nurses with direct patient interaction with adults 26+; counts within the 20 |
| Cultural competency | 1 | once before the first CE renewal, then every 6 years (renewals on or after Jan 1, 2025); counts within the 20 |
RN licenses expire May 31 of even-numbered years (IDFPR extended the 2026 deadline to June 30, 2026). Accepted CE includes ANCC-accredited or approved providers, providers approved by another state's board of nursing, IDFPR-licensed CE sponsors, and accredited universities. Nurses who work with children also complete DCFS mandated reporter training every 6 years (attested at renewal). The 3-hour safe opioid prescribing CE applies to prescribers renewing a Controlled Substances registration, not RNs.
Yes — Illinois accepts continuing education from nationally accredited providers, so courses from an accredited provider like the ones on Pulse count toward your renewal.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing)
https://idfpr.illinois.gov/dpr/continuing-education.html
Requirements change. Confirm all figures on the board site above before relying on them.
Pulse offers free, accredited CE for RNs and LPNs. Local healthcare organizations cover the cost — you pay nothing, and the hours apply toward your Illinois requirement (subject to the board rules above).
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