Illinois · MD and DO
Illinois: Safe opioid prescribing practices
MD: 1 hour, once every 6 years · DO: 1 hour, once every 6 years.
Last verified against the sources below. Requirements change — confirm with your Board before you rely on this page. This is general information, not legal advice.
MD (medical doctor)
- Hours
- 1 hour
- How often
- Once every 6 years
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 3 years; licenses expire at July 31 of the renewal year (for 2026 only, IDFPR extended renewal to August 31, 2026 by variance).
- Board
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, with the Illinois State Medical Board
- The rule
- Confirm with your Board Only for physicians who hold an Illinois controlled substance license (registration). IDFPR's FAQ (written for 2020 renewals, Public Act 100-1106) says 1 hour at every controlled substance renewal, with no first-renewal exemption. Institutional CME offices report that Public Act 103-0531 moved it to once every six years from 2025. The current statute text could not be read for this review; confirm with IDFPR. Counts toward the 150 hours.
DO (osteopathic physician)
- Hours
- 1 hour
- How often
- Once every 6 years
- Who
- Only some physicians — see the rule note
- Renewal cycle
- Renews every 3 years; licenses expire at July 31 of the renewal year (for 2026 only, IDFPR extended renewal to August 31, 2026 by variance).
- Board
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, with the Illinois State Medical Board
- The rule
- Confirm with your Board Only for physicians who hold an Illinois controlled substance license (registration). IDFPR's FAQ (written for 2020 renewals, Public Act 100-1106) says 1 hour at every controlled substance renewal, with no first-renewal exemption. Institutional CME offices report that Public Act 103-0531 moved it to once every six years from 2025. The current statute text could not be read for this review; confirm with IDFPR. Counts toward the 150 hours.
Facts marked “Confirm with your Board” are unsettled in the sources; the note says what to check.
What to do next
Other states that require it
Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts and 13 more. Every state that requires it
Sources
- IDFPR — Physicians (renewal, 2026 variance notice)
- IDFPR — Illinois Continuing Education (CE) Requirements (legislative mandates)
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.110 — Continuing Medical Education (amended effective 12/13/2024), via Cornell LII
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1285.120 — Renewals, via Cornell LII
- IDFPR — 2026 physician renewal extension variance (July 2026)
- IDFPR — 2026 Physicians Batch Renewal Form (CE certification; first renewal)
- IDFPR — FAQs about Safe Opioid Prescribing Practices CE
- Secondary: WashU Medicine CME — Meeting IL licensing education requirements (2026 changes)
MD facts last verified October 8, 2026 · DO facts last verified October 8, 2026.