Section 1300.30  Licensure by Endorsement

a)         Each applicant who is licensed in another jurisdiction shall file a completed, signed application for licensure on the basis of endorsement, on forms supplied by the Division.  The application shall include:

1)         the required fee in Section 1300.15 of this Part;

2)         proof of graduation from a nursing education program that meets the requirements of Section 1300.40;

3)         proof of passage of an examination recognized by the Division, upon recommendation of the Board (i.e., National Council Licensure Examination for professional nurses or practical nurses, or State Board Test Pool Examination for professional nurses or practical nurses);

4)         a complete work history within the last 5 years from a practical nurse education program or a professional nurse education program, whichever came first;

5)         verification of fingerprint processing from the Illinois Department of State Police, or its designated agent.  (Practical nurses licensed in Illinois are not required to be fingerprinted when applying for a license as a registered professional nurse.)  Applicants shall contact the Illinois Department of State Police, or its designated agent, for fingerprint processing.  Out-of-state residents unable to utilize the State Police fingerprint process may submit to the Division one set of fingerprint cards issued by the Illinois Department of State Police and one set of fingerprint cards issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, accompanied by the specified processing fee pursuant to Section 1300.15. Fingerprints shall be taken within the 60 days prior to application;

6)         for registered nurse applicants who received education outside of the United States:

A)        a credentials evaluation report of the applicant's foreign nursing education from one of the following Division-approved credentialing services:

i)          Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Credentials Evaluation Service (CES);

ii)         Educational Records Evaluation Service; or

iii)         International Education Research Foundation;

B)        if the applicant's first language is not English, certification of passage of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  The minimum passing score on the paper-based test is 560, computer-based test is 220, and internet-based test is 83.  The Division may, upon recommendation from an approved credentials evaluation service, waive the requirement that the applicant pass the TOEFL examination if the applicant submits verification of the successful completion of a nursing education program conducted in English or the passage of an approved licensing examination given in English;

7)         official transcripts of theory and clinical education prepared by an official of the military for a practical nurse applicant who has received his/her education in the military service.  Education must meet the standards for education as set forth in Section 1300.40;

8)         verification of licensure status from the jurisdiction in which the applicant was originally licensed, current licensure and any other jurisdiction in which the applicant has been actively practicing within the last 5 years; and

9)         a certified translation for all credentials of education and licensure, if not in English.

b)         After filing the original application, any change of name must be supported by an affidavit satisfactory to the Division.

c)         Deficiencies in nursing theory and/or clinical practice may be removed by taking the required courses in an approved nursing education program.

d)         Compliance with the provisions of Section 1300.25(b)(3) and (c)(3) for each registered professional nurse applicant and each practical nurse applicant, respectively, shall be a requirement for Illinois nurse licensure by endorsement.

e)         Eligibility for Practical Nurse Endorsement

A candidate who is unable to pass the registered professional nurse examination in another jurisdiction and is allowed to write the practical nurse examination in that jurisdiction and is subsequently licensed as a practical nurse in that jurisdiction is not eligible for endorsement in Illinois unless and until the candidate has graduated from an approved practical nursing education program.

f)          Individuals applying for licensure by endorsement may apply to the Division, on forms provided by the Division, to receive a Temporary Endorsement Permit pursuant to Section 10-40 of the Act.   The permit shall allow the applicant to work pending the issuance of a license by endorsement.

1)         The temporary endorsement permit application shall include:

A)        a completed, signed endorsement application, along with the required endorsement licensure fee as set forth in Section 1300.15 of this Part.  All supporting documents shall be submitted to the Division before a permanent license by endorsement shall be issued;

B)        photostatic copies of all current active nursing licenses and/or temporary permits/licenses from other jurisdictions.  Current active licensure in at least one United States jurisdiction is required. Each applicant's license will be checked on the National Council Network (NCNET) disciplinary data bank to determine if any disciplinary action is pending on the applicant's file;

C)        verification that fingerprints have been submitted to the Division or the Illinois Department of State Police or its designated agent; and

D)        the fee for a temporary permit as required in Section 1300.15 of this Part.

2)         The Division shall issue a temporary endorsement permit no later than 14 days after receipt of a completed application as set forth in subsection (f)(1).

3)         Temporary permits shall be terminated upon:

A)        the issuance of a permanent license by endorsement;

B)        failure to complete the application process within 6 months from the date of issuance of the permit;

C)        a finding by the Division that the applicant has been convicted of any crime under the laws of any jurisdiction of the United States which is a:

i)          felony; or

ii)         misdemeanor directly related to the practice of nursing within the last 5 years;

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

E)         a finding by the Division that the applicant does not meet the licensure requirements for endorsement as set forth in this Section.  The Division shall notify the applicant in writing of such termination.

4)         The Division shall notify the applicant by certified or registered mail of the intent to deny licensure pursuant to subsections (f)(3)(D) and (E) and/or Section 10-30 of the Act.

5)         A temporary permit shall be renewed beyond the 6-month period, upon recommendation of the Board and approval of the Director, due to hardship, defined as:

A)        serving full-time in the Armed Forces;

B)        an incapacitating illness as documented by a currently licensed physician;

C)        death of an immediate family member; or

D)        extenuating circumstances beyond the applicant's control as approved by the Director.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 8582, effective April 21, 2006)