Illinois Podiatry Endorsement and the Clinical Competency Exam

Illinois is an endorsement state for podiatrists, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has a dedicated "Podiatric Physician - Endorsement" application. The part that worries applicants is one line in the rule: endorsement requires "passage of the written clinical competency examination set forth in Section 1360.40." Read Section 1360.40 and the worry goes away. It says each applicant "shall be required to take the PM Lexis examination," and PM Lexis is the old name of APMLE Part III. If you passed Part III to get your first license, you have already met the requirement.

What does the Illinois endorsement rule require?

Title 68, Section 1360.50 of the Illinois Administrative Code lists what an applicant licensed in another jurisdiction must file:

1. A certification from the state of original licensure and the state of current licensure, showing how long you were licensed there and whether there is any disciplinary action taken or pending.
2. A complete work history covering all employment since you graduated.
3. Certification that you passed NBPME Parts I and II, or whatever exam your original state required.
4. Verification of one year of CPME-approved postgraduate training, a residency or preceptorship, for anyone licensed after January 1, 1992.
5. Passage of the written clinical competency exam in Section 1360.40, which is PM Lexis (Part III).
6. The fee.

IDFPR then checks whether your original state's requirements, on the date you were licensed, were "substantially equivalent" to Illinois requirements at that time. It may ask for a copy of the act and rules that were in force in your original state. The application packet tells applicants to send that copy as part of the file.

Is there a way around Part III?

Older podiatrists, licensed before Part III existed or in states that did not require it, have a waiver route. Section 1360.50(a)(7) lets the Division, on the Director's recommendation, waive the clinical competency exam after full consideration of your education, training and experience. IDFPR's instruction sheet lists the kinds of evidence it looks at: certification by a specialty board, special honors or awards, articles in recognized journals, or writing or helping to write textbooks in podiatric medicine.

The instructions also warn that, depending on the Podiatric Medical Licensing Board's review, you may be asked for more documents, may have to "appear for oral interview before the Board" to show current competency, or may be required to pass the clinical competency exam. That is the only scenario in which Illinois endorsement adds a test, and it applies when the board is not satisfied with the waiver evidence. Part III registration in Illinois needs the state's approval first; the APMLE FAQ lists Illinois with Massachusetts and Florida as the states that must authorize candidates. See APMLE Part III dates and state authorization.

Which forms go into the file?

IDFPR's podiatric physician packet (updated July 24, 2024) uses supporting documents with short codes:

• PHQ, a questionnaire that must accompany every application.
• CT, the license certification, completed by your original and current licensing boards. Unusually, IDFPR tells applicants to have the other board return the completed CT to you, so you can submit it with the application.
• ED, completed by your podiatric college with the school seal affixed.
• TN-POD, the postgraduate training verification, which your residency director sends to you in a sealed envelope.

Scores for Parts I and II go to the Division of Professional Regulation directly. The packet's instructions predate April 2026; today candidates send APMLE scores through Meazure Learning's Connect portal, since the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards no longer reports them. See where APMLE scores come from now. The endorsement fee in Chart I of the packet is $400, and the packet says an application is valid for three years from the date IDFPR receives it. IDFPR moved applications to its CORE online system on October 30, 2024.

Can someone else talk to IDFPR for you?

Only with a specific form. IDFPR's Limited Power of Attorney, form IL486-2523, lets an applicant authorize individuals or companies, including employers and credentialing services, to communicate with the Department about the application. The applicant signs it in front of a witness and a notary. Without it, the form says, the Division "will not communicate with anyone on an applicant's or licensee's behalf." The authorization ends when the license is issued or denied, or when you revoke it in writing.

Which registrations follow the license?

A separate controlled substance license. IDFPR issues a Podiatry Controlled Substance license, and its instructions say the Illinois Controlled Substances Act requires a separate registration for each place of business where controlled substances are located or stored, though not for every place you merely prescribe. The application fee listed in the packet is $5. You also need a DEA registration for your Illinois practice; see state controlled-substance licenses and DEA registration for each practice state.

A fixed renewal date. Every Illinois podiatry license expires on January 31 of each odd-numbered year (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1360.55). A license issued in late 2026 renews in January 2027.

A heavy CE load. Section 1360.70 requires 100 hours of continuing education in the 24 months before each renewal, and it applies to podiatrists "licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states." The first renewal is exempt. A podiatrist who keeps an Illinois license while living elsewhere has to track Illinois hours on top of the home state's. See Illinois CE and the January 31 renewal.

Are there other Illinois license types?

IDFPR's podiatry page lists a Temporary Podiatric Physician license, which residents in Illinois programs use, and a Visiting Podiatrist Professor permit. Neither is a shortcut around the full license for someone moving to practice. See residency, training and limited licenses.

Can we file the Illinois endorsement for you?

Illinois is our Podiatrist License by Endorsement service, $799 per state. We prepare the application and the PHQ for your signature, send the CT, ED and TN-POD requests to your boards, school and residency, build the work history, and, if you need the Part III waiver, assemble the evidence of certification, honors or publications. With a signed and notarized IL486-2523 on file, we can talk to IDFPR about the application for you. You sign every form, send your scores from your own Meazure account, attend any oral interview the board requests and pay IDFPR directly. The controlled substance license and DEA registration are available as our $199 DEA and State Controlled-Substance Registration service, and Annual Renewal and CE Tracking ($199 per license per year) keeps the 100 hours on schedule. See the Illinois state page for current requirements.