Illinois OT License Renewal: Deadlines, CE, and Fees (2026)

Illinois OT licenses renew every two years and expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year — a fixed date that applies to all Illinois OT licensees simultaneously. The biennial renewal fee is $40, calculated at the rate of $20 per year, confirmed from the Illinois Administrative Code. Renewal is completed online through the IDFPR renewal portal, which opens approximately 2–3 months before the December 31 expiration date.

Illinois requires 24 CE contact hours per renewal period. Included within the 24 hours are several mandatory topic requirements: 1 hour of ethics, 1 hour of sexual harassment prevention, and 1 hour of implicit bias awareness are required each renewal cycle. Additionally, 1 hour of cultural competency training and 1 hour of Alzheimer’s/dementia training are required before the first renewal and then every 6 years thereafter. All CE documentation must be retained for at least 3 years in case of IDFPR audit.

Illinois does not offer a grace period after the renewal window closes. If you miss the renewal deadline, you must begin the restoration process through IDFPR. Licenses lapsed less than 5 years are restored upon payment of required fees; licenses lapsed 5 or more years require a restoration application with additional documentation.

OT Compact and Illinois License Renewal

Illinois is not a member of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. There are no compact renewal implications for Illinois OT licensees. Standard IDFPR renewal procedures apply to all licensees. Monitor current OT Compact member status at otcompact.gov.

Continuing Education Requirements for Renewal

The 24-Hour Requirement

Illinois requires 24 contact hours of CE per biennial renewal period. All CE must relate to occupational therapy practice. There is no published category limit on online or home-study CE specifically for OTs in the Administrative Code.

Mandatory CE Topics

Within your 24 CE hours, the following mandatory courses must be completed:

• 1 hour — Ethics: Required each renewal cycle. Must address ethical practice in occupational therapy. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1315
• 1 hour — Sexual Harassment Prevention: Required each renewal cycle for all Illinois healthcare professionals. Source: IDFPR Continuing Education
• 1 hour — Implicit Bias Awareness: Required each renewal period. Source: IDFPR Continuing Education
• 1 hour — Cultural Competency: Required before the first renewal; thereafter, required every 6 years. Source: IDFPR Continuing Education
• 1 hour — Alzheimer’s and Dementia Training: Required before the first renewal; thereafter, required every 6 years if CE is otherwise required for that renewal cycle. Source: IDFPR Continuing Education

All mandatory topic courses count toward the 24-hour total requirement — they are not in addition to the 24 hours.

Approved CE Providers

CE must be from providers approved for OT CE in Illinois or from programs recognized under the Illinois Occupational Therapy Practice Act and Rules. Contact IDFPR or check the rules at 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1315 §1315.145 for detailed provider approval criteria.

CE Documentation and Audit

Retain all CE completion documentation for at least 3 years following the renewal period. IDFPR may audit CE compliance. If selected for audit, you must provide certificates or other documentation proving completion of all required hours including mandatory topic courses.

How to Renew Your Illinois OT License

1. Complete your 24 CE hours during the renewal period, including all mandatory topic requirements.
2. Retain CE documentation for at least 3 years.
3. Monitor the IDFPR renewal portal at idfpr.illinois.gov/renewals/defaultssl.html — the OT profession will appear in the list when the renewal window opens (approximately 2–3 months before December 31).
4. Log in and complete your renewal application online. Pay the $40 renewal fee.
5. Submit before December 31 of the odd-numbered year. Do not wait until the final days — all Illinois OT licenses expire on the same date, creating peak system activity.

Questions? Call IDFPR at 1-800-560-6420 or 1-888-473-4858.

What Happens If Your Illinois OT License Lapses?

Illinois does not offer a grace period after the renewal window closes. If the online portal no longer allows renewal:

• Lapsed less than 5 years: Contact IDFPR at 1-800-560-6420 to begin the restoration process. Pay the restoration fee ($50 plus all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $110 total). You cannot practice on a lapsed license.
• Lapsed 5 or more years: A restoration application with additional documentation is required. Additional requirements may apply beyond paying fees. Contact IDFPR for current restoration requirements. Visit idfpr.illinois.gov/dpr/reactivate-your-license.html for guidance.

In all cases, you may not practice occupational therapy in Illinois while your license is lapsed. Source: IDFPR Professional Licensing in Illinois

Practical Notes

• All Illinois OT licenses expire on the same date. December 31 of every odd-numbered year is renewal day for every Illinois OT licensee. The IDFPR portal will see peak activity near this deadline. Renew early — ideally when the window opens, 2–3 months before expiration.
• There is no grace period. Once the renewal window closes and the portal no longer allows online renewal, you must contact IDFPR to begin the restoration process. This takes time and costs more. Submit your renewal as early as the portal allows.
• The mandatory CE topics may feel like a lot. Five distinct mandatory topic areas sounds daunting, but cultural competency and Alzheimer’s/dementia are only required every 6 years for most licensees. In a standard renewal cycle you typically need: 1 hour ethics + 1 hour sexual harassment prevention + 1 hour implicit bias = 3 mandatory hours, leaving 21 hours of general CE. In years when cultural competency and Alzheimer’s/dementia are due, that’s 5 mandatory hours plus 19 general hours.
• The $40 biennial renewal fee. Illinois currently charges $40 per biennial renewal period ($20/year), one of the lower renewal fees for OT licensure. The initial application fee is $25.
• Illinois is not OT Compact. Travel OTs cannot use compact privileges to practice in Illinois. Factor in Illinois licensure timelines when planning assignments.
• Keep your address and email current with IDFPR. IDFPR sends renewal reminders to your address and email of record. If these are outdated, you may miss the renewal notice. Update your contact information through IDFPR’s Name & Address Change portal.

Relevant Laws and Regulations

• 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1315 — Occupational Therapy Rules (§1315.130 Fees; §1315.140 Renewals; §1315.145 CE)
• IDFPR Continuing Education — Mandatory CE Topic Requirements
• IDFPR Online License Renewal Portal

Related Pages

• Illinois Occupational Therapist License — Initial Licensing Requirements
• Georgia OT License Renewal Guide
• Occupational Therapist Licensing by State — Complete Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

When does my Illinois OT license expire?

All Illinois OT licenses expire on December 31 of each odd-numbered year, regardless of when the license was originally issued. This is a fixed date that applies to all Illinois OT licensees simultaneously. Check your license for your current expiration year. Source: IDFPR OT Qualifications for Licensure

What is the renewal fee for an Illinois OT license?

The biennial renewal fee is $40, calculated at the rate of $20 per year, as confirmed in 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1315.130 (current through September 2024). Fees are non-refundable. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code §1315.130

How many CE hours do I need to renew my Illinois OT license?

24 contact hours per biennial renewal period, including mandatory hours in ethics (1 hr), sexual harassment prevention (1 hr), and implicit bias awareness (1 hr) each renewal cycle; plus cultural competency (1 hr) and Alzheimer’s/dementia training (1 hr) at first renewal and then every 6 years. All mandatory hours count toward the 24-hour total. Source: IDFPR Continuing Education

Is there a grace period if I miss the Illinois OT renewal deadline?

No. Illinois does not offer a grace period. If the online portal no longer allows renewal after the window closes, you must contact IDFPR to begin the restoration process. The restoration fee is $50 plus all lapsed renewal fees, not to exceed $110 total for licenses lapsed less than 5 years. You may not practice on a lapsed license. Source: IDFPR Online License Renewal

Does Illinois participate in the OT Compact?

No. Illinois has not enacted OT Compact legislation and is not a member of the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. There are no compact renewal implications for Illinois OT licensees. Monitor current compact membership at otcompact.gov.

How long must I keep my CE documentation?

Illinois requires OTs to retain CE completion documentation for at least 3 years in case of IDFPR audit. If selected for audit, you must provide certificates or equivalent documentation proving completion of all required hours, including all mandatory topic courses. Source: 68 Ill. Admin. Code Part 1315