Section 1300.48  Restoration

a)         A licensee seeking restoration of a license that has expired for 5 years or less shall have the license restored upon payment of the fees required by Section 1300.15 of this Part.

b)         A licensee seeking restoration of a license that has been placed on inactive status for 5 years or less shall have the license restored upon payment of the current renewal fee set forth in Section 1300.15(b) of this Part.

c)         A licensee seeking restoration of a license after it has expired or been placed on inactive status for more than 5 years shall file an application, on forms supplied by the Division, together with the restoration fee specified in Section 1300.15(c)(1) of this Part, when restoring an expired license, or the current renewal fee set forth in Section 1300.15(b), when restoring an inactive license.  The licensee shall also submit proof of fitness to practice, which includes one of the following:

1)         Certification of active practice in another jurisdiction.  Such certification shall include a statement from the appropriate board or licensing authority in the other jurisdiction that the licensee was authorized to practice during the term of said active practice; or

2)         An affidavit attesting to military service as provided in Section 20-10 of the Act.  If application is made within 2 years after discharge, and if all other provisions of Section 20-10 of the Act are satisfied, the applicant will be required to pay the current renewal fee; or

3)         Proof of successful completion of a current nursing practice update course within the last year, which shall include evaluated clinical experience, approved by the Division, as specified in Section 1300.41 of this Part; or

4)         Proof of satisfactory completion of a medical-surgical nursing theory and clinical course in a nursing education program within the last year as defined in Section 1300.40 of this Part for practical or registered nurse licensure, consistent with the license which the individual is seeking to restore; or

5)         Proof of satisfactory completion of a course within the last year that includes:

A)        A self-study nursing theoretical component that is:

i)          Approved by another state nursing licensing authority and includes medical-surgical nursing across the life span and consists of a minimum of 36 hours for practical nurses or 48 hours for registered nurses; or

ii)         Approved by the Division and contains assessment of theoretical and skill learning needs, a plan for content with objectives and a plan for documentation of successful completion; and

B)        A clinical practice component that includes:

i)          Sponsorship by a health care delivery institution or nursing education program that meets the requirements set forth in Section 1300.41 of this Part;

ii)         A minimum 96 hours for registered nurses and 64 hours for practical nurses of supervised patient care with progressive activities;

iii)         Completion of the minimal skills list provided by the Division; and

iv)        Identification of a registered nurse preceptor.

d)         A licensee seeking restoration shall also submit verification of fingerprint processing from the Illinois Department of State Police, or its designated agent.  Licensees 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 1240.205.  Fingerprints shall be taken within 60 days after application.

e)         Individuals applying for licensure by restoration may apply to the Division, on forms provided by the Division, to receive a Temporary Restoration Permit that allows the applicant to work pending the issuance of a license by restoration.

1)         The temporary restoration permit application shall include:

A)        A completed signed restoration application, along with the required restoration 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 restoration shall be issued;

B)        Either:

i)          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); or

ii)         Verification of employment in nursing practice within the last 5 years in a United States jurisdiction;

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

D)        The temporary restoration permit fee as required in Section 1300.15 of this Part.

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

3)         Temporary permits shall be terminated upon:

A)        The issuance of a permanent license by restoration;

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)         The Division shall notify the applicant by certified or registered mail of the intent to deny licensure pursuant to subsections (e)(3)(C) and (D) and/or Section 10-45 of the Act.

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

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.

f)          When the accuracy of any submitted documentation, or the relevance or sufficiency of the course work or experience is questioned by the Division because of lack of information, discrepancies or conflicts in information given, or a need for clarification, the licensee will be requested to:

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

2)         Appear for an oral interview before the Board to explain such relevance or sufficiency, clarify information, or clean up any discrepancies or conflicts in information.  Upon recommendation of the Board and approval by the Division, an applicant shall have the license restored.

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