The State of Illinois is making headway in modernizing its professional licensing system. According to an announcement from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), four new license types are now accessible online through CORE, the Department's new Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment platform. Notable among the newly added license peddlers are Licensed Behavior Analysts (LBA), Licensed Assistant Behavior Analysts (LABA), Behavior Analyst Continuing Education Sponsors, and Licensed Certified Professional Midwives.
Introduced in late October last year, CORE seeks to simplify the licensing process for numerous professions. By moving the procedures online, IDFPR aims to increase efficiency and accessibility for professionals looking to operate in Illinois. IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. said, "Today's announcement is yet another significant milestone achieved by the Pritzker Administration in the IDFPR success story," as stated by the State of Illinois. With a two-year phased implementation strategy in place, CORE system enhancements made by the IDFPR in the previous year include a more streamlined application review process and the introduction of online payment options for paper applications.
These improvements are already bearing fruit. The Department oversaw a record-breaking year in 2024, as it issued licenses to 120,933 professionals, an almost 14% climb over the prior record of 106,196 set in 2023. With the launch of CORE, its ambitions don't end there. "The previous year proved to be the most successful year ever for professional licensing in Illinois, and we're just getting started," said Acting Director of Professional Regulation Camile Lindsay, as per the State of Illinois, signaling the commitment to continue streamlining the licensing experience in Illinois.
Further announcements are anticipated by the IDFPR as the Department gradually incorporates additional professions into the CORE system. Onlookers and professionals across the state can keep close tabs on future licensing process improvements by visiting the IDFPR's website.
