Section 25.245  Endorsement for School Nurses

a)         The school nurse endorsement shall be affixed to a PEL. 

b)         Each individual seeking a PEL endorsed for school nurse shall complete the requirements under Section 25.25.

c)         Each individual seeking the school support personnel endorsement for school nursing shall hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

d)         Each individual shall:

1)         complete an Illinois program approved for the preparation of school nurses pursuant to Subpart C or a comparable approved program (including an internship) in another state or country; or

2)         hold a comparable certificate or license issued by another state or country.

e)         If completing an Illinois approved program, each individual must complete an internship of at least 300 hours that is supervised by a school nurse who holds an endorsement issued under this Section with at least two full school years of full-time experience as a school nurse and at least one full school year of full-time experience with the current employer.

f)         The following experience shall be honored in lieu of an internship:

1)         one year of professional experience as a school nurse on a valid, comparable out-of-state certificate or license that allows the holder to work as a school nurse in that state's public schools; or

2)         one year of full-time experience working as a school nurse on a short-term approval and a proficient or higher evaluation rating.

g)         Each individual must pass the applicable content-area test (see Section 25.710) subject to the provisions of Section 25.720.

h)         Each individual shall be licensed as a registered professional nurse in Illinois under the Nurse Practice Act [225 ILCS 65].

(Source:  Amended at 45 Ill. Reg. 7269, effective June 3, 2021)