Illinois NCLEX application: the CTS and IDFPR dual process, fees and deadlines
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 4 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
Illinois uses a dual process: you apply to take the NCLEX through Continental Testing Services (CTS), the state's testing contractor, for $107 and register with Pearson VUE for $200. CTS approves you once your education proof and fingerprint receipt are in, Pearson VUE emails the ATT, and after passing you apply to IDFPR for the license.
Why Illinois has two applications
IDFPR's overview calls exam entry a dual process: CTS checks your documents and confirms you with Pearson VUE, and IDFPR licenses you afterward. For RN candidates, CTS says not to apply to IDFPR until you hold your Official Results Letter, which tells you how to apply and the license fee.
LPN candidates now start one step earlier. IDFPR's newer LPN instructions say to create an IDFPR account and apply first, allow 10 business days for review, and then use the ID number on your Examination Approval Letter to apply with CTS. Follow the instructions for your license type, not a friend's.
Documents, fees and the fingerprint clock
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| CTS exam application | $107, no refunds |
| Pearson VUE NCLEX registration | $200 |
| Education proof | Illinois schools: official roster, transcript or form ED-NUR (roster valid 90 days); out-of-state: ED-NUR or transcript |
| Fingerprints | Illinois-licensed Live Scan vendor; TCN receipt valid 60 days |
| Out-of-state residents | Form OOS-FP showing Live Scan submission |
| Foreign-educated | Credential evaluation from an approved agency, plus TOEFL, IELTS, OET, PTE or MET if English is not your first language |
The 60-day fingerprint limit catches people who print too early. If the receipt is more than 60 days old when you apply, you must be fingerprinted again, and CTS does not supply fingerprint cards. Book Live Scan when the rest of the file is nearly ready. Also budget for Pearson VUE's fee rising from $200 to $350 on February 1, 2027, per NCSBN.
CTS updates application status online every business day and asks you to contact it only after 10 business days have passed since every document arrived.
ATT validity and the three-year application
Pearson VUE emails the ATT once CTS approves you. CTS states the ATT is valid for six months with no extensions. IDFPR's LPN instructions add that fees are forfeited if you do not test within 180 days, and that you must reschedule or cancel at least two business days before the exam.
Your CTS application lasts three years, and that limit overrides any ATT date. If you have not passed within three years, you start over with new education proof, new fingerprints and proof of an NCLEX review course.
Results and the license
CTS says official results usually come within 7 to 10 days, followed by an Official Results Letter. IDFPR's testing overview says license timing varies after you pass. Apply within one year of passing, or you must pass the exam again unless licensed elsewhere in the US in that year.
Once licensed, you can confirm your status in IDFPR's License Look-Up, the same public search the department links from its nurse page.
Retakes and the Illinois graduate rule
To retake, wait for the Official Results Letter, then reapply to CTS and Pearson VUE and pay both fees again; inside the three-year window you do not resend ED-NUR or fingerprints. IDFPR's LPN instructions add that you may test once every 46 days.
Graduates of Illinois RN programs face an extra rule in 225 ILCS 65/60-10(b-3): if you do not test within 180 days of your degree, or fail a second time, you must show completion of an NCLEX preparatory class, or return to your school, which must provide remediation at no cost to you.
Sources
Overview of the Nurse Testing Application Process, IDFPR. Dual process with CTS and Pearson VUE, CTS approves and Pearson VUE emails ATT, pass letter then IDFPR licensure, timing varies
CTS Online Application Instructions (Illinois LPN 043), IDFPR. LPN applies to IDFPR first, 10 business days, 60-day fingerprint rule, 180-day ATT, 3-year validity, 7-10 day results, test once every 46 days
041/043 RN/LPN Examination Application Instructions, Continental Testing Services (updated 11/15/2023). Education documents, OOS-FP, ATT valid six months, three-year application, apply to IDFPR within one year of passing, retake procedure, 225 ILCS 65/60-10(b-3) text
041 Registered Professional Nurse, Continental Testing Services. $107 CTS application fee, no refunds
NCLEX Fees and Payment (NCSBN). $200 Pearson VUE registration fee
Common questions
How do I apply for the NCLEX in Illinois?
RN candidates apply to Continental Testing Services ($107) and register with Pearson VUE ($200), then apply to IDFPR after passing. LPN candidates apply to IDFPR first, then use the approval letter's ID number with CTS.
How long does Illinois take to issue the ATT?
There is no fixed time. CTS approves you once your fee, education proof and a fingerprint receipt under 60 days old are in, and asks you to wait 10 business days before contacting it. Pearson VUE then emails the ATT.
How do I check Illinois NCLEX results?
CTS posts status online and mails an Official Results Letter; official results usually come within 7 to 10 days of the exam. After you apply to IDFPR and are licensed, the license shows in IDFPR's License Look-Up.