Getting licensed to practice as a physician in Illinois means applying through the Illinois Medical Licensing Board, 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 Medical Licensing Board websiteHow to get licensed in Illinois
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, exam scores (USMLE/COMLEX), current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Illinois Medical Licensing Board, 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 Medical Licensing Board
The IL board sets Illinois's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$500
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Illinois Medical Licensing Board. 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 medical license
Once you're licensed, the Illinois Medical Licensing Board requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Deadline
- Licenses expire July 31 every third year (the 2026 cycle expired July 31, 2026, with the deadline extended to August 31, 2026; next cycle ends July 31, 2029). Fees are higher when paid after the renewal period.
- Renewal fee
- $181 per year of the cycle ($543 for a full 3-year cycle) (225 ILCS 60/21(E)(4))
- Continuing education (CME)
- 150 hours CME per 36-month prerenewal period (at least 60 formal; ACCME or AOA recognized); first renewal of an Illinois license is exempt (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.110)
- ACCME-accredited (AMA PRA Category 1) CME is accepted; AOA-recognized CME also counts
- Sexual harassment prevention training before each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5)
- 1 hour implicit bias awareness each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7)
- 1 hour cultural competency each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-370)
- 1 hour Alzheimer's disease and other dementias each renewal, if treating adults 26 or older (20 ILCS 2105/2105-365)
- 1 hour safe opioid prescribing each prerenewal period for controlled substance prescribers (720 ILCS 570/315.5, eff. 1/1/2025)
- Mandated reporter training at least every 6 years for physicians who work with children (325 ILCS 5/4(k))
- How to renew
- Online through IDFPR (MicroPACT / CORE systems), or by paper batch renewal form; allow 2-4 business days for the license to post.Open the renewal portal
- NoteMDs renew with the same Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) as DOs under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 (one Physician and Surgeon license).
- NoteThe Illinois Licensed Physician Controlled Substance license renews separately ($5 per year under the 10/15/2026 fee variance; its 2026 deadline was also extended to August 31, 2026).
- NoteA missed renewal requires a reinstatement application rather than renewal.
Last verified November 5, 2026 from the Illinois Medical Licensing Board. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesIDFPR - PhysiciansIDFPR - License renewal informationIDFPR - Physician continuing educationIllinois Medical Practice Act, 225 ILCS 60/20IDFPR - Physician renewal extension variance (to 8/31/2026), 2026-07-21225 ILCS 60/21 - Fees68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.110 - Continuing Medical Education720 ILCS 570/315.5 - Opioid education for prescribers
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Illinois renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CME hours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Medical 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. Want it done for you? Our credentialing and payer enrollment service handles it per request (see what outsourced credentialing costs). Opening a practice in Illinois? Start with how to get a new practice credentialed.
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 Medical Licensing Board. 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. Licensing in several states at once? See our multi-state licensing service. Working as an independent contractor? Read whether you need an LLC and how we set up the whole business for you.
Illinois physician licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a medical license in Illinois?
Most Illinois physician applications take about 60 days once the Illinois Medical Licensing Board 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 physicians in Illinois?
Physicians in Illinois are licensed by the Illinois Medical Licensing Board, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Illinois physician application fee?
As an estimate, the Illinois physician application fee is around $500. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Illinois Medical Licensing Board before you apply.
How do I renew my Illinois medical license?
In Illinois, renewals are filed with the Illinois Medical Licensing Board. How to renew: Online through IDFPR (MicroPACT / CORE systems), or by paper batch renewal form; allow 2-4 business days for the license to post. Renewal cycle: Every 3 years. Deadline: Licenses expire July 31 every third year (the 2026 cycle expired July 31, 2026, with the deadline extended to August 31, 2026; next cycle ends July 31, 2029). Fees are higher when paid after the renewal period. Renewal fee: $181 per year of the cycle ($543 for a full 3-year cycle) (225 ILCS 60/21(E)(4)). Continuing education: 150 hours CME per 36-month prerenewal period (at least 60 formal; ACCME or AOA recognized); first renewal of an Illinois license is exempt (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.110). Required topics include ACCME-accredited (AMA PRA Category 1) CME is accepted; AOA-recognized CME also counts; Sexual harassment prevention training before each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5); 1 hour implicit bias awareness each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7); 1 hour cultural competency each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-370); 1 hour Alzheimer's disease and other dementias each renewal, if treating adults 26 or older (20 ILCS 2105/2105-365); 1 hour safe opioid prescribing each prerenewal period for controlled substance prescribers (720 ILCS 570/315.5, eff. 1/1/2025); Mandated reporter training at least every 6 years for physicians who work with children (325 ILCS 5/4(k)). This is as published by the board (last verified November 5, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CME hours do I need to renew a medical license in Illinois?
150 CME hours. The Illinois Medical Licensing Board publishes the requirement as: 150 hours CME per 36-month prerenewal period (at least 60 formal; ACCME or AOA recognized); first renewal of an Illinois license is exempt (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.110). Required topics include ACCME-accredited (AMA PRA Category 1) CME is accepted; AOA-recognized CME also counts; Sexual harassment prevention training before each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.5); 1 hour implicit bias awareness each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7); 1 hour cultural competency each renewal (20 ILCS 2105/2105-370); 1 hour Alzheimer's disease and other dementias each renewal, if treating adults 26 or older (20 ILCS 2105/2105-365); 1 hour safe opioid prescribing each prerenewal period for controlled substance prescribers (720 ILCS 570/315.5, eff. 1/1/2025); Mandated reporter training at least every 6 years for physicians who work with children (325 ILCS 5/4(k)). Last verified November 5, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CME hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Illinois physician license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Illinois Medical Licensing Board's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician 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 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.