Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.

Contact Information

Physical address:
320 W. Washington Street, Third Floor
Springfield, IL 62786

Phone: (800) 560-6420

Web: Home Name search Forms File online

Notes: To inactivate a Firm License in Illinois do one of the following. There is no charge to do this. 1) Login to renew the license and choose the option to make the license inactive. if there is NO OPTION to make the license inactive, then 2) complete the Request to Change License Status to Inactive form (https://idfpr.illinois.gov/onlineresources.html) and email it to fpr.lmu@illinois.gov

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other Compliance Core™ data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

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Illinois Architect License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

This section applies to architects that are applying for a license in Illinois for the first time.

Form:

Application Non-NCARB Record Holders

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Reciprocal Registration

This section applies to architects licensed in another state that are looking for reciprocal licensure in Illinois.

Form:

Application Non-NCARB Record Holders

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:
  • NCARB record holders can apply online while non-NCARB record holders must apply by mail.
  • Request your Record be sent to the Illinois Board prior to applying for your license as it may take NCARB up to four weeks to transmit your Record.

Registration Renewal

This section applies to architects that are already licensed in Illinois and need to renew their license.

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of even-numbered years.

Illinois Engineer Intern License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Engineer Intern enrollment - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$20

Notes:

Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Illinois Interior Designer Registration

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Exam Required?Yes

Initial Registration

Form:

Registered Interior Designer Application

Filing Method:

File by mail.

Agency Fee:

$40 for Illinois-licensed architects (non-examination) or $100 if applying by examination

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Registered Interior Designer Application

Agency Fee:

$100

Required Attachments:
  • An official NCIDQ certification or certification of passage of the NCIDQ exam from the state you passed the exam in
  • Official transcripts for your Interior Design degree
  • VE-IND form for your experience
  • Certification from the current state of active practice

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By August 31 of odd-numbered years.

Illinois Landscape Architect License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Registered Landscape Architect

Agency Fee:

$100

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Application for Registered Landscape Architect

Agency Fee:

$100

Required Attachments:
  • A CLARB record

or

  • Official transcripts for your Landscape Architect degree
  • VE_LA form for your experience
  • Certification from the current state of active practice
  • Certification of passage of the LARE

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By August 31 of odd-numbered years.

Illinois Private Alarm Contractor Agency Registration

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Private Alarm Contractor Agency Registration Application 

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$500

Required Attachments:
  • Sole Proprietorships 
    • Your individual license must be current
    • Submit original assumed name document filed in the county where the DBA is registered 
  • General Partnerships 
    • All partners must hold a current license in Illinois with the same profession prefix 
  • Corporations 
    • Attach the following documents which correspond to your application 
      • Domestic - copy of Article of Incorporation 
      • Certificate of Good Standing 
      • A list of the officers and directors, including license numbers
      • Foreign - Article of Incorporation and a copy of the application of authority to conduct business in Illinois
      • DBA , if applicable 
    • Professional Limited Liability Company 
      • Copy of Articles of Organization, with a purpose clause specific to profession 
      • Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois 
      • A listing of the members of the PLLC and their license numbers 
      • At least one officer or executive employee must hold a current certificate of registration with the state. 

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$500

Due:

Triennially by August 31. 

Required Attachments:
  • Sole Proprietorships 
    • Your individual license must be current
    • Submit original assumed name document filed in the county where the DBA is registered 
  • General Partnerships
    •  All partners must hold a current license in Illinois with the same profession prefix 
  • Corporations 
    • Attach the following documents which correspond to your application 
      • Domestic - copy of Article of Incorporation 
      • Certificate of Good Standing 
      • A list of the officers and directors, including license numbers
        Foreign - Article of Incorporation and a copy of the application of authority to conduct business in Illinois
      • DBA , if applicable 
  • Professional Limited Liability Company 
    • Copy of Articles of Organization, with a purpose clause specific to profession 
    • Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois 
    • A listing of the members of the PLLC and their license numbers 
    • At least one officer or executive employee must hold a current certificate of registration with the state. 

Illinois Professional Design Firm Registration

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Law:

225 ILCS 305/21; 225 ILCS 325/23; 225 ILCS 330/25; and 225 ILCS 340/19

Eligible Entity Types:
  • Business Corporations
  • Professional Corporations
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies
  • Partnerships (GP, LP, LLP)
  • Sole Proprietorship
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Ownership Requirements:

Business Corporations:

  • At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a director and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
  • Firms that provide architectural services are required to have at least 2/3 of their board of directors licensed in any state to practice architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering or land surveying.

Professional Corporations:

  • All of the directors, officers, and shareholders must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.

Professional Limited Liability Companies:

  • All of the managers and members must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.

Partnerships:

  • At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a partner and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
  • Firms that provide architectural services are required to have at least 2/3 of their partners licensed in any state to practice architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering or land surveying.
Notes:

The Illinois Secretary of State requires that all businesses organized as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and who plan to provide professional services which are regulated/licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, must register as a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) with the IL SOS or have an assumed name listed as a PLLC.

 

Sole Proprietorships: Registration is not required for a licensed sole proprietor who offers or provides design services in his or her individual name and is not employing other individuals to perform work for which professional licensure is required. However, any sole proprietorship conducting business as a design professional under an assumed name must register as a professional design firm. Any sole proprietorship not owned by an Illinois licensed design professional is prohibited from offering professional services to the public.

Qualifying Individual Requirements:
  • Managing Agent Requirement: The organization, through official Board Resolution of the organization's Board of Directors/Members/Partners, must appoint a Managing Agent who is licensed in Illinois for the profession(s) in which the organization plans to offer and who
    will be responsible for the respective profession(s) in Illinois.
    • The managing agent must be a full-time employee of the business organization. For the profession of architecture, the named Managing Agent must also be a director, member, or partner of the business organization. A Firm may appoint more than one managing agent for a profession if desired. 
    • An individual can only be named Managing Agent of a profession for one firm at a given time.
    • A Resolution must be made for each Managing Agent that is being appointed.
    • If the fi rm’s practice includes architecture, the licensee designated as the managing agent for architecture must be a member of the board of directors, full partner, or member of PLLC or LLP and stated as such in the resolution.
    • The engineering profession must be specifi ed as either Professional Engineering or Structural Engineering. 
Requirement Notes:

Special Requirement for the practice of Architecture: Two-thirds of the individuals who make up the business organization's Board of Directors/Members/Partners must be
licensed in any of the four applicable design professions (in Illinois or any U.S. State/territory), with one being licensed in Illinois as an architect who will function as the Managing Agent for the firm.

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Design Firm Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail your completed application, fee, and support documents to:


Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation,
Attn: Division of Professional Regulation, Design/PSS4
P.O. Box 7007
Springfield, Illinois 62791

Agency Fee:

$75

Turnaround:

~2 weeks. Confirmation will be sent to applicants via email.

Before you Apply:

Foreign Qualification - YES
Certificate of Good Standing - YES (from Illinois)
Certified Copy of Articles of Incorporation - YES, The Purpose Clause must note each profession your firm plans to offer. 
Annual Report - YES (a filed copy of the latest Annual Report with the Illinois Secretary of State identifying the current directors)
members, and partners.
Name: Requires board approval if an assumed name is used
Ownership/ Entity:

  • Business Corporations: The purpose clause must be specific to the profession(s) for which the design firm is seeking registration, (i.e. professional engineering).
  • Professional Corporations: All of the directors, officers, and shareholders must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.
  • Professional Limited Liability Companies: All of the managers and members must be individuals who are licensed in one of the professions offered by the firm or a related profession.
  • Partnerships: At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a partner and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm. Firms that provide architectural services are required to have at least 2/3 of their partners licensed in any state to practice architecture, professional engineering, structural engineering or land surveying.
  • The firm must provide the name of each director, member or partner of the firm who is a licensed design professional, as well as their license number and state of licensure. If the individual is licensed in more than one jurisdiction, only a copy of the active license of main practice is required.
  • The firm must provide a list of all Illinois office locations.

Qualified Party:

  • At least one Illinois licensed professional, who is a director and full-time employee, must be designated through a resolution as the managing agent in responsible charge of the practice for each professional service offered by the firm.
  • Obtain a copy of a signed board resolution designating the Illinois licensed design professional(s) as the managing agent(s) of the firm (to be filed with license application). The resolution must include the licensee's name and Illinois license number, that the licensee is a full-time employee of the firm, the licensee's relationship to the firm, e.g. director (if applicable), and that the licensee has been designated as the managing agent in charge of that professional practice in Illinois.
     
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File entity formation documents with the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department.
  2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing and a copy of the most recently filed annual report from the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department (these documents are not required if your entity was formed within one year of submitting your firm license application).
  3. If applicable, obtain a filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the Illinois Secretary of State approving the assumed name (to be filed with the license application).
  4. Submit a Professional Design Firm Registration Application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. File foreign qualification documents with the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department.
  2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing and a copy of the most recently filed annual report from the Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services Department (these documents are not required if your entity was formed within one year of submitting your firm license application).
  3. If applicable, obtain a filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the Illinois Secretary of State approving the assumed name (to be filed with the license application).
  4. Submit a Professional Design Firm Registration Application to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Required Attachments:
  • Articles of incorporation (or equivalent for any type of business entity)
  • Certificate of good standing with the Illinois Dept of State
  • Annual report identifying directors/members/partners designating licensed engineers
  • Resolution stating the designated licensed professionals and their license information
  • A filed copy of the application with the Illinois Secretary of State to adopt an assumed name and the letter issued by the state approving the assumed name (if applicable)
  • Limited Power of Attorney - Third Party Authorization Form (F2523), if applicable

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$75

Due:

By April 30 of odd-numbered years. Renewals may be filed as early as 3 months prior to the expiration date.

Notes:

Renewal notices are mailed 2 months prior to the expiration date.

Required Attachments:

Amendment

Form:

Change of Managing Agent

Filing Method:

Email to fpr.lmu@illinois.gov

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

If the managing agent status changes, the professional design firm must notify the Department by mail within 10 business days and notify within 30 days of the name and license number of the newly designated managing agent by submitting a Resolution of the board/members/partners and the seal and signature of the new managing agent.

Original Ink:Not Required
Notarization Required?:Not Required

Reinstatement

Form:

Professional Design Firm Reinstatement Request

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$75 for each renewal period missed + $50 late fee

Turnaround:

8 weeks

Notes:

If the license has been expired for 5 or more years, the license holder should apply for a new license.

Required Attachments:
  • Certificate of Good Standing from the Illinois Secretary of State. Not required for partnerships or sole proprietors
    using their SSN.
  • A Board resolution appointing the Managing Agent for each profession that the firm offers. For an Architect Managing Agent, the individual must be a Director/Member/Partner of the Firm, pursuant to the Architecture Act that 2/3rds of the Board members are licensed design professionals in a U.S. jurisdiction.
  • A list of the current Board of Directors/Members/Partners with their applicable professional license numbers.
  • Limited Power of Attorney - Third Party Authorization Form (F2523), if applicable

Illinois Professional Engineer License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

The licensee may provide, at his or her sole discretion, an original signature in the licensee's handwriting, a scanned copy of the document bearing an original signature, or a signature generated by a computer.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Every licensed professional engineer shall have a reproducible seal or facsimile, which may be computer generated, the impression of which shall contain the name, the license number of the professional engineer, and the words "Licensed Professional Engineer of Illinois". A professional engineer shall seal all documents prepared by or under the direct supervision and control of the professional engineer. Any document that bears the name of a professional design firm, rather than bearing the name of the individual licensed professional engineer responsible for the document, shall be deemed an invalid seal. The individual licensee's written signature and date of signing, along with the date of license expiration, shall be placed adjacent to the seal.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Reciprocal Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:
  • Applicants submitting an NCEES Record as supplemental documentation to the application are not required to submit exam or license certifications, official transcript(s) or complete the VE-PNG form as long as the information is included in the record.
  • NCEES record holders should request their record be sent to the Illinois PE Board prior to applying for their license as it may take NCEES up to four weeks to transmit the record.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of odd-numbered years.

Illinois Professional Land Surveyor License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveying Examination/License - Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Professional Land Surveying Examination/License - Application

Agency Fee:

$150

Notes:
  • An official state certification/verification for proof of active licensure/registration in the current state/territory must be submitted through the NCEES system to the Illinois PLS Board OR via email from the state board to: FPR.DesignUnit@illinois.gov
  • If not submitting an NCEES Record, the Board allows for self-verification of land surveying experience under the applicant’s own license. Complete the VE-LSR form as your own supervisor.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of even-numbered years.

Illinois Professional Land Surveyor-in-Training License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$70

Renewal Not Required

Not required



A license for a Land Surveyor-in-Training is valid for 10 years and may not be renewed.

Illinois Structural Engineer Intern License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Form:

Structural Engineering Examination/License Application

Agency Fee:

$50

Renewal Not Required

Not required



Illinois Structural Engineer License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Exam Required?Yes
Allow Digital Signatures?Yes
Digital Signature Guidelines:

The licensee may provide, at his or her sole discretion, an original signature in the licensee's handwriting, a scanned copy of the document bearing an original signature, or a signature generated by a computer.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Allow Digital Sealing?Yes
Digital Sealing Guidelines:

Every licensed professional engineer shall have a reproducible seal or facsimile, which may be computer generated, the impression of which shall contain the name, the license number of the professional engineer, and the words "Licensed Professional Engineer of Illinois". A professional engineer shall seal all documents prepared by or under the direct supervision and control of the professional engineer. Any document that bears the name of a professional design firm, rather than bearing the name of the individual licensed professional engineer responsible for the document, shall be deemed an invalid seal. The individual licensee's written signature and date of signing, along with the date of license expiration, shall be placed adjacent to the seal.

Illinois Admin Code Title 68 § 1380.295

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for SE License - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:

Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.

Reciprocal Registration

Form:

Application for SE License - Applicants without a U.S. SSN or TIN

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$100

Notes:
  • Applicants who have a U.S. SSN or TIN should apply online.
  • NCEES record holders should request their record be sent to the Illinois Board prior to applying for their license as it may take NCEES up to four weeks to transmit the record.
  • If not submitting an NCEES Record, the Board allows for self-verification of land surveying experience under the applicant’s own license. Complete the VE-SEG form as your own supervisor

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$60

Due:

By November 30 of even-numbered years.

Original Ink:Not Required
Notarization Required?:Not Required

Illinois Wholesale Drug Distributor Controlled Substances License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Form:

Wholesale Drug Distributor Controlled Substances License Application

Agency Fee:

$15 for schedule V only or $50 for any other schedules.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$30 for schedule V only or $100 for any other schedules.

Due:

By December 31 of eve-numbered years.

Illinois Wholesale Drug Distributor License

Agency:Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Wholesale Drug Distributor's License

Agency Fee:

$200

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$400

Due:

By December 31 of eve-numbered years.

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