Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Illinois means applying through the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Illinois licensing and credentialing for you.
Official IL boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation websiteHow to get licensed in Illinois
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Illinois issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Illinois Division of Professional Regulation
The IL board sets Illinois's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$50
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~60 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
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Renewing your Illinois PA license
Once you're licensed, the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Deadline
- Expires March 1 of each even-numbered year; renewal available during the month before expiration
- Renewal fee
- $40 per year ($80 per 2-year renewal) per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1350.25 (late fee: Restoration of a lapsed license: $20 plus all lapsed renewal fees)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 50 hours approved CE per 2-year cycle (at least 25 NCCPA Category 1), completed in the 24 months before expiration
- At least 25 hours Category 1 CME; remaining 25 Category 1 or 2
- 1 hour sexual harassment prevention every renewal
- 1 hour implicit bias awareness every renewal
- 1 hour Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (before first renewal requiring CE, then every 6 years)
- 1 hour cultural competency (before first renewal requiring CE, then every 6 years)
- Mandated reporter training for those working with children (every 6 years)
- No CE required for the first renewal of an Illinois license
- How to renew
- Online through the IDFPR online renewal portalOpen the renewal portal
- NoteIllinois PA controlled substance license renews separately through the same portal
- NotePractice on an expired license is unlicensed practice
- NoteAllow 2-4 business days for a renewed license to post
- NoteRenewal applicants certify CE compliance on the application; keep CE records for audit
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesIDFPR - Physician Assistant68 Ill. Adm. Code 1350 - Physician Assistant Practice Act rules (1350.25 fees, 1350.115 renewals, 1350.116 CE)IDFPR - Continuing Education (legislative mandates)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Illinois renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Illinois
A Illinois license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Illinois license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Illinois license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in Illinois. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Illinois Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Illinois licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Illinois license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Illinois application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Illinois physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Illinois?
Most Illinois physician assistant applications take about 60 days once the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses physician assistants in Illinois?
Physician assistants in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Illinois physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Illinois physician assistant application fee is around $50. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation before you apply.
How do I renew my Illinois PA license?
In Illinois, renewals are filed with the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation. How to renew: Online through the IDFPR online renewal portal. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years. Deadline: Expires March 1 of each even-numbered year; renewal available during the month before expiration. Renewal fee: $40 per year ($80 per 2-year renewal) per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1350.25 (late fee: Restoration of a lapsed license: $20 plus all lapsed renewal fees). Continuing education: 50 hours approved CE per 2-year cycle (at least 25 NCCPA Category 1), completed in the 24 months before expiration. Required topics include At least 25 hours Category 1 CME; remaining 25 Category 1 or 2; 1 hour sexual harassment prevention every renewal; 1 hour implicit bias awareness every renewal; 1 hour Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (before first renewal requiring CE, then every 6 years); 1 hour cultural competency (before first renewal requiring CE, then every 6 years); Mandated reporter training for those working with children (every 6 years); No CE required for the first renewal of an Illinois license. This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a PA license in Illinois?
50 CE hours. The Illinois Division of Professional Regulation publishes the requirement as: 50 hours approved CE per 2-year cycle (at least 25 NCCPA Category 1), completed in the 24 months before expiration. Required topics include At least 25 hours Category 1 CME; remaining 25 Category 1 or 2; 1 hour sexual harassment prevention every renewal; 1 hour implicit bias awareness every renewal; 1 hour Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (before first renewal requiring CE, then every 6 years); 1 hour cultural competency (before first renewal requiring CE, then every 6 years); Mandated reporter training for those working with children (every 6 years); No CE required for the first renewal of an Illinois license. Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Illinois physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Illinois?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Illinois that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Illinois Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Illinois license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Illinois — including by telehealth — you typically need a Illinois license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Illinois physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Illinois license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Illinois application and payer enrollment end to end.