Is Your Corporation or LLC Registered with IDFPR?

As a chiropractic practice owner in Illinois, it’s crucial to ensure that your corporation or PLLC is registered with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Many doctors mistakenly believe that once their entities are created at the Secretary of State, the entity is automatically authorized to render services.  This is not the case, because the company must also then be registered with the IDFPR.  This article discusses the importance of IDFPR registration and provides step-by-step guidance on checking the status of your practice’s registration.

The Importance of IDFPR Registration

A recent review of registered Medical Corporations in Illinois whose names begin with “Back” or “Spine” found that 15 out of 18 entities did not have an active registration.  As stated above,  registration is required for all corporations or Limited Liability Companies offering healthcare services in the state.  Registration is essentially an entity license that will be assigned its own unique number, not the same as the physician owner’s license number.

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Unregistered and or non-renewed entities and chiropractic physician owners could face regulatory scrutiny, fines and penalties, fee splitting scrutiny, additional potential liability from insurers and lenders that require proof of compliance with state regulations, damage to professional reputation, and more possible problems.

Check Your Entity Registration

To check your practice’s registration status, follow these steps:

1. Visit the IDFPR’s license search page here.
2. From the “License Type:” criteria, select “MEDICAL CORP.” or “PROF. SERVICE CORP.” or “LIMITED LIABILITY CO.”
3. Enter your practice’s “Legal Business Name:”
4. Complete the CAPTCHA (it is case sensitive).
5. Click the blue Search button.

Your business name shows ACTIVE

If you find your business name and it shows ACTIVE, then there is nothing more to do until January 1, 2025.

Your business name shows NOT RENEWED

If you find your business name and it shows NOT RENEWED, then you must re-activate your business registration.

Step-by-Step Re-Activation Guide:

1. Visit: https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/
2. Click the Register link next to “Don’t have an account?” (located under the blue Login button)
3. Select the Register as a Business radio button.
4. From here, remember you are answering questions as the business (and not an individual). Thus, when it asks if you are “applying for a license with the IDFPR for the first time and have never been issued a professional license by the IDFPR,” then you would answer “Yes” on behalf of your corporation since you have previously registered and are now looking to re-activate.
5. Enter your FEIN and Zip Code and IDFPR will “account match”
6. Complete your account setup on the next page.
7. Click ONLINE SERVICES in the upper right hand side of the page, then select the appropriate link under the “Renewal/Reinstatement” section.
8. Follow the remaining online instructions and pay the $50 fee.
9. Renew before the 1/1/2025 (or 2028, 2031, etc.) renewal deadline.

Your business name is not on the list:

If you do not find your business in the resulting list, then your first step should be to register your entity with IDFPR.

Step-by-Step Registration Guide:

1. Visit: https://online-dfpr.micropact.com/
2. Click the Register link next to “Don’t have an account?” (located under the blue Login button)
3. Select the Register as a Business radio button.
4. From here, remember you are answering questions as the business (and not an individual). Thus, when it asks if you are “applying for a license with the IDFPR for the first time and have never been issued a professional license by the IDFPR,” then you would answer “No” on behalf of your corporation.
5. Create a user name, password, and enter the business’ primary email.
6. Complete the account information (see important information below).
7. Enter your Professional Service Corporation, Medical Corporation, or Professional Limited Liability Company business name. This name should be the same as it appears on the Articles of Incorporation as filed with the Illinois Secretary of State. Please be sure the Business Name matches the name found on the Illinois Secretary of State’s website by clicking here.
8. Enter the federal tax identification number (FEIN) for your corporation or PLLC.
9. During the registration process, you will be required to provide information on your business incorporation including:
   • The Date of Incorporation
   • A PDF copy of your Articles of incorporation from the Illinois Secretary of State. Information on how to request a copy of your Articles of Incorporation the Illinois Secretary of State can be found by clicking here.
10. If you plan to operate under an Assumed Name (also commonly known as a Doing Business As (DBA) or Trade Name) you will be required to provide:
    • The DBA name which you will be operating under
    • A PDF copy of your Assumed Name Filing with the Illinois Secretary of State.
    • If you are using more than one DBA and the address is different than that of the parent company, then a new application is required for each additional DBA filed with the Illinois Secretary of State.
    • Information on how to file an Assumed Name for a Corporation with the Illinois Secretary of State can be found by clicking here.
11. You must select all of the shareholders, directors or officers by searching in the lookup and adding the licensed professional to the grid.
    • NOTE: All shareholders, directors, officers, agents, and/or members MUST BE LICENSED under the same professional licensure act.
    • PSC EXCEPTION: A combination of the following owners is allowed for a Professional Service Corporation (not Medical Corporations): (a) the practice of medicine by persons licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987 (includes chiropractic physicians), (b) the practice of podiatry, (c) the practice of dentistry, (d) the practice of optometry. 
    • PLLC EXCEPTION: A combination of the following owners is allowed for a Professional Limited Liability Company (not Medical Corporations) (1) the practice of medicine by physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act of 1987, (2) the practice of podiatry, (3) the practice of dentistry, and (4) the practice of optometry.
    • No exceptions for Medical Corporations
12. Owners of medical corporations and professional service corporations must register their entities with the IDFPR and pay an initial registration fee of $50. The IDFPR will issue a separate license for the entity in addition to the professional licenses of the owner(s).

Keeping your medical corporation or LLC in compliance with Illinois state regulations is essential. Ensure that your practice is properly registered with the IDFPR and be mindful of the new three-year renewal cycle to maintain your license and avoid potential penalties.