Section 1305.20  Application for Licensure Beginning July 1, 2001

 

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

 

1)         Current Illinois registered 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 College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM); or

 

ii)         the American Midwifery Certification Board.

 

B)        Nurse Practitioner certification from:

 

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

 

ii)         American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Nurse Practitioner;

 

iii)         The National Certification Board of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners & Nurses as a Nurse Practitioner;

 

iv)        The National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties as a Nurse Practitioner; or

 

v)         The Certification Board for Urologic Nurses and Associates as a Urologic Nurse Practitioner.

 

C)        Registered Nurse Anesthetist certification from:

 

i)          Council on Certification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists; or

 

ii)         Council on Recertification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

 

D)        Clinical Nurse Specialist certification from:

 

i)          American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (acceptable certifications are listed in Appendix A);

 

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

 

iii)         Rehabilitation Nursing Certification Board as a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse-Advanced;

 

iv)        Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation as an Advanced Oncology Nurse (AOCN);

 

v)         Certification Board for Urologic Nurses and Associates as Urologic Clinical Nurse Specialist; or

 

vi)        Other certifications listed in Appendix A.

 

3)         The Board, in addition to the certification 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 (certifications are listed in Appendix A):

 

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 reevaluated 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 nursing specialty or a graduate degree or post-master's certificate from a graduate level program in a clinical advanced practice nursing specialty.

 

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

 

A)        Submit proof of possession of an additional graduate education that results in a certificate for another clinical advanced practice nurse 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 nursing category.

 

6)         A complete work history for the last 5 years.

 

7)         Verification of licensure as an advanced practice nurse from the state in which an applicant was originally licensed, current state of licensure and any other state in which the applicant has been actively practicing as an advanced practice nurse 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.

 

8)         The fee required in Section 1305.25 of this Part.

 

b)         An applicant for licensure as an advanced practice nurse may apply to the Division, on forms provided by the Division, to practice as an advanced practice nurse pending the issuance of the license.

 

1)         The application shall include:

 

A)        A completed, signed application for licensure, as set forth in subsection (a);

 

B)        Documentation from an approved certifying body set forth in subsection (a)(2) and Appendix A 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)        A certifying statement from a collaborating physician indicating that the individual has completed a proposed collaborative agreement as required by Section 15-15 of the Act or a certifying statement from a physician, dentist or podiatrist indicating that a CRNA has a practice agreement as required by 15-25 of the Act.  A CRNA who will be practicing in a hospital setting or ambulatory surgical treatment center is not required to have a collaborative or practice agreement pursuant to Section 15-25 of the Act;

 

                                    D)        The processing fee set forth in Section 1305.20.

 

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

 

3)         Practice pending licensure shall be terminated upon:

 

A)        the issuance of a permanent license;

 

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

 

C)        a finding by the Division that the applicant has violated one or more of the grounds for discipline set forth in Section 10-45 or 15-50 of the Act;

 

D)        a finding by the Division that the applicant has had a license or permit related to the practice of advanced practice 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 as set forth in this Section.

 

The Division shall notify the applicant in writing of such termination and shall notify the applicant by certified or registered mail of the intent to deny licensure.

 

c)         Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, an applicant for licensure as a CRNA who does not have a graduate degree may, prior to December 31, 2006, file an application as provided in Section 15-10(b-5) of the Act, on forms provided by the Division, to include:

 

            1)         Current Illinois registered nurse license number.

 

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

 

A)        Council on Certification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists; and

 

B)        Council on Recertification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

 

3)         Proof of successful completion of a post-basic advanced practice formal education program in the area of nurse anesthesia prior to January 1, 1999.

 

4)         A complete work history for the last 5 years.

 

5)         Verification of licensure as an advanced practice nurse from the state in which an applicant was originally licensed, current state of licensure and any other state in which the applicant has been actively practicing as an advanced practice nurse 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.

 

6)        The fee required in Section 1305.25 of this Part.

 

d)         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.

 

e)         An advanced practice nurse license may be issued when the applicant meets the requirements set forth in this Section.

 

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 4657, effective March 1, 2006)