IllinoisHB4154104th General Assembly (2025–2026)HouseWALLET

PHARMACIST APPLICATION/EXAM

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

Summary

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall authorize the examination of applicants as pharmacists at such times and places as it may determine (rather than not less than 3 times per year). Provides that the Department and the Board of Pharmacy shall regularly monitor the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination or its successor to ensure that the examination of applicants is of a character to give a fair test of the qualifications of the applicant to practice pharmacy. Provides that applicants for examination as pharmacists for the calendar years 2025, 2026, and 2027 shall be required to pass only the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination. Provides that the results from the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination for such applicants shall be disregarded and shall not prohibit an applicant who has successfully passed the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination from engaging in the practice of pharmacy. Provides that applicants for examination as pharmacists shall be required to pay, either to the Department or the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (rather than the designated testing service), a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Provides that the Department shall notify applicants taking the examination of their results no later than 2 weeks after (rather than within 7 weeks of) the examination date. Makes conforming changes.

health care licensesassignmentslicensed activities

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Keeping and restoring your pharmacist license

The Department sets when pharmacist licenses expire and renew. To renew, you must complete 30 hours of ACPE-approved CE in the 24 months before expiration, including 2 hours in pharmacy law. The Department can audit your CE or require filings and may charge up to $20 every two years for CE recordkeeping. If you miss CE, or your license expired or is inactive, the Department has restoration rules; you must show fitness and pay any restoration fee. If you kept active practice in another state with a clean license and largely met CE, no further evaluation is required for restoration. In extreme hardship, CE can be waived once in three renewal periods, and lapsed renewal fees are waived for qualifying military service if you apply within two years after honorable separation. Practicing while your license is expired or inactive is unlicensed practice and brings discipline.

Rules to get an Illinois pharmacist license

To get an Illinois pharmacist license, you apply to the Department, pay a nonrefundable fee, and complete an approved Illinois pharmacy law program and assessment. The state offers the NABP exam at least three times a year; you pay the exam cost to the Department or a testing service, and you forfeit the fee if you do not show up. The Department tells you results within seven weeks and can let you start practicing right away if you pass. You have one year after your pass notice to apply; if you wait longer or do not test or pass within three years of filing, your application expires and you must reapply under current rules. If your pharmacy degree is from outside the U.S., you must get an FPGEC certificate and complete 1,200 hours of U.S. clinical training.

Pharmacies face strict expired-license rules

A pharmacy must keep its license current; operating on an expired license is unlawful and brings discipline. If the license expired less than one year ago, the Department restores it when the pharmacy applies. If it has been expired one year or more, the pharmacy cannot restore it and must apply as new.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Andrew S. Chesney

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Celina Villanueva

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Christopher Belt

    Affiliation unavailable

  • David Koehler

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Doris Turner

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Emil Jones, III

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Janet Yang Rohr

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Javier L. Cervantes

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Karina Villa

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Kevin Schmidt

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Laura Ellman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Li Arellano, Jr.

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mark L. Walker

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mary Edly-Allen

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mattie Hunter

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Maurice A. West, II

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michael E. Hastings

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michael W. Halpin

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Michelle Mussman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mike Porfirio

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Napoleon Harris III

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Natalie A. Manley

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Rachel Ventura

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Ryan Spain

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Steve Stadelman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Suzy Glowiak Hilton

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 199 • No: 0

Senate vote 5/20/2026

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 58 • No: 0

Senate vote 5/6/2026

Do Pass Licensed Activities;

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote 4/16/2026

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote 4/15/2026

House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Health Care Licenses Committee;

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 3/19/2026

Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee;

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0461

    6/1/2026House
  2. Effective Date June 1, 2026

    6/1/2026House
  3. Governor Approved

    6/1/2026House
  4. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter

    6/1/2026Senate
  5. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mary Edly-Allen

    5/31/2026Senate
  6. Sent to the Governor

    5/30/2026House
  7. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III

    5/22/2026Senate
  8. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris III

    5/21/2026Senate
  9. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva

    5/20/2026Senate
  10. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura

    5/20/2026Senate
  11. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael E. Hastings

    5/20/2026Senate
  12. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin

    5/20/2026Senate
  13. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt

    5/20/2026Senate
  14. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

    5/20/2026Senate
  15. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Ellman

    5/20/2026Senate
  16. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner

    5/20/2026Senate
  17. Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton

    5/20/2026Senate
  18. Passed Both Houses

    5/20/2026House
  19. Third Reading - Passed; 058-000-000

    5/20/2026Senate
  20. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026

    5/14/2026Senate
  21. Second Reading

    5/14/2026Senate
  22. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Andrew S. Chesney

    5/13/2026Senate
  23. Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio

    5/12/2026Senate
  24. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026

    5/6/2026Senate
  25. Do Pass Licensed Activities; 009-000-000

    5/6/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

  • Enrolled

  • House Amendment 1

  • House Amendment 2

  • Introduced

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