The act that defines LPN practice in Illinois
The compact decides whether you may practice in Illinois. What LPN practice actually means here — scope, titles, what you may do and delegate — is set by Illinois’s own nurse practice act, 225 ILCS 65 (Nurse Practice Act), and interpreted by the Illinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR). Two states can both recognize your license and still differ on what you may do with it.
How the compact treats LPN licenses
The compact covers LPN/LVN licenses on the same terms as RN licenses — a multistate LPN license carries compact privilege across compact states, while a single-state LPN license is valid only where it was issued. Illinois does not currently issue multistate LPN licenses to its residents, so an Illinois LPN license is single-state.
LPN and LVN are the same credential
Most states, including Illinois, use "licensed practical nurse (LPN)." Texas and California call the same credential an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). The compact covers LPN and LVN identically.
Verifying your Illinois LPN license
Nursys QuickConfirm shows whether an LPN license is single-state or multistate, plus its status and expiration. For official requirements, go to the Illinois Board of Nursing (IDFPR), or see our Illinois verification guide.