Prairie State Wire

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced that its Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) has received the 2025 Regulatory Excellence Award from the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR). The award is given annually to regulatory organizations worldwide for notable innovation, vision, and results in public protection and professional service.

“Receiving CLEAR’s Regulatory Excellence Award is a proud moment for the State of Illinois and a powerful recognition of the dedication, innovation, and vision of our Division of Professional Regulation,” said IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto, Jr. “This award reflects not just national recognition, but international acknowledgment that Illinois is leading the way in reimagining the role of regulation. While our work is far from over, by putting people at the center of licensure, we are building a more transparent, efficient, and trusted system.”

Led by Camile Lindsay, Director of Professional Regulation, DPR carried out modernization efforts involving technology upgrades, policy changes, and engagement with stakeholders. A major component was launching CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment) on October 30, 2024. This system replaced an old legacy platform with an online licensing solution for all 120 regulated professions under IDFPR.

Other improvements included streamlining paper application reviews by dividing fiscal from processing duties to reduce delays. A pilot program allowed some professionals submitting paper applications to pay online. In 2024 alone, IDFPR issued nearly 121,000 licenses—a 14% increase compared to the previous year.

DPR also held virtual office hours attended by more than 726 professionals and served 678 constituents at community events throughout Illinois. Policy initiatives included new licensing accommodations for military servicemembers and their spouses as well as offering virtual appointments so applicants could receive updates without visiting IDFPR offices in person.

Customer satisfaction scores have remained above the 90th percentile according to feedback from applicants using CORE.