Section 1450.285  Continuing Education Schools

a)         Approval of continuing education (CE) Schools. Those entities seeking approval as CE schools shall maintain an office in Illinois for maintenance of all records, office equipment and office space necessary for customer service.

1)         The CE school's office may be subject to inspection by authorized representatives of the Division during regular working hours and upon at least 24 hours' notice when the Division has reason to believe that there is not full compliance with the Act or this Part and that this inspection is necessary to ensure full compliance.

2)         The Division shall be reimbursed by any out-of-state CE school for all reasonable expenses incurred by the inspector to inspect its facilities.

3)         Entities seeking licensure as CE schools shall file a CE school application, on forms provided by the Division, along with the required fee. The application shall include the following:

A)        An agreement by the applicant that the applicant shall provide to the Division, upon request, a schedule including location, date, time, and name of instructor of each CE course to be offered;

B)        The CE school's certification:

i)          that all CE courses offered by the CE school for CE credit will comply with the criteria in the Act and this Part;

ii)         that the CE school will be responsible for verifying attendance at each CE course and providing a certificate of completion signed by the CE school;

iii)         that the CE school will maintain its records for not less than 5 years and shall make these records available for inspection by the Division or its designee during regular business hours;

iv)        that upon request by the Division, the CE school will submit evidence to establish compliance with this Section and Sections 30-15 through 30-25 of the Act;

v)         that the CE schools will only offer CE, other than distance education CE, in an environment that is conducive to learning (i.e., adequate lighting, seating) and does not jeopardize the health, safety, and welfare of the attendees;

vi)        that financial resources are available to equip and maintain its office in a manner necessary to enable the CE school to comply with Article 30 of the Act, this Section and this Part, documented by a current balance sheet, an income statement or any similar evidence as requested by the Division; and

vii)        that upon request the CE school will make available to a licensee who has taken one or more of the CE school’s courses the records dealing with the licensee’s participation in those courses.

4)         Validly licensed pre-license schools seeking to offer CE courses qualify for a continuing education school license upon completion of the required application and submission of the required fee.

5)         The Division shall issue approval to the CE school or notify the CE school, in writing, why approval cannot be issued.

b)         Licensed CE schools shall comply with the following:

1)         No licensed CE school shall allow the premises or classrooms utilized during CE courses to be used by anyone to directly or indirectly recruit students. CE schools and CE instructors shall report to the Division any efforts to recruit students.

2)         No licensed CE school shall advertise that it is endorsed, recommended, or accredited by the Division. The CE school, however, may indicate that the school and the CE course have been approved by the Division.

3)         Licensed CE schools shall utilize in the teaching of approved CE courses only CE instructors who have been licensed by the Division.

4)         Licensed CE schools shall specify in any advertising promoting CE courses the number of CE hours that may be credited toward Illinois CE requirements for license renewal. Further, licensed CE schools shall specify the number of core or elective CE course hours that may be earned by successfully completing the course.

5)         All CE courses given by licensed CE schools shall be open to all licensees and not be limited to members of a single organization or group.

            c)         Administration

1)         All CE schools shall seek a certificate of registration for all CE courses they plan to offer and shall not offer any CE course until the Division has issued a certificate of registration for that course. All requests for registration of courses shall include a course description, course outline, examination and answer key.

2)         Upon request all CE schools shall also notify the Division as to all CE instructors they plan to use.

3)         The CE school shall be responsible for assuring verified attendance at each CE course or self-study examination. No renewal applicant shall receive CE credit for time not actually spent attending the CE course or when a passing score of 70% on the examination was not achieved.

4)         Each licensed CE school shall submit to the Division, on or before the 15^th of each month, a report of those licensees passing CE courses offered by it during the preceding calendar month.

A)        The monthly reports shall, at a minimum, include the following information for each licensee:

i)          the licensee's name, address, social security number, and license number;

ii)         the CE school's name and license number;

iii)         the CE course name, course license number, course category (core or elective), and credit hours; and

iv)        such other information as may be required by the Division.

B)        If no courses were given by a CE school during the preceding calendar month, that CE school shall report in writing that no courses were given.

C)        The monthly reports shall be submitted on forms or in a computer readable format provided by the Division.

D)        There is no processing fee for a monthly report submitted in the computer readable format specified by the Division. Each monthly report submitted on paper or in a format other than that specified by the Division shall be accompanied by a processing fee of $.50 per licensee, per course listed on the report, payable by check to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

E)         A monthly report received by the Division with a postmark after the day it is due (the 15^th day of the month) shall be accompanied by an administrative fee of $200 in addition to the fees set forth in subsection (c)(4)(D).

F)         If a CE school fails to file monthly reports or a statement saying that no CE courses were given, or fails to pay the required fees for three successive months, then the courses offered by that school may be disqualified pursuant to procedures set forth in Section 30-15of the Act until all delinquent reports, processing fees, and administrative fees as set forth in this Section have been submitted to and are received by the Division.  The Division shall send notice to the school of an informal conference before the Advisory Council and of pending disqualification pursuant to Section 30-15(d) of the Act by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or by other signature restricted delivery service.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 11075, effective June 8, 2006)