Physical Therapist Licensure in Illinois
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Timeline 9 weeks or more
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Initial Costs $249
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Renewal Costs $60
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CE Requirements 40 Hours
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Compact No
How to apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist license in Illinois, you'll be working with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You will submit your application through their online system, the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts, as these steps often take the longest.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Fingerprints Done: Illinois requires a criminal background check via fingerprinting. You must use a licensed fingerprint vendor in Illinois or, if you are out of state, you'll need to follow specific instructions for out-of-state fingerprinting (often involving mailing hard cards to a licensed Illinois vendor). Crucial Detail: Your fingerprints must be taken within 60 days of submitting your application, so don't do this too early! Head over to the IDFPR website to find the list of approved vendors.
- Request Official Documents: Contact your university to have your official transcripts sent directly to the IDFPR. At the same time, log in to the FSBPT website to transfer your NPTE scores. These documents must come directly from the source; do not try to upload them yourself.
- Submit Your Application: Once you have your documents in motion, head to the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Create an account (or log in), select "Create/Continue a specific application," and choose the application for Physical Therapist by Endorsement. Fill out the required information, pay the fee, and hit submit.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Driver's License, Social Security Number, and your employment history for the past 5 years.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from your school), NPTE Scores (via FSBPT), and Verification of Licensure from the state where you were originally licensed (and potentially your current state).
- Exams: Good news—there is no Jurisprudence Exam required for initial licensure by endorsement in Illinois!
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Illinois:
- Application Fee: $100
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $50 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $99 (includes FSBPT score transfer)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $249
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Illinois Physical Therapist renewal happens every two years (even years) and is due by September 30th.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $60.
Note: You generally need 40 hours of Continuing Education (CE) to renew, but first-time renewals are typically exempt from this requirement.
CE Requirements
40 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: September 30th of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Physical Therapist CEUs: Illinois currently allows all 40 hours to be completed through online, self-study, or on-demand formats.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be provided by an IDFPR-approved sponsor. The APTA and its state chapters are pre-approved. General portals like MedBridge are accepted and highly recommended for travelers managing multiple state requirements.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics: (3 Contact Hours)
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training: (1 Contact Hour)
- Implicit Bias Awareness: (1 Contact Hour)
- Dementia Training: (1 Contact Hour required if you provide services to patients age 26 or older)
- Mandated Reporter Training: (Required within 3 months of initial licensure and every 6 years thereafter; typically provided for free via IL DCFS)
Excluded Topics: CPR certification, business management, marketing, and administrative meetings do not count toward your total.
New Licensee Rule: If this is your first renewal after initial licensure by examination, you are exempt from CE requirements for this cycle.
Reporting: Illinois is an audit-based state. You do not need to report hours to a central portal like CE Broker, but you must maintain your certificates for at least 5 years in case of an audit.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation:
- Address: 320 W Washington, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62786
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (888) 473-4858
- Email: FPR.LMU@illinois.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.
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How to Apply
To secure your Travel Physical Therapist license in Illinois, you'll be working with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You will submit your application through their online system, the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Before you start, I recommend initiating your background check and requesting your transcripts, as these steps often take the longest.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Get Your Fingerprints Done: Illinois requires a criminal background check via fingerprinting. You must use a licensed fingerprint vendor in Illinois or, if you are out of state, you'll need to follow specific instructions for out-of-state fingerprinting (often involving mailing hard cards to a licensed Illinois vendor). Crucial Detail: Your fingerprints must be taken within 60 days of submitting your application, so don't do this too early! Head over to the IDFPR website to find the list of approved vendors.
- Request Official Documents: Contact your university to have your official transcripts sent directly to the IDFPR. At the same time, log in to the FSBPT website to transfer your NPTE scores. These documents must come directly from the source; do not try to upload them yourself.
- Submit Your Application: Once you have your documents in motion, head to the IDFPR Online Services Portal. Create an account (or log in), select "Create/Continue a specific application," and choose the application for Physical Therapist by Endorsement. Fill out the required information, pay the fee, and hit submit.
What You'll Need & Key Details
- Documents to Have Ready: Driver's License, Social Security Number, and your employment history for the past 5 years.
- Items to Request: Official Transcripts (sent directly from your school), NPTE Scores (via FSBPT), and Verification of Licensure from the state where you were originally licensed (and potentially your current state).
- Exams: Good news—there is no Jurisprudence Exam required for initial licensure by endorsement in Illinois!
Initial Costs
Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to spend to get licensed in Illinois:
- Application Fee: $100
- Background Check / Fingerprinting: $50 (approximate)
- Jurisprudence Exam: $0
- Verifications: $99 (includes FSBPT score transfer)
- Total Estimated Initial Cost: $249
Note: Fees are subject to change by the Board, but this gives you a solid estimate to plan your budget!
Renewals
When to Renew: Illinois Physical Therapist renewal happens every two years (even years) and is due by September 30th.
Cost: The renewal fee is approximately $60.
Note: You generally need 40 hours of Continuing Education (CE) to renew, but first-time renewals are typically exempt from this requirement.
CE Requirements
40 Contact Hours required every 2 years.
Deadline: September 30th of even-numbered years.
Live vs. Online: Great news for Travel Physical Therapist CEUs: Illinois currently allows all 40 hours to be completed through online, self-study, or on-demand formats.
Provider Restrictions: Courses must be provided by an IDFPR-approved sponsor. The APTA and its state chapters are pre-approved. General portals like MedBridge are accepted and highly recommended for travelers managing multiple state requirements.
Mandatory Topics
- Ethics: (3 Contact Hours)
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training: (1 Contact Hour)
- Implicit Bias Awareness: (1 Contact Hour)
- Dementia Training: (1 Contact Hour required if you provide services to patients age 26 or older)
- Mandated Reporter Training: (Required within 3 months of initial licensure and every 6 years thereafter; typically provided for free via IL DCFS)
Excluded Topics: CPR certification, business management, marketing, and administrative meetings do not count toward your total.
New Licensee Rule: If this is your first renewal after initial licensure by examination, you are exempt from CE requirements for this cycle.
Reporting: Illinois is an audit-based state. You do not need to report hours to a central portal like CE Broker, but you must maintain your certificates for at least 5 years in case of an audit.
Board Information
Need to reach out with questions or send in documents? Here are the direct details for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation:
- Address: 320 W Washington, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62786
- Website: Visit Board Website
- Phone: (888) 473-4858
- Email: FPR.LMU@illinois.gov
Ready to start? Click here to go directly to the Application Portal.