Illinois Professional Engineer (PE) licenses renew every two years (biennial). Illinois requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle (about 15 per year). Of the 30 hours, 2 must be in professional ethics. Up to 15 excess PDH may carry over to the next cycle. The approximate renewal fee is $60 per cycle. Online renewal is available through the state board portal. Renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years. Includes 1 Illinois statutes/rules hour and 1 ethics hour.
Everything it takes to legally practice engineering in Illinois: your individual PE license, your firm's Certificate of Authorization, and the Secretary-of-State / tax filings that keep the entity in good standing. Costs and cadence are estimates, confirm on the official portals before relying on them.
| Requirement | Applies to | Cost | Renews | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE license (individual) | Always required to practice | ~$60 | Biennial | Earn 30 PDH, then renew on the board portal · open |
| Firm Certificate of Authorization | If you practice through a firm | $150 | Biennial | Apply / renew with the engineering board · open |
| Secretary of State annual report | If the firm is a registered entity | $75 | Annual | File with the Secretary of State · open |
Illinois requires 30 PDH per 2-year renewal cycle (about 15 hours per year). Of that total, 2 hours must be in professional ethics.
Illinois allows up to 15 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.
Renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years. Includes 1 Illinois statutes/rules hour and 1 ethics hour.
Confirm you have at least 30 PDH for this cycle, including 2 ethics hours. Save certificates as PDFs in case the board audits you.
About $60. Illinois accepts online renewal through the board portal.
Once renewed, save your updated wall certificate or pocket card. If your firm needs a copy for project files, send it the same day.
Field notes from mapping the Illinois renewal flow. Specifics change, so confirm anything time-sensitive on the board portal before you rely on it.
Illinois requires firms to hold a Certificate of Authorization (about $150, every two years (biennial)) to offer engineering services. It renews on its own cycle, separate from your individual PE license. PE License Pro tracks individual PE licenses, firm CoAs, and entity filings side by side.
Open the Illinois firm CoA portalIllinois PE licenses are renewed every two years (biennial). Renew by November 30 of odd-numbered years. Includes 1 Illinois statutes/rules hour and 1 ethics hour.
Illinois PE license renewal deadline: November 30 of odd-numbered years. Dates and cycles can change, so confirm the exact date on the Illinois board portal and renew before it. A missed deadline usually means a late fee, and in some states the license lapses and has to be reinstated.
Illinois requires 30 PDH per 2-year cycle, including 2 ethics hours.
The approximate renewal fee is $60 per cycle. Fees can change; confirm the current amount on the Illinois board portal.
Illinois renewals are handled by the state's licensing board. The current portal is at https://idfpr.illinois.gov/.
Yes. Illinois allows up to 15 excess PDH to carry over to the next renewal cycle.
Get email reminders before your Illinois license expires, and any other state you hold. Free for your first license.