Section 1300.400  Application for Licensure

 

a)         An applicant for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse shall file an application on forms provided by the Division.  The application shall include:

 

1)         Current Illinois registered professional nurse license number.

 

2)         Proof of current national certification, which includes completion of an examination, from one of the following:

 

A)        Nurse Midwife certification from:

 

i)          The American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB); or

 

ii)         Other certifications approved by the Department under subsection (a)(3).

 

B)        Nurse Practitioner certification from:

 

i)          American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification  Program (AANP) as a Nurse Practitioner;

 

ii)         American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Nurse Practitioner;

 

iii)        The Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) as a Nurse Practitioner;

 

iv)        American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN);

 

v)         National Certification Corporation (NCC): or

 

vi)        Other certifications approved by the Department under subsection (a)(3).

 

C)        Registered Nurse Anesthetist certification from:

 

i)          National Board of Certification & Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA); or

 

ii)         Other certifications approved by the Department under subsection (a)(3).

 

D)        Clinical Nurse Specialist certification from:

 

i)          American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Clinical Nurse Specialist;

 

ii)         American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) as a Clinical Nurse Specialist; or

 

iii)        Other certifications approved by the Department under subsection (a)(3).

 

3)         The Board, in addition to the certifications listed in subsection (a)(2), may review and make a recommendation to the Division to accept a certification if the certifying body meets the following requirements:

 

A)        Is national in the scope of credentialing;

 

B)        Has no requirement for an applicant to be a member of any organization;

 

C)        Has an examination that represents a specialty practice category;

 

D)        Has an examination that evaluates knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the delivery of safe and effective specialty nursing care;

 

E)        Has an examination whose content and distribution are specified in a test plan;

 

F)         Has examination items reviewed for content validity, cultural sensitivity and correct scoring, using an established mechanism, both before use and periodically;

 

G)        Has an examination evaluated for psychometric performance;

 

H)        Has a passing standard established using acceptable psychometric methods and is re-evaluated periodically;

 

I)         Has examination security maintained through established procedures;

 

J)         Issues a certification based upon passing the examination;

 

K)        Has mechanisms in place for communication to boards of nursing for timely verification of an individual's certification status, changes in certification status and changes in the certification program, including qualifications, test plan and scope of practice; and

 

L)        Has an evaluation process to provide quality assurance in its certification program.

 

4)         Proof of successful completion of a graduate degree appropriate for national certification in the clinical advanced practice registered nursing specialty or a graduate degree or post-master's certificate from a graduate level program in a clinical advanced practice registered nursing specialty.

 

5)         An applicant seeking licensure in more than one advanced practice registered nursing category shall have met the requirements for at least one advanced practice registered nursing specialty; and

 

A)        Submit proof of possession of an additional graduate education that results in a certificate for another clinical APRN category and that meets the requirements for the national certification from the appropriate nursing specialty; and

 

B)        Submit proof of a current, national certification from the appropriate certifying body for that additional advanced practice registered nursing category.

 

6)         Verification of licensure as an APRN from the state in which an applicant was originally licensed, current state of licensure or any other state in which the applicant has been actively practicing as an APRN within the last 5 years, if applicable, stating:

 

A)        The time during which the applicant was licensed in that state, including the date of the original issuance of the license; and

 

B)        Whether the file on the applicant contains any record of disciplinary actions taken or pending.

 

7)         The fee required in Section 1300.30(a)(4).

 

b)         An applicant for licensure as an APRN under Section 65-5 of the Act may apply to the Division for a temporary permit, on forms provided by the Division, to practice as an APRN prior to the issuance of the APRN license.  Temporary permits will not be issued prior to granting an APRN full practice authority under Section 65-43 of the Act.

 

1)         Application Requirements

 

A)        The application shall include a completed, signed application for licensure, as set forth in subsection (a).

 

B)        The application shall include documentation from an approved certifying body set forth in subsection (a)(2) indicating the date the applicant is scheduled to sit for the examination. Upon successful completion of the examination, proof of certification shall be submitted to the Division from the certifying body.

 

C)        An APRN who will be practicing in a hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center in accordance with Section 6.5 of the Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center Act shall not be required to have prescriptive authority or a written collaborative agreement pursuant to the Act and this Part.

 

D)        An APRN applicant who will be practicing outside of a hospital or ambulatory surgical treatment center shall provide a certifying statement indicating that the APRN applicant has entered into a written collaborative agreement as required by Section 65-35 of the Act. 

 

E)        The applicant shall include the processing fee set forth in Section 1300.30(a)(4).

 

2)         Practice Pending Licensure

 

A)        The Division will provide a letter to each applicant indicating the ability to practice pending licensure.

 

B)        Practice pending licensure shall be terminated upon:

 

i)          The issuance of a permanent license;

 

ii)         Failure to complete the application process within 6 months from the date of application;

 

iii)        A finding by the Division that the applicant has violated one or more of the grounds for discipline set forth in Section 70-5 of the Act;

 

iv)        A finding by the Division that, within the last 5 years, the applicant has had a license or permit related to the practice of advanced practice registered nursing revoked, suspended or placed on probation by another jurisdiction, if at least one of the grounds is substantially equivalent to grounds in Illinois; or

 

v)         A finding by the Division that the applicant does not meet the licensure requirements set forth in this Section.

 

C)        The Division shall notify the applicant in writing of the termination and shall notify the applicant by email of the intent to deny licensure.

 

c)         When the accuracy of any submitted documentation or the relevance or sufficiency of the course work or experience is questioned by the Division or the Board because of lack of information, discrepancies or conflicts in information given, or a need for clarification, the applicant seeking licensure shall be requested to:

 

1)         Provide information as may be necessary; and/or

 

2)         Appear for an interview before the Board to explain the relevance or sufficiency, clarify information, or clear up any discrepancies or conflicts in information.

 

d)         An APRN license may be issued when the applicant meets the requirements set forth in this Section.

 

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 228, effective January 4, 2021)