Last reviewed: July 2026
If you’re renewing your Illinois Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in 2027, you may need to complete one hour of cultural competency continuing education as part of your renewal requirements. Illinois requires cultural competency education before the first qualifying renewal and then every six years thereafter. If the requirement applies to your renewal cycle, the one-hour course counts toward your required continuing education hours—it is not an additional hour beyond your regular CE requirement.
Illinois Cultural Competency Requirement at a Glance
- State: Illinois
- Profession: Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Course requirement: 1 hour of cultural competency education
- Frequency: Before the first qualifying renewal and every six years thereafter
- Counts toward CE requirement: Yes
- Online completion: Permitted through approved providers
Need to complete your Illinois renewal requirements?
Complete your continuing education with the Illinois LPN License Renewal CE Package, which includes cultural competency education along with the other Illinois-required topics included in the package.
Illinois LPN CE Package – https://renewnowce.com/course-details/227
What Is Illinois Cultural Competency CE?
Illinois adopted the cultural competency education requirement to help healthcare professionals provide respectful, effective, and patient-centered care to individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, religious, and social backgrounds.
The training generally addresses topics such as:
- Cultural awareness in healthcare
- Communication across diverse populations
- Reducing barriers to care
- Addressing health disparities
- Delivering culturally responsive patient care
The course is intended to strengthen communication and improve healthcare experiences for patients from a wide range of backgrounds.
Do All Illinois LPNs Need the Course?
Not necessarily.
Illinois requires cultural competency education before the first qualifying renewal on or after January 1, 2025 and every six years thereafter.
If you’ve already completed the required cultural competency education within the applicable timeframe, you may not need to repeat it for every renewal.
Before renewing, review your continuing education history and confirm whether the requirement applies to your current renewal cycle.
Does Cultural Competency Count Toward the 20 CE Hours?
Yes.
If cultural competency education is required for your renewal, the one-hour course counts toward your required 20 approved contact hours for Illinois LPN license renewal.
You do not complete this course in addition to the 20-hour requirement.
Complete the Course Online
Renew Now CE offers a 1-hour Illinois Cultural Competency CE course that you can complete entirely online at your own pace.
The course includes:
- One contact hour of continuing education
- Fully online, self-paced learning
- Instant certificate after successful completion
- Mobile-friendly access
Take the Illinois Cultural Competency CE Course
Complete All of Your Illinois LPN CE in One Package
If you still need additional continuing education hours, purchasing a complete renewal package may be more convenient than buying courses individually.
The Illinois LPN License Renewal CE Package includes:
- 20+ approved contact hours
- Cultural competency education
- Illinois-required continuing education topics included in the package
- Fully online courses
- Instant certificates after successful completion
Instead of managing multiple purchases, you can complete your applicable continuing education requirements through one account.
View the Illinois LPN License Renewal CE Package
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cultural competency required every Illinois LPN renewal?
No. Illinois generally requires cultural competency education before the first qualifying renewal and then every six years thereafter.
Does the one-hour course count toward my CE requirement?
Yes. If the requirement applies to your renewal, the course counts toward your required continuing education hours.
Can I complete cultural competency CE online?
Yes. Illinois permits approved continuing education through qualifying online providers.
Should I buy the individual course or the complete package?
If cultural competency is the only course you need, the individual course may be appropriate. If you still need additional continuing education hours for renewal, the complete Illinois LPN CE package may be the more convenient option.
Final Thoughts
Before renewing your Illinois LPN license, verify whether cultural competency education applies to your renewal cycle.
If you only need the one-hour requirement, the individual course offers a quick online option. If you still need to complete your renewal hours, the Illinois LPN License Renewal CE Package includes cultural competency education along with additional continuing education to help you meet your renewal requirements in one place.
This article summarizes current Illinois LPN continuing education requirements for informational purposes only. Requirements may change. Always verify current renewal requirements with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation before renewing your license.