Surgical Technologist / Illinois
2026 data Illinois board official source

Illinois Surgical Technologist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons.

What the Illinois data shows for Surgical Technologists

Illinois's path to surgical technologist licensure runs through 1,000 hours of approved instruction and a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a criminal history screening. Illinois folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

The initial price tag is $100 every 2 years. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Illinois, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

Illinois evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Surgical Technologist · 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 D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Illinois

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Surgical Technologist 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 Surgical Technologist in Illinois? ▼
Illinois requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Surgical Technologist in Illinois? ▼
Certification as a surgical technologist in Illinois means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Illinois licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Surgical Technologist license to Illinois from another state? ▼
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for surgical technologists in Illinois - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Illinois licensing board for the current process.
Does Illinois require a background check for Surgical Technologist licensing? ▼
Background screening is part of the surgical technologist licensing process in Illinois. The state licensing board determines which offenses disqualify an applicant and how appeals are handled.

Related Guides

What to do with this surgical technologist license

Surgical Technologist in Illinois is one requirement row in a surgical technologist-wide, 50-state comparison.

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.