Physician Assistant 2020 Renewal FAQ
1. When can I apply to renew my physician assistant license? You can apply to renew your physician
assistant license approximately 2-3 months prior to the expiration date shown on your license. You will
receive an email informing you that renewal is open. Paper renewal forms will not be sent by mail.
2. Can I renew my physician assistant license online or do I need to mail a paper renewal to the
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)? You can renew your physician
assistant license online. Please visit the Renewal page of the IDFPR website at www.idfpr.com. This page
includes general information regarding the online renewal process. For more detailed information, select
Physician Assistant under Professions Currently in Renewal. When ready, select the link for Credit Card -
Internet Renewal to begin the license renewal process. If you wish to send in a check and a paper renewal
form, you can print a paper renewal form on the same page.
3. Am I required to verify my collaborating physician information in order to renew my physician
assistant license? No. You are not required to verify information about your collaborating physician at the
time of your license renewal.
4. How do I notify the Department if my collaborating physician changes? Download the appropriate
forms on the Physician Assistant page of the IDFPR website at www.idfpr.com, complete the forms and then
submit to the Department as detailed in the instructions. This notification process is separate from the license
renewal process and can be completed at any time.
5. What is required for renewal of a physician assistant license? You must file a complete physician
assistant renewal application and required fee with the IDFPR. The renewal application and fee payment must
be filed with the IDFPR after the renewal period begins for your profession and before the expiration date
shown on your license.
6. Am I required to complete continuing education to renew my physician assistant license?
No. You are not required to complete continuing education for the 2020 physician assistant license renewal.
However, you must complete 50 hours of continuing education for the 2022 license renewal. The hours must
be obtained between March 2, 2020 and March 1, 2022. A minimum of 1 hour must be completed in a CE
course in sexual harassment prevention training. In addition, if you hold a controlled substance license, a
minimum of 3 hours must be completed in a CE course on safe opioid prescribing practices AND a minimum
of 10 hours must be completed in a CE course on pharmacology. FAQs on these CE requirements are
available on the Frequently Asked Questions page of the IDFPR website at www.idfpr.com.
7. Is there a separate process to renew my physician assistant controlled substance license? Yes. You
can renew your controlled substance license online as described above. However, it will be completed as a
separate transaction. You must file a complete application, answer all certifying questions, and pay the
required renewal fee.
8. Am I required to complete continuing education to renew my physician assistant controlled
substance license? Yes. You are required to complete 3 hours of continuing education in safe opioid
prescribing practices for the 2020 physician assistant controlled substance license renewal. A FAQ on this CE
requirement is available on the Frequently Asked Questions page of the IDFPR website at www.idfpr.com.
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Division of Professional Regulation
