The OOS-FP form for Illinois is a notarized identity verification statement that out-of-state applicants submit to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) in place of the in-person fingerprint-based identity check Illinois normally requires.1Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. OOS-FP Identity Verification Certifying Statement To get it accepted the first time, fill in identifying details that exactly match your license application, sign it in front of a notary who inspects your government-issued photo ID, and mail it with legible ID copies as part of your application package.
When You Need to File One
You use the OOS-FP when you are applying for an Illinois professional license or employment credential and you live in another state, which means you cannot appear at an Illinois Live Scan vendor for standard fingerprint-based identity verification.1Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. OOS-FP Identity Verification Certifying Statement Common examples include nursing, real estate, and pharmacy technician applicants based outside Illinois. The form usually comes bundled with your application packet from the relevant licensing board, and it is also available for direct download from the IDFPR website.
What to Put on the Form
Have your license application in front of you while you complete the OOS-FP. The two documents need to agree on every detail. Expect fields for:
- Your full legal name, written exactly as it appears on both your license application and your government-issued photo ID.
- Your date of birth and Social Security Number, which the IDFPR uses to match the form to your application file and background check results.
- Your current residential address, matching the address on file with the licensing board.
- The license or application type, and the application number if one has been assigned.
If your name has changed since your photo ID was issued, bring supporting documentation such as a marriage certificate or court order to your notary appointment. A transposed digit in a Social Security Number or a missing middle initial can be enough to get the form returned.
Getting It Notarized
Notarization is the whole point of the form, not an afterthought. A Notary Public or equivalent authorized official in your state must watch you sign, inspect your government-issued photo ID, and confirm you are the person on it.1Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. OOS-FP Identity Verification Certifying Statement
Do not sign the form in advance. A pre-signed document defeats the face-to-face check, and a competent notary will refuse to complete the certification. Bring the unsigned form, a valid photo ID (driver’s license, state ID card, or U.S. passport), and any secondary documents the form asks for. The notary verifies your identity, watches you sign, then adds their signature, seal, and commission expiration date to the certification block. Before you leave, confirm the seal impression is sharp and the expiration date is readable. A faint stamp or an expired commission will get the form kicked back.
Notary fees vary by state, generally running from under a dollar up to about $15 for a single acknowledgment.2California Secretary of State. 2026 California Notary Public Handbook Many banks and credit unions provide free notary services to account holders. Mobile notaries who travel to you add a trip charge on top of the per-signature fee.
ID Copies to Include
Along with the notarized form, your submission package needs legible photocopies of your identification. At minimum, include a copy of the same photo ID the notary inspected. If that ID does not show your current address, add a secondary document that does, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement.
Make the copies before your notary appointment and look at them. A dark or blurry copy of a driver’s license is the same as no copy at all. For a passport, the photo and information page is enough; you don’t need to reproduce the whole booklet.
How to Send It In
Mail the notarized OOS-FP and your ID copies to the IDFPR together with the rest of your license application. The exact mailing address and any extra instructions live in your application materials and on the licensing board’s page of the IDFPR website.
Use a method with tracking and delivery confirmation. You are sending original notarized paperwork and copies of sensitive identification, and if the envelope disappears you will have to redo the notary visit. USPS Certified Mail or a tracked carrier both work. Keep copies of everything, including a scan or photo of the completed, notarized form before it goes into the envelope.
Mistakes That Get the Form Rejected
Most OOS-FP rejections trace back to a short list of preventable errors:
- Signing before the notary appointment. The signature has to happen in front of the notary.
- Name mismatches between the form, the photo ID, and the license application. A missing middle initial counts.
- An expired photo ID at the time of notarization.
- A faint, smudged, or illegible notary seal.
- Forgetting to include the ID photocopies with the notarized form.
Running through this list before you seal the envelope takes a couple of minutes and can save weeks of correspondence with the licensing board.
After You Submit
IDFPR staff review the OOS-FP as part of your overall application. Processing times depend on the licensing board and current volume, which the board’s page on the IDFPR website lists. If something is wrong with your form, expect a letter by mail explaining what needs to be corrected and resubmitted.
If you hear nothing within the posted timeframe for your license type, contact the licensing board directly. The IDFPR website publishes phone numbers and email addresses for each board. Have your application number ready when you call so staff can pull your file.