Public Act 0686 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB5047 Enrolled LRB103 37251 RTM 67371 b

Public Act 103-0686

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Nurse Practice Act is amended by changing Sections 50-10, 55-10, 60-10, and 65-10 as follows:

(225 ILCS 65/50-10) (was 225 ILCS 65/5-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 50-10. Definitions. Each of the following terms, when used in this Act, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this Section, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Academic year" means the customary annual schedule of courses at a college, university, or approved school, customarily regarded as the school year as distinguished from the calendar year.

"Address of record" means the designated address recorded by the Department in the applicant's or licensee's application file or license file as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Advanced practice registered nurse" or "APRN" means a person who has met the qualifications for a (i) certified nurse midwife (CNM); (ii) certified nurse practitioner (CNP); (iii) certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA); or (iv) clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and has been licensed by the Department. All advanced practice registered nurses licensed and practicing in the State of Illinois shall use the title APRN and may use specialty credentials CNM, CNP, CRNA, or CNS after their name. All advanced practice registered nurses may only practice in accordance with national certification and this Act.

"Advisory Board" means the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center Advisory Board.

"Approved program of professional nursing education" and "approved program of practical nursing education" are programs of professional or practical nursing, respectively, approved by the Department under the provisions of this Act.

"Board" means the Board of Nursing appointed by the Secretary.

"Center" means the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center.

"Collaboration" means a process involving 2 or more health care professionals working together, each contributing one's respective area of expertise to provide more comprehensive patient care.

"Competence" means an expected and measurable level of performance that integrates knowledge, skills, abilities, and judgment based on established scientific knowledge and expectations for nursing practice.

"Comprehensive nursing assessment" means the gathering of information about the patient's physiological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual status on an ongoing basis by a registered professional nurse and is the first step in implementing and guiding the nursing plan of care.

"Consultation" means the process whereby an advanced practice registered nurse seeks the advice or opinion of another health care professional.

"Credentialed" means the process of assessing and validating the qualifications of a health care professional.

"Dentist" means a person licensed to practice dentistry under the Illinois Dental Practice Act.

"Department" means the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Email address of record" means the designated email address recorded by the Department in the applicant's application file or the licensee's license file, as maintained by the Department's licensure maintenance unit.

"Focused nursing assessment" means an appraisal of an individual's status and current situation, contributing to the comprehensive nursing assessment performed by the registered professional nurse or advanced practice registered nurse or the assessment by the physician assistant, physician, dentist, podiatric physician, or other licensed health care professional, as determined by the Department, supporting ongoing data collection, and deciding who needs to be informed of the information and when to inform.

"Full practice authority" means the authority of an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in Illinois and certified as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse midwife to practice without a written collaborative agreement and:

(1) to be fully accountable to patients for the quality of advanced nursing care rendered;

(2) to be fully accountable for recognizing limits of knowledge and experience and for planning for the management of situations beyond the advanced practice registered nurse's expertise; the full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses includes accepting referrals from, consulting with, collaborating with, or referring to other health care professionals as warranted by the needs of the patient; and

(3) to possess the authority to prescribe medications, including Schedule II through V controlled substances, as provided in Section 65-43.

"Full practice authority-pending advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice registered nurse licensed in Illinois and certified as a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse midwife who has provided a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training in the advanced practice registered nurse's area of certification and at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification and who has submitted an application to the Department to be granted full practice authority.

"Hospital affiliate" means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, or similar organization, other than a hospital, that is devoted primarily to the provision, management, or support of health care services and that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control of the hospital. For the purposes of this definition, "control" means having at least an equal or a majority ownership or membership interest. A hospital affiliate shall be 100% owned or controlled by any combination of hospitals, their parent corporations, or physicians licensed to practice medicine in all its branches in Illinois. "Hospital affiliate" does not include a health maintenance organization regulated under the Health Maintenance Organization Act.

"Impaired nurse" means a nurse licensed under this Act who is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety because of a physical or mental disability as evidenced by a written determination or written consent based on clinical evidence, including loss of motor skills, abuse of drugs or alcohol, or a psychiatric disorder, of sufficient degree to diminish his or her ability to deliver competent patient care.

"License-pending advanced practice registered nurse" means a registered professional nurse who has completed all requirements for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse except the certification examination and has applied to take the next available certification exam and received a temporary permit from the Department.

"License-pending registered nurse" means a person who has passed the Department-approved registered nurse licensure exam and has applied for a license from the Department. A license-pending registered nurse shall use the title "RN lic pend" on all documentation related to nursing practice.

"Nursing intervention" means any treatment based on clinical nursing judgment or knowledge that a nurse performs. An individual or entity shall not mandate that a registered professional nurse delegate nursing interventions if the registered professional nurse determines it is inappropriate to do so. A nurse shall not be subject to disciplinary or any other adverse action for refusing to delegate a nursing intervention based on patient safety.

"Physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine in all its branches under the Medical Practice Act of 1987.

"Podiatric physician" means a person licensed to practice podiatry under the Podiatric Medical Practice Act of 1987.

"Practical nurse" or "licensed practical nurse" means a person who is licensed as a practical nurse under this Act and practices practical nursing as defined in this Act. Only a practical nurse licensed under this Act is entitled to use the title "licensed practical nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N.".

"Practical nursing" means the performance of nursing interventions requiring the nursing knowledge, judgment, and skill acquired by means of completion of an approved practical nursing education program. Practical nursing includes assisting in the nursing process under the guidance of a registered professional nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse. The practical nurse may work under the direction of a licensed physician, dentist, podiatric physician, or other health care professional determined by the Department.

"Privileged" means the authorization granted by the governing body of a healthcare facility, agency, or organization to provide specific patient care services within well-defined limits, based on qualifications reviewed in the credentialing process.

"Registered Nurse" or "Registered Professional Nurse" means a person who is licensed as a professional nurse under this Act and practices nursing as defined in this Act. Only a registered nurse licensed under this Act is entitled to use the titles "registered nurse" and "registered professional nurse" and the abbreviation, "R.N.".

"Registered professional nursing practice" means a scientific process founded on a professional body of knowledge that includes, but is not limited to, the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, development and implementation of the nursing plan of care, facilitation of nursing interventions to alleviate suffering, care coordination, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations. "Registered professional nursing practice" does not include the act of medical diagnosis or prescription of medical therapeutic or corrective measures.

"Professional assistance program for nurses" means a professional assistance program that meets criteria established by the Board of Nursing and approved by the Secretary, which provides a non-disciplinary treatment approach for nurses licensed under this Act whose ability to practice is compromised by alcohol or chemical substance addiction.

"Secretary" means the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"Unencumbered license" means a license issued in good standing.

"Written collaborative agreement" means a written agreement between an advanced practice registered nurse and a collaborating physician, dentist, or podiatric physician pursuant to Section 65-35.

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(225 ILCS 65/55-10) (was 225 ILCS 65/10-30)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 55-10. LPN licensure by examination.

(a) Each applicant who successfully meets the requirements of this Section is eligible for licensure as a licensed practical nurse.

(b) An applicant for licensure by examination to practice as a practical nurse is eligible for licensure when the following requirements are met:

(1) the applicant has submitted a completed written application on forms provided by the Department and fees as established by the Department;

(2) the applicant has graduated from a practical nursing education program approved by the Department or has been granted a certificate of completion of pre-licensure requirements from another United States jurisdiction;

(3) the applicant has successfully completed a licensure examination approved by the Department;

(4) (blank);

(5) the applicant has submitted to the criminal history records check required under Section 50-35 of this Act;

(6) the applicant has submitted either to the Department or its designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination. Failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date at the time and place specified after the applicant's application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee; and

(7) the applicant has met all other requirements established by rule.

(b-5) If an applicant for licensure by examination neglects, fails, or refuses to take an examination or fails to pass an examination for a license under this Act within 3 years of the date of initial application, the application shall be denied. When an applicant's application is denied due to the failure to pass the examination within the 3-year period, that applicant must undertake an additional course of education as defined by rule prior to submitting a new application for licensure. Any new application must be accompanied by the required fee, evidence of meeting the requirements in force at the time of the new application, and evidence of completion of the additional course of education prescribed by rule.

An applicant may take and successfully complete a Department-approved examination in another jurisdiction. However, an applicant who has never been licensed previously in any jurisdiction that utilizes a Department-approved examination and who has taken and failed to pass the examination within 3 years after filing the application must submit proof of successful completion of a Department-authorized nursing education program or recompletion of an approved licensed practical nursing program prior to re-application.

(c) An applicant for licensure by examination shall have one year from the date of notification of successful completion of the examination to apply to the Department for a license. If an applicant fails to apply within one year, the applicant shall be required to retake and pass the examination unless licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States.

(d) A licensed practical nurse applicant who passes the Department-approved licensure examination and has applied to the Department for licensure may obtain employment as a license-pending practical nurse and practice as delegated by a registered professional nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse or physician. An individual may be employed as a license-pending practical nurse if all of the following criteria are met:

(1) He or she has completed and passed the Department-approved licensure exam and presents to the employer the official written notification indicating successful passage of the licensure examination.

(2) He or she has completed and submitted to the Department an application for licensure under this Section as a practical nurse.

(3) He or she has submitted the required licensure fee.

(4) He or she has met all other requirements established by rule, including having submitted to a criminal history records check.

(e) The privilege to practice as a license-pending practical nurse shall terminate with the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) Six Three months have passed since the official date of passing the licensure exam as inscribed on the formal written notification indicating passage of the exam. This 6-month 3-month period may be extended as determined by rule.

(2) Receipt of the practical nurse license from the Department.

(3) Notification from the Department that the application for licensure has been denied.

(4) A request by the Department that the individual terminate practicing as a license-pending practical nurse until an official decision is made by the Department to grant or deny a practical nurse license.

(f) (Blank).

(g) All applicants for practical nurse licensure by examination who are graduates of nursing educational programs in a country other than the United States or its territories shall have their nursing education credentials evaluated by a Department-approved nursing credentialing evaluation service. No such applicant may be issued a license under this Act unless the applicant's program is deemed by the nursing credentialing evaluation service to be equivalent to a professional nursing education program approved by the Department. An applicant who has graduated from a nursing educational program outside of the United States or its territories and whose first language is not English shall submit evidence of English proficiency, as defined by rule.

(h) (Blank).

(i) (Blank).

(j) (Blank).

(k) (Blank).

(l) (Blank).

(m) All applicants for practical nurse licensure have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years from the date of application, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)

(225 ILCS 65/60-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 60-10. RN licensure by examination.

(a) Each applicant who successfully meets the requirements of this Section is eligible for licensure as a registered professional nurse.

(b) An applicant for licensure by examination to practice as a registered professional nurse is eligible for licensure when the following requirements are met:

(1) the applicant has submitted a completed written application, on forms provided by the Department, and fees, as established by the Department;

(2) the applicant has graduated from a professional nursing education program approved by the Department or has been granted a certificate of completion of pre-licensure requirements from another United States jurisdiction;

(3) the applicant has successfully completed a licensure examination approved by the Department;

(4) (blank);

(5) the applicant has submitted to the criminal history records check required under Section 50-35 of this Act;

(6) the applicant has submitted, either to the Department or its designated testing service, a fee covering the cost of providing the examination; failure to appear for the examination on the scheduled date at the time and place specified after the applicant's application for examination has been received and acknowledged by the Department or the designated testing service shall result in the forfeiture of the examination fee; and

(7) the applicant has met all other requirements established by the Department by rule.

An applicant for licensure by examination may take the Department-approved examination in another jurisdiction.

(b-3) An applicant who graduates from a professional nursing program in this State on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly and does not take the licensure examination within 180 days after his or her degree is conferred by the institution of higher education or fails the licensure examination for a second time shall be required to demonstrate proof of completion of a National Council Licensure Examination preparatory class or a comparable test preparatory program before taking a subsequent licensure examination or the graduate may return to the institution of higher education from which he or she graduated which shall provide remedial educational resources to the graduate at no cost to the graduate. Such an applicant must contact the institution of higher education from which he or she graduated prior to retesting.

(b-4) All professional nursing programs in probationary status on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly and subject to a program revision plan shall be deemed in good standing for a period of 3 years beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Prior to September 1, 2026, no professional nursing program shall be placed on probationary status for failing to reach a passage rate of less than 75%.

(b-5) If an applicant for licensure by examination neglects, fails, or refuses to take an examination or fails to pass an examination for a license within 3 years of the date of initial application, the application shall be denied. When an applicant's application is denied due to the failure to pass the examination within the 3-year period, that applicant must undertake an additional course of education as defined by rule prior to submitting a new application for licensure. Any new application must be accompanied by the required fee, evidence of meeting the requirements in force at the time of the new application, and evidence of completion of the additional course of education prescribed by rule.

(c) An applicant for licensure by examination shall have one year after the date of notification of the successful completion of the examination to apply to the Department for a license. If an applicant fails to apply within one year, the applicant shall be required to retake and pass the examination unless licensed in another jurisdiction of the United States.

(d) An applicant for licensure by examination who passes the Department-approved licensure examination for professional nursing may obtain employment as a license-pending registered nurse and practice under the direction of a registered professional nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse until such time as he or she receives his or her license to practice or until the license is denied. In no instance shall any such applicant practice or be employed in any management capacity. An individual may be employed as a license-pending registered nurse if all of the following criteria are met:

(1) He or she has completed and passed the Department-approved licensure exam and presents to the employer the official written notification indicating successful passage of the licensure examination.

(2) He or she has completed and submitted to the Department an application for licensure under this Section as a registered professional nurse.

(3) He or she has submitted the required licensure fee.

(4) He or she has met all other requirements established by rule, including having submitted to a criminal history records check.

(e) The privilege to practice as a license-pending registered nurse shall terminate with the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) Six Three months have passed since the official date of passing the licensure exam as inscribed on the formal written notification indicating passage of the exam. The 6-month license-pending 3-month license pending period may be extended if more time is needed by the Department to process the licensure application.

(2) Receipt of the registered professional nurse license from the Department.

(3) Notification from the Department that the application for licensure has been refused.

(4) A request by the Department that the individual terminate practicing as a license-pending registered nurse until an official decision is made by the Department to grant or deny a registered professional nurse license.

(f) (Blank).

(g) (Blank).

(h) (Blank).

(i) (Blank).

(j) (Blank).

(k) All applicants for registered professional nurse licensure have 3 years after the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within 3 years after the date of application, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.

(l) All applicants for registered nurse licensure by examination who are graduates of practical nursing educational programs in a country other than the United States and its territories shall have their nursing education credentials evaluated by a Department-approved nursing credentialing evaluation service. No such applicant may be issued a license under this Act unless the applicant's program is deemed by the nursing credentialing evaluation service to be equivalent to a professional nursing education program approved by the Department. An applicant who has graduated from a nursing educational program outside of the United States or its territories and whose first language is not English shall submit evidence of English proficiency, as defined by rule.

(m) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 103-533, eff. 1-1-24.)

(225 ILCS 65/65-10) (was 225 ILCS 65/15-13)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 65-10. APRN license-pending license pending status.

(a) A graduate of an advanced practice registered nursing program may practice in the State of Illinois in the role of certified clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, or certified registered nurse anesthetist for not longer than 6 months provided he or she submits all of the following:

(1) An application for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in Illinois and all fees established by rule.

(2) Proof of an application to take the national certification examination in the specialty.

(3) Proof of completion of a graduate advanced practice education program that allows the applicant to be eligible for national certification in a clinical advanced practice registered nursing specialty and that allows the applicant to be eligible for licensure in Illinois in the area of his or her specialty.

(4) Proof that he or she is licensed in Illinois as a registered professional nurse.

(b) License-pending License pending status shall preclude delegation of prescriptive authority.

(c) A graduate practicing in accordance with this Section must use the title "license-pending license pending certified clinical nurse specialist", "license-pending license pending certified nurse midwife", "license-pending license pending certified nurse practitioner", or "license-pending license pending certified registered nurse anesthetist", whichever is applicable.

(d) A licensed advanced practice registered nurse certified as a nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, or nurse practitioner who files with the Department a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training in the advanced practice registered nurse's area of certification and at least 4,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification and thus having met the requirements to be granted full practice authority shall be granted the authority to practice as a full practice authority-pending advanced practice registered nurse under the supervision of a full practice advanced practice registered nurse or a physician for a period of 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)