Physicians Illinois medical licenses are scheduled to expire on July 31, 2026. If the physician also holds an Illinois Controlled Substance License, it will also expire on July 31, 2026. Physicians will receive notification via email only from the IDFPR when the online renewal portal will be open, which is typically 90 days prior to the expiration date. The notification will also include a dedicated PIN that must be used by the physician to process the renewal.
For the upcoming July 31, 2026 medical license renewal, all physicians will need to complete a total of 150 hours of continuing medical education (CME). Note that those renewing their medical license for the first time after its issuance are exempt from this 150-hour requirement. Out of the total, 60 hours must be from formal CME programs (Category I), although it is possible to complete all 150 hours through Category I activities, if desired. The remaining 90 hours can come from informal CME programs or activities (Category II). While formal Category I hours usually receive a CME certificate to confirm completion, Category II hours must be documented by the physician in a log contemporaneously with their completion, which must be made available to the IDFPR in the case of an IDFPR CME audit.
In Illinois, physicians have considerable flexibility when it comes to selecting CME courses to fulfill the 150-hour requirement. However, the IDFPR mandates that certain specific programs must be completed as part of the overall requirements. Below are the required CME topics for Illinois physicians:
Every Three Years:
Sexual Harassment Prevention (1 hour)
Implicit Bias (1 hour)
Every Six Years:
Opioids (1 hour)
Cultural Competency (1 hour)
Recognizing Dementia (1 hour)
Physicians who receive their license for the first time during the 2023 – 2026 period must complete the dementia training once before renewing in 2026, and they will then have six years to complete it again. Additionally, those required to report child abuse or neglect must undergo initial mandated reporter training within three months of starting their role in a professional capacity, and then complete refresher training every six years if they continue working with children. This requirement is separate from the Illinois medical license renewal process.
Physicians working with children must confirm their understanding of their responsibilities as mandated reporters at each license renewal. For medical personnel who do not engage with children in their professional capacity, there is no obligation for repeated training; they can simply acknowledge their understanding of the mandated reporter role at each renewal.
Renewals can be tricky if you have any type of disciplinary or criminal background and the IDFPR is on the lookout for certain responses. With decades of experience, Crick Walanka Law Group is ready to assist you with any education questions or assistance with filing your license renewal.
Disclaimer: This web site is addressed to those who hold professional licenses issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and by similar licensing agencies in other states. Suggestions herein are, in most circumstances, valid for any type investigation, whether administrative, criminal, or civil. However, it should be noted that in some other states, one who holds a professional license may be required to submit to an investigative interview as a condition of being licensed. Whatever the circumstances, a licensed professional who becomes the subject of an investigation would be wise to immediately retain legal counsel. No content, whole or in part, is to be considered as “legal advice,” and by reading this document, no attorney-client relationship is formed with the Crick Walanka Law Group, Ltd.