IDFPR Honored with CLEAR Regulatory Excellence Award

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that its Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) has been awarded the 2025 Regulatory Excellence Award by the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR). The CLEAR Regulatory Excellence Award is presented annually to regulatory bodies worldwide that demonstrate outstanding innovation, vision, and measurable results in protecting the public while serving professionals. This prestigious international honor recognizes DPR’s transformative leadership in professional regulation by modernizing licensure processes, reducing barriers for applicants, and elevating customer service for more than 1.2 million licensed professionals across Illinois.

“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.” 

Under the leadership of Camile Lindsay, Director of Professional Regulation, the Division executed a sweeping modernization effort that combined technology, policy reform, and stakeholder engagement. A centerpiece of this transformation was the launch of CORE (Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment) on October 30, 2024, the largest licensing system overhaul in IDFPR’s history. CORE replaces a decades-old legacy system with a fully online licensing solution covering all 120 regulated professions.

While IDFPR worked to secure CORE, DPR simultaneously implemented service-centered improvements beyond technology, including new policy pathways, outreach initiatives, and customer service enhancements such as:

• Efficiency Gains: IDFPR streamlined the paper application review process by separating fiscal and processing functions to eliminate unnecessary handoffs and delays. A pilot program was also launched for select professionals who submit paper applications for licensure to submit their payments online. 
• Record Volumes: With DPR at the forefront, IDFPR issued 120,933 licenses in 2024, a 14% increase from the prior year. 
• Enhanced Service: More than 726 professionals attended virtual “office hours,” while 678 constituents were served directly at 30 community events. 
• Policy Leadership: DPR created licensing accommodations for military servicemembers and their spouses and introduced virtual appointments for applicants to obtain licensure updates without traveling to IDFPR’s offices. 
• Customer Trust: Service satisfaction scores consistently rank above the 90th percentile, with applicants describing the CORE system as “seamless” and “easy to understand.”