Illinois Employment Agency
Licensing requirements for Illinois employment, staffing and talent agencies.
This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Illinois for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.
Companies that provide employment services in Illinois must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.
Company Licenses
Illinois Employment and Business Support Services Company Licenses
Illinois Employee Leasing Company Registration
| Agency: | Illinois Department of Insurance |
| Law: | 215 ILCS 113/20 |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $1,000 |
| Required Attachments: |
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Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $1,000 |
| Due: | Annually by the date of issuance. Renewals may be filed as early as 90 days prior to the due date. |
| Required Attachments: |
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Illinois Employment Agency License
| Agency: | Illinois Department of Labor |
Initial Registration
This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in Illinois for the first time.
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 for organizations with less than 3 counselors, $350 for organizations with 3-5 counselors, $400 for organizations with 6-10 counselors, and $500 for organizations with more than 10 counselors. |
Registration Renewal
This section applies to firms that are already licensed in Illinois and need to renew their license.
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 for organizations with less than 3 counselors, $350 for organizations with 3-5 counselors, $400 for organizations with 6-10 counselors, and $500 for organizations with more than 10 counselors. |
| Due: | Annually |
Illinois Nurse Agency License
| Agency: | Illinois Department of Labor - Fair Labor Standards Division - Nurse Agency Licensing Unit |
| Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
| Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required? | No |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 |
| Due: | Licenses expire annually by the date of issuance, but renewals must be filed at least 90 days prior to the license's expiration date. |
Illinois Talent Agency License
| Agency: | Illinois Department of Labor |
| Notes: | Illinois does not have a separate talent agency license, but an employment agency license may be required. |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 for organizations with less than 3 counselors, $350 for organizations with 3-5 counselors, $400 for organizations with 6-10 counselors, and $500 for organizations with more than 10 counselors. |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 for organizations with less than 3 counselors, $350 for organizations with 3-5 counselors, $400 for organizations with 6-10 counselors, and $500 for organizations with more than 10 counselors. |
| Due: | Annually |
Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.
Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.
Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)
American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.
National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
(NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment
industry.
