Section 1305.100  Continuing Education

 

The Division shall adopt rules of continuing education for persons licensed under this Part that require 50 hours of continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle.  The rules shall not be inconsistent with requirements of relevant national certifying bodies or State or national professional associations.  The rules shall also address variances for illness or hardship.  The continuing education rules shall assure that licensees are given the opportunity to participate in programs sponsored by or through their State or national professional association, hospitals, or other providers of continuing education.  Each licensee is responsible for maintaining records of completion of continuing education and shall be prepared to produce the records when requested by the Division.  (Section 15-45 of the Act)

 

a)         Continuing Education Hours Requirements

 

1)         Beginning with the May 31, 2006 renewal and every renewal thereafter, in order to renew a license, a licensee shall be required to complete 50 contact hours of continuing education.

 

            2)         The following time equivalencies shall apply:

 

1 CEU	=	10 contact hours
1 contact hour	=	1 CEU
1 contact hour	=	50 minutes
1 academic semester hour	=	15 contact hours
1 academic quarter hour	=	12.5 contact hours
1CME	=	60 minutes or 1.2 contact hours
1 AMA	=	60 minutes or 1.2 contact hours

 

3)         A prerenewal period is the 24 months preceding May 31 of each even-numbered year.

 

4)         A renewal applicant shall not be required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal of an Illinois license.

 

5)         APNs licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states shall comply with the CE requirements set forth in this Section.

 

6)         Continuing education credit hours used to satisfy the CE requirements of another jurisdiction may be applied to fulfill the CE requirements of the State of Illinois.

 

7)         An APN holding more than one APN license is required to complete 50 contact hours total per license renewal period.

 

            b)         Approved Continuing Education (CE)

 

1)         CE hours shall be earned by verified attendance (e.g., certificate of attendance or certificate of completion) at or participation in a program or course (program) that is offered or sponsored by an approved continuing education sponsor who meets the requirements set forth in subsection (c), except for those activities provided in subsections (b)(2), (3), and (4).

 

2)         Independent study that is approved for continuing education credits as set forth in subsection (c) may be used, i.e., home study programs, articles from journals, and other health discipline independent study modules.

 

3)         Academic credits may be used to fulfill CE requirements if the course content is applicable to the certification area.  CE hours are awarded as outlined in subsection (a)(4).

 

A)        College/university courses that are audited may not be used for CE credit.

 

B)        Degree "core" or general education credits such as English, Literature, History, Math, Music and Physical Education may not be used.

 

4)                  Presenter/lecturer presentations made to other health professionals on topics related to the certification area may be used for CE credit.  Each different individual, non-repetitive 60-minute lecture may be used for 5 CE hours.  Full-time educators may not use presentations/lectures that are part of their job expectations, but may use guest lectures and other presentations made outside the duties of their job.

 

5)         CE hours may be earned for authoring papers, publications, dissertations, book chapters or research projects.  These must be applicable to the certification area.  The research project must be completed during the prerenewal period.  Authoring a paper or publication article may be used for 10 CE hours.  Authoring a book chapter, dissertation or research project may be used for 20 CE hours.

 

6)         CE hours may be earned through preceptorship of an APN student.  Preceptors must provide clinical supervision and education to the APN student.  Documentation must be provided from the school of nursing in which the student is enrolled.  Precepting one student for an academic semester or quarter may be used for 10 CE hours.  Not more than 20 CE hours in each renewal period may come from precepting.

 

7)         Successful completion, during the prerenewal period, of a recertification exam in the APNS area of specialty as recognized in Section 1305.20 may be used for 50 CE hours.

 

            c)         Approved CE Sponsors and Programs

 

1)                  Sponsor, as used in this Section, shall mean:

 

A)        Approved providers of recognized certification bodies as outlined in Section 1305.20.

 

B)        Any conference that provides approved Continuing Medical Education (CME) as authorized by the Illinois Medical Practice Act.

 

C)        ANCC accredited or approved providers.

 

D)        Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing (ISAPN).

 

E)         American College of Nurse Practitioners.

 

F)         American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

 

G)        Nurse Practitioner Association for Continuing Education (NPACE).

 

H)        American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

 

I)          National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS).

 

J)         Any other accredited school, college or university, State agency, or any other person, firm or association that has been approved and authorized by the Division pursuant to subsection (c)(2) of this Section to coordinate and present continuing education courses and programs.

 

2)         An entity seeking approval as a CE sponsor, not specifically listed in subsection (c)(1), shall submit an application, on forms supplied by the Division, along with the application fee specified in Section 1305.25.  (State agencies, State colleges and State universities in Illinois shall be exempt from paying this fee.)  The application shall include:

 

            A)        Certification

 

i)          That all programs offered by the sponsor for CE credit shall comply with the criteria in subsection (c)(3) and all other criteria in this Section;

 

ii)                   That the sponsor shall be responsible for verifying full-time continuous attendance at each program and provide a certificate of attendance as set forth in subsection (c)(9);

 

iii)         That upon request by the Division, the sponsor shall submit evidence (e.g., certificate of attendance or course material) as is necessary to establish compliance with this Section.  Evidence shall be required when the Division has reason to believe that there is not full compliance with the statute.

 

B)        A copy of a sample program with faculty, course materials and syllabi.

 

                        3)         All programs shall:

 

A)        Contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional skills and scientific knowledge of the licensee in the practice of advanced practice nursing;

 

B)        Foster the enhancement of general or specialized advanced practice nursing practice and values;

 

C)        Be developed and presented by persons with education and/or experience in the subject matter of the program;

 

D)        Specify the course objectives, course content and teaching methods to be used; and

 

E)         Specify the number of CE hours that may be applied to fulfilling the Illinois CE requirements for license renewal.

 

4)         Each CE program shall provide a mechanism for evaluation of the program and instructor by the participants.  The evaluation may be completed on-site immediately following the program/presentation, or an evaluation questionnaire may be distributed to participants to be completed and returned by mail.  The sponsor and instructor, together, shall review the evaluation outcome and revise subsequent programs accordingly.

 

5)         An approved sponsor may subcontract with individuals or organizations to provide approved programs.  All advertising, promotional materials and certificates of attendance must identify the approved sponsor and the sponsor's state approval number.  The presenter of the program may also be identified, but should be identified as a presenter.  When an approved sponsor subcontracts with a presenter, the sponsor retains all responsibility for monitoring attendance, providing certificates of attendance and ensuring the program meets all of the criteria established by the Act and this Part, including the maintenance of records.

 

6)         To maintain approval as a sponsor, each sponsor shall submit to the Division by May 31 of each even-numbered year a renewal application, the renewal fee specified in Section 1305.25 and a list of courses and programs offered within the last 24 months.  The list shall include a brief description, location, date and time of each course given by the sponsor and by any subcontract.

 

7)         Certification of Attendance.  It shall be the responsibility of a sponsor to provide each participant in a program with a certificate of attendance or participation.  The sponsor's certificate of attendance shall contain:

 

            A)        The sponsor's name and, if applicable, sponsor approval number;

 

            B)        The name of the participant;

 

            C)        A brief statement of the subject matter;

 

                                    D)        The number of hours attended in each program;

 

                                    E)         The date and place of the program; and

 

                                    F)         The signature of the sponsor.

 

                        8)         The sponsor shall maintain attendance records for not less than 5 years.

 

9)         The sponsor shall be responsible for assuring that no renewal applicant shall receive CE credit for time not actually spent attending the program.

 

10)        Upon the failure of a sponsor to comply with any of the foregoing requirements, the Division, after notice to the sponsor and hearing before and recommendation by the Board (see 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1110), shall thereafter refuse to accept for CE attendance at or participation in any of that sponsor's CE programs until such time as the Division receives assurances of compliance with this Section.

 

11)        Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Division or Board may evaluate any sponsor of any approved CE program at any time to ensure compliance with requirements of this Section.

 

            d)         Certification of Compliance with CE Requirements

 

1)         Each renewal applicant shall certify, on the renewal application, full compliance with the CE requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b).

 

2)         The Division may require additional evidence demonstrating compliance with the CE requirements (e.g., certificates of attendance).  This additional evidence shall be required in the context of the Division's's random audit.  It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant or retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.

 

3)         When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant shall be notified in writing and may request an interview with the Board.  At that time the Board may recommend that steps be taken to begin formal disciplinary proceedings as required by Section 10-65 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act [5 ILCS 100/10-65].

 

            e)         Continuing Education Earned in Other Jurisdictions

 

1)         If a licensee has earned CE hours offered in another jurisdiction not given by an approved sponsor for which the licensee will be claiming credit toward full compliance in Illinois, the applicant shall submit an individual program approval request form, along with a $25 processing fee, prior to participation in the program or with 90 days prior to expiration of the license.  The Board shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of the program using the criteria set forth in subsection (c)(3) of this Section.

 

2)         If a licensee fails to submit an out-of-state CE approval form within the required time frame, late approval may be obtained by submitting the approval request for with the $25 processing fee plus $50 per hour late fee not to exceed $300.  The Board shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of the program using the criteria set forth in subsection (c)(3) of this Section.

 

            f)          Restoration of Nonrenewed License

Upon satisfactory evidence of compliance with CE requirements, the Division shall restore the license upon payment of the required fee as provided in Section 1305.25.

 

            g)         Waiver of CE Requirements

 

1)         Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with these CE requirements shall file with the Division a renewal application, along with the required fee set forth in Section 1305.25, a statement setting forth the facts concerning noncompliance and request for waiver of the CE requirements on the basis of these facts.  A request for waiver shall be made prior to the renewal date.  If the Division, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from such affidavit or any other evidence submitted that extreme hardship has been shown for granting a waiver, the Division shall waive enforcement of CE requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.

 

2)         Extreme hardship shall be determined on an individual basis by the Board and be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the CE requirements during the applicable prerenewal period because of:

 

A)        Full-time service in the armed forces of the United State of American during a substantial part of the prerenewal period;

 

B)        An incapacitating illness documented by a statement from a currently licensed health care provider;

 

C)        A physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a currently licensed health care provider; or

 

D)        Any other similar extenuating circumstances.

 

3)         Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of the license, submits a request for a waiver, in whole or in part, pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be deemed to be in good standing until the final decision on the application is made by the Division.

 

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