Cultural Competency - 1 Hour CE

Cultural Competency - 1 Hour CE
$20.00
1 Contact Hour
Required For: IL
1.6K
About the course

Illinois Cultural Competency CE Requirements at a Glance

Hours Required: 1 contact hour
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Legal Authority: Public Act 103-0531 (Sections 2105-370 & 2105-375) and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.5250
Completion Frequency: Once every 6 years (within 3 renewal periods)
Who Must Complete: All IDFPR-licensed healthcare professionals: RNs, LPNs, APRNs, MDs, DOs, PAs, pharmacists, PTs, OTs, social workers, psychologists, dentists, and 20+ other professions

Illinois Cultural Competency 1-Hour CE

State License Renewal Requirement • All Healthcare Professionals

ANCC Accredited • Illinois Board Approved

New Illinois State Mandate - Effective January 1, 2025

All Illinois-licensed healthcare professionals are now required to complete a 1-hour cultural competency continuing education (CE) course as part of their license renewal.

Legal Reference: Public Act 103-0531 (Sections 2105-370 and 2105-375) and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.5250 mandate this training to ensure healthcare providers deliver respectful, equitable, and inclusive care to Illinois' diverse patient populations.

Choose this course if:

  • You need 1 hour of Illinois cultural competency CE
  • You are renewing an Illinois healthcare license through IDFPR
  • You need training related to Public Act 103-0531 and 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.5250
  • You want an online course with a certificate available after completion
1
Contact Hour
25+
License Types
4.7
Star Rating
IL
Compliant

Complete Illinois Compliance Confidence

ANCC Accredited
National credentialing standards
Illinois Board Approved
Division-approved CE provider
All License Types
25+ healthcare professions covered
Evidence-Based Content
Peer-reviewed & CLAS-aligned

Understanding Illinois Cultural Competency Requirements

The State of Illinois defines cultural competency as "a set of integrated attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enables a health care professional or organization to care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities." This definition, established in Public Act 103-0531, is the foundation for the mandatory training requirement.

What Public Act 103-0531 Requires

Illinois Public Act 103-0531 established cultural competency training requirements effective January 1, 2025, through two key sections:

Section 2105-370: Continuing Education; Cultural Competency

For healthcare professional license or registration renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2025, a healthcare professional who has continuing education requirements must complete at least a one-hour course in cultural competency training. This one hour may be counted toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education.

Section 2105-375: Limitation on Specific Statutorily Mandated Training Requirements

For healthcare professional license or registration renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2025, a healthcare professional whose license or registration renewal occurs every 2 years must complete all statutorily mandated topics within 3 renewal periods, meaning once every 6 years.

Illinois License Renewal Timelines

  • Illinois RN and APRN licenses expire May 31 of each even-numbered year (2026, 2028, 2030)
  • Illinois LPN licenses expire January 31 of each odd-numbered year (2025, 2027, 2029)
  • All nurses must complete cultural competency training within 3 renewal periods (once every 6 years)

Core Concepts Covered in This Course

Cultural Competency and CLAS Standards

Cultural competency focuses on the attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge healthcare professionals use to provide respectful, responsive care across cultures. This course introduces the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) as a framework for improving communication, reducing disparities, and supporting equitable care.

Cultural Competency vs. Cultural Humility

Cultural competency emphasizes knowledge and skill development, while cultural humility emphasizes lifelong self-evaluation, openness, and awareness of power imbalances in clinical encounters. This course presents both approaches as complementary tools for delivering equitable care.

Communication Strategies Across Cultures

Effective communication is central to culturally competent care. This course covers strategies for listening without judgment, clarifying meaning, creating safe environments for patients to express concerns, and using professional medical interpreters when appropriate.

Note: Cultural competency and implicit bias are separate Illinois mandates. This course fulfills the 1-hour cultural competency requirement. Illinois also requires 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training. See our Illinois License Renewal CEU Bundle to complete all 4 required courses.

Course Overview

This course provides healthcare professionals with a convenient way to meet Illinois' cultural competency mandate. Through online content, clinical scenarios, and actionable strategies aligned with the National CLAS Standards, learners review practical approaches for improving cultural awareness, communication, and patient-centered care.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define cultural competency and its relevance to healthcare quality, patient outcomes, and professional responsibilities in accordance with Illinois law (Public Act 103-0531)
  • Identify at least three ways in which cultural beliefs, biases, and communication styles influence patient care and decision-making
  • Apply strategies for delivering culturally responsive and inclusive care to improve trust, reduce disparities, and enhance interprofessional collaboration

Part of Illinois Requirements: This course fulfills the cultural competency mandate. For complete compliance, our Illinois License Renewal CEU Bundle includes all 4 required courses: Cultural Competency, Implicit Bias, Sexual Harassment Prevention, and Alzheimer's/Dementia training.

Accreditation and Illinois Compliance

Renew Now CE is an accredited continuing education provider through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This Illinois Cultural Competency 1-Hour CE Course is intended to help licensed healthcare professionals satisfy the state's cultural competency training requirement for license renewal.

Legal Authority:

Public Act 103-0531 (Sections 2105-370 & 2105-375): Establishes the cultural competency training requirement effective January 1, 2025, and specifies the 3-renewal-period completion timeline.

68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.5250: Administrative implementation allowing licensed healthcare professionals to satisfy the cultural competency CE requirement by completing a course from any Division-approved continuing education provider. Renew Now CE (Provider #P0557) is recognized by the Illinois Board of Nursing as an approved provider.

Interprofessional Acceptance: This ANCC-accredited course is designed to meet state requirements for all healthcare professionals covered under IDFPR Section 1130.500. Licensees in non-nursing professions should confirm acceptance with their respective licensing boards prior to completion.

Illinois Pharmacy License Renewal Disclosure: This continuing education activity meets Illinois state continuing education requirements; however, it is not reported to the NABP CPE Monitor. Illinois-licensed pharmacists are responsible for retaining their certificate of completion and reporting CE as required by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

Healthcare Professionals Required to Complete Cultural Competency Training in Illinois

Under Public Act 103-0531, the following Illinois-licensed healthcare professionals are required to complete cultural competency training:

Medical Professionals:

  • Physicians (MDs and DOs)
  • Physician Assistants (PAs)
  • Chiropractic Physicians
  • Podiatric Physicians
  • Optometrists

Nursing Professionals:

  • Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs)
  • Registered Nurses (RNs)
  • Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
  • Nursing Home Administrators

Allied Health Professionals:

  • Physical Therapists (PTs)
  • Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs)
  • Occupational Therapists (OTs)
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs)
  • Respiratory Care Practitioners

Mental Health & Behavioral:

  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
  • Social Workers (LSWs)
  • Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPCs)
  • Professional Counselors (LPCs)
  • Behavior Analysts
  • Assistant Behavior Analysts

Pharmacy Professionals:

  • Pharmacists (RPh)
  • Registered Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPhT)

Communication & Dental:

  • Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
  • Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
  • Audiologists
  • Dentists (DDS/DMD)
  • Dental Hygienists (RDH)

Professional Learning Experience

✓
Progress Tracking
Save and resume anytime
✓
Instant Certificate
Immediate verification
✓
Evidence-Based
Peer-reviewed citations

Course Highlights

  • ANCC accredited CE course
  • Aligned with National CLAS Standards framework
  • Evidence-based content with peer-reviewed citations
  • Real-world clinical scenarios and case studies
  • Interprofessional focus designed for 25+ healthcare professions
  • 10-question final assessment to verify competency
  • Average course rating: 4.7/5 stars

Course Information

Original Release:
June 1, 2025
Last Reviewed:
May 6, 2025
Expires:
May 31, 2028
Contact Hours:
1 Hour CE Credit

Disclosure: Course authors and reviewers (Joanna Nolte, APRN, MSN; Ryan Bendinelli, PharmD; Tamarah Jungklaus, APRN, MSN) have no relevant financial relationships to disclose in compliance with ANCC accreditation requirements.

Trusted by Illinois Healthcare Professionals

Renew Now CE provides online continuing education designed for busy healthcare professionals completing Illinois license renewal requirements.

Complete your cultural competency requirement online.

Complete Your Illinois Cultural Competency Requirement

Complete your Public Act 103-0531 cultural competency training requirement online.

✓ ANCC Accredited    ✓ Public Act 103-0531 Compliant    ✓ All License Types

Legal References: Illinois cultural competency requirement established by Public Act 103-0531 and implemented through 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.5250. For questions, contact us here.

Illinois healthcare license renewal requirements may change. Always verify current requirements with IDFPR, your licensing board, or your employer before renewing or submitting CE documentation.

 

Illinois Nurses: Complete Your 20-Hour Renewal

This course is included in our Illinois RN 20-Hour License Renewal Bundle ($49) — all state-mandated topics including Alzheimer's, Implicit Bias, Sexual Harassment Prevention, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do Illinois nurses need to complete cultural competency training?

Under Public Act 103-0531 Section 2105-375, Illinois nurses must complete cultural competency training within 3 renewal periods. Since RN and APRN licenses renew every 2 years (expiring May 31 of even-numbered years), this means once every 6 years. LPN licenses renew every 2 years (expiring January 31 of odd-numbered years). The requirement took effect January 1, 2025. The 2026 Illinois RN renewal deadline is May 31, 2026.

Does Illinois cultural competency CE count toward my total continuing education hours?

Yes. Per Public Act 103-0531 Section 2105-370, the 1-hour cultural competency requirement may be counted toward meeting your minimum CE credit hours for license renewal. It is not an additional hour on top of your existing requirements. For Illinois RNs, this hour counts within your 20-hour biennial renewal total, not separately.

What is the difference between cultural competency and implicit bias training in Illinois?

Cultural competency training focuses on attitudes, knowledge, and skills for effective cross-cultural healthcare delivery, including understanding diverse health beliefs and communication practices. Implicit bias training addresses unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that affect clinical decision-making. Illinois requires both as separate mandates: 1 hour of cultural competency AND 1 hour of implicit bias awareness training. This course satisfies the cultural competency mandate only. The Illinois License Renewal CEU Bundle includes both courses along with all 4 required topics.

Which Illinois healthcare professionals must complete cultural competency training?

All healthcare professionals licensed under Illinois IDFPR Section 1130.500 must complete cultural competency training, including RNs, LPNs, APRNs, physicians (MD/DO), physician assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dentists, and dental hygienists.

What law requires Illinois cultural competency training for nurses?

Illinois cultural competency training is mandated by Public Act 103-0531, specifically Section 2105-370 (establishing the 1-hour requirement) and Section 2105-375 (establishing the 3-renewal-period completion timeline), effective January 1, 2025. The administrative implementation is detailed in 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1130.5250.

I am an Illinois pharmacist. Does this course satisfy my cultural competency requirement and does it report to NABP?

This course satisfies the Illinois cultural competency CE requirement for pharmacists, but it does not report to the NABP CPE Monitor. Illinois-licensed pharmacists are responsible for retaining their certificate of completion and self-reporting CE as required by IDFPR. Download and store your certificate immediately upon completing the course. Do not rely on automatic NABP reporting — it will not occur for this course.

When is the deadline to complete this course for my Illinois license renewal?

For most Illinois RNs and APRNs, the renewal deadline is May 31, 2026. LPNs renew January 31, 2027. Because cultural competency is required within 3 renewal periods (every 6 years) rather than every renewal, you must confirm which of your renewal periods triggers the requirement. If this is your first renewal since January 1, 2025, the cultural competency mandate applies now. Complete this course before your renewal date and retain your certificate for at least 5 years for IDFPR audit documentation.

Does Renew Now CE require a subscription?

No subscriptions, ever. You pay one price of $20 with no monthly memberships, hidden fees, or auto-renewals. Purchase once, complete at your own pace, and download your certificate instantly. Your completion record is stored in your account for access at any time for IDFPR audit documentation.

$20.00
1 Contact Hour
Required For: IL
1.6K
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