Section 597.320  Satisfaction of Scholarship Obligation

a)         A recipient must graduate from the nursing program funded and provide a copy of the diploma or certificate that indicates the graduation date as soon as the document is available.

b)         A recipient must be licensed as a registered professional nurse or as a licensed practical nurse in the State of Illinois and must provide a copy of the license as soon as it is available. 

c)         Fulfillment of the nursing employment obligation will be achieved as follows:

1)         For each full-time semester completed, the obligation is six months of full-time employment or 12 months of part-time employment;

2)         For each part-time semester completed, the obligation is three months of full-time employment or six months of part-time employment;

3)         For each full-time quarter or trimester completed, the obligation is four months of full-time employment or eight months of part-time employment;

4)         For each part-time quarter or trimester completed, the obligation is two months of full-time employment or four months of part-time employment;

5)         For each full-time summer term completed, the obligation is three months of full-time employment or six months of part-time employment;

6)         For each part-time summer term completed, the obligation is 1½ months of full-time employment or three months of part-time employment.

d)         Fulfillment of the nurse educator employment obligation will be achieved as follows:

1)         For each full-time semester completed, the obligation is 12 months of employment;

2)         For each part-time semester completed, the obligation is six months of employment;

3)         For each full-time quarter or trimester completed, the obligation is eight months of employment;

4)         For each part-time quarter or trimester completed, the obligation is four months of employment;

5)         For each full-time summer term completed, the obligation is six months of employment;

6)         For each part-time summer term completed, the  obligation is three months of employment.

e)         Within 12 months after graduation from an associate degree in nursing program, hospital-based diploma in nursing program, baccalaureate degree in nursing program, graduate degree in nursing program, or certificate in practical nursing program, any recipient who accepted a scholarship under Section 5 of the Act  shall begin meeting the required nursing employment obligation or nurse educator employment obligation providing direct patient care or employment as a nurse educator in the case of a recipient receiving a graduate degree in nursing.  (Sections 6 and 6.5(d) of the Law) Employment as a "license pending" nurse does not meet the nursing employment requirements.  Fulfillment of the nursing employment obligation or nurse educator employment obligation must be completed within a time period equivalent to twice the number of months of nursing employment obligation as described in subsections (c) and (d).

f)          Forms to document full-time and/or part-time nursing employment shall be sent to the recipient following graduation and licensure.  Documentation forms will be forwarded periodically until the nursing employment obligation is completed, at which time the recipient will be notified and the record closed.

g)         If a recipient suffers a verifiable total and permanent disability, the nursing employment obligation or nurse educator employment obligation shall be excused and deemed satisfied.  (See the definition of "total and permanent disability" in Section 597.10.)  

h)         If a recipient dies or is adjudicated as incompetent, all scholarship obligations shall be excused and deemed satisfied.  (See the definition of "total and permanent disability" in Section 597.10.)  No claim for repayment may be filed against the estate of such a decedent or incompetent.  (Sections 6 and 6.5(d) of the Law)

(Source:  Amended at 35 Ill. Reg. 4609, effective March 2, 2011)