Paramedic / Illinois
2026 data Illinois board official source

Illinois Paramedic License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

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Provides advanced emergency medical care in the field.

What the Illinois data shows for Paramedics

Becoming a licensed paramedic in Illinois means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,935 training hours, a passing score on NREMT Paramedic Exam, plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Illinois regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Paramedic Training Program".

Budget $234 to get started, plus $188 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 72-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For paramedics, the reciprocity picture is: Interstate EMS Compact: 30+ states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
31/100
Paramedic · Illinois

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training F
1,935 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$234
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$94/yr
$188 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
36.0 hrs/yr
72 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Illinois

Education / Training Hours
Paramedic Training Program
1,935 hours
Exam Requirement
NREMT Paramedic Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$234
Renewal Fee
$188
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
72 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Paramedic All Illinois licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Illinois licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Paramedic in Illinois? ▼
Illinois's requirements cover 1935 hours of education or training, the NREMT Paramedic Exam exam, and an initial fee of $234. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Paramedic in Illinois? ▼
Certification as a paramedic in Illinois means clearing the state's checklist: 1935 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Illinois licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Paramedic license to Illinois from another state? ▼
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for paramedics: Interstate EMS Compact: 30+ states. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Illinois licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Illinois require a background check for Paramedic licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the paramedic licensing process in Illinois. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.
What are the continuing education requirements for Paramedic in Illinois? ▼
Licensed paramedics in Illinois must complete 72 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $188.

Related Guides

What to do with this paramedic license

Paramedic in Illinois, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a paramedic-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Illinois's paramedic requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Paramedic in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state paramedic license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Illinois's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Illinois overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Illinois licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.