Confused as to how to get license

AveryJane · Apr 17, 2008

I am moving to Illinois from another state as well! I was told to apply for licensure in Illinois. It is kind of a challenge in Illinois though. :)

This is how I did it:

I applied online first for the appropriate license. Then, I gave my school the ED-NUR form which you can print off from the internet as well. You also have to have your school send your official transcript to them after you graduate.

For the fingerprints - you'll have to contact the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation to have them send you an out-of-state fingerprint card. Then you have to go a local police authority, get ink fingerprints. Then, you have to find a place in IL that will process your fingerprint card. The directions for this will come with the out-of-state fingerprint card. Then, you submit the FP-NUR to Illinois as well - it's a form stating you completed this fingerprinting process.

The fingerprinting part is the worst - especially if you are out of state. And, when you call the IL dept of professional regulation, be ready for it to be busy ALOT. I usually try to call in the morning and just call repeatedly, you'll get through eventually. Then, you'll need some time to be on hold - I've called about 3 times and never been on hold for more than about 20 minutes..so it's not too bad.

This sounds awful I know - but you can do it! It's all available online. I spent a long time trying to get it all right - so if you have any other questions once you get started I might be able to help. Good luck!

mzjones6 · Apr 17, 2008

OMG!!! Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help. I didn't know how to get the process started and I know Illinois is imfamous for being slow and taking a long time, and I wanted to know if I needed to start sooner rather than later in this process.

Did you also take the NCLEX in your home state or did you go to Illinois to take it?

AveryJane · Apr 18, 2008

I haven't sat for the NCLEX yet. But, I've been told that as long as you apply for licensure in the state you plan to work in - you can take the test in any state.

Hope that helps - let me know if you have any other questions!

mzjones6 · Apr 18, 2008

Ok I finally did get in touch with the IDFPR and they said they would send me the fingerprint card with the rest of the application. Did it take long for them to send you the information, or were they pretty timely in sending the info?

AveryJane · Apr 21, 2008

I was actually shocked about that part - it got here really fast. After I talked to them, it arrived two days later or so. So - that part is speedy!

Sweet Caroline2 · May 20, 2008

I was actually shocked about that part - it got here really fast. After I talked to them, it arrived two days later or so. So - that part is speedy![/quo
Did u get an Illinois License?

jungle22 · May 29, 2008

Hi, I see this post is kind of old but maybe someone can give me even more info on this.

I am graduating with a BSN in December, and I want to move to Chicago to be a nurse.

I was trying to figure out the IL website thing, and then I just ended googling it and found this forum.

So do you have to take another test in IL in addition to the NCLEX or what?? Or is the NCLEX enough, and then you just do that whole fingerprint ordeal and apply?

I just really don't understand the whole process. More clarification would be great.