Section 1310.85  Continuing Education

 

a)         Continuing Education Hour Requirements

 

1)         Every renewal applicant shall complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) relevant to the practice of nursing home administration required during each prerenewal period. The Department shall conduct random audits to verify compliance with this Section.  The prerenewal period is the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the license.

 

2)         A renewal applicant is not required to comply with CE requirements for the first renewal following the original issuance of the license.

 

3)         Nursing home administrators licensed in Illinois but residing and practicing in other states must comply with the CE requirements set forth in this Section.

 

b)         Activities for which CE credit may be earned are as follows:

 

1)         Verified attendance or participation in any CE course approved by the National Continuing Education Review Service of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.

 

2)         Verified attendance at or participation in a program given by a sponsor as set forth in subsection (c)(1).

 

3)         A maximum of 12 hours per prerenewal period for:

 

A)        Papers prepared or delivered before recognized nursing home administration and nursing home organizations;

 

B)        Papers published in nationally recognized nursing home administration journals; and

 

C)        A chapter in a book of nursing home administration.

 

4)         A licensee who serves as an instructor, speaker or discussion leader of an approved course will be allowed CE course credit for actual presentation time, plus actual preparation time of up to 2 hours for each hour of presentation.  Preparation time shall not be allowed for presentations of the same course and will only be allowed for additional study or research.  In no case shall credit for actual time of presentation and preparation be given for more than 9 hours during any renewal period.

 

5)         The CE hours used to satisfy the CE requirements for renewal of a nursing home administrator license held in another jurisdiction shall be applied to fulfillment of the CE requirements for renewal of an Illinois nursing home administrator license.

 

6)         Courses that are part of the curriculum of a university, college or other educational institution shall be allotted CE credit at the rate of 12 CE hours for each semester hour or 8 CE hours for each quarter hour of school credit awarded.

 

7)         A CE hour equals 60 minutes.   After completion of the initial CE hour, credit may be given in one-half hour increments.

 

8)         No credit will be given for activities including, but not limited to, attendance at meetings or reading of journals.

 

9)         All CE hours may be obtained through online courses.

 

c)         CE Sponsors and Programs

 

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

 

A)        LeadingAge Illinois;

 

B)        The Illinois Council on Long Term Care;

 

C)        Illinois Health Care Association;

 

D)        The Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Association;

 

E)        National Continuing Education Review Service;

 

F)         The Illinois Chapter of American College of Health Care Administrators; or

 

G)        Any other school, college or university, State agency, or any other person, firm, or association that has been approved and authorized by the Department to coordinate and present CE courses and programs in conjunction with this Section.

 

2)         A sponsor shall file a sponsor application, along with the required fee set forth in Section 1310.65, certifying that:

 

A)        All courses and programs offered by the sponsor for CE credit will comply with the criteria in subsection (c)(5) and all other criteria in this Section.  The applicant shall be required to submit a sample 3 hour CE program with course materials, presenter qualifications, and course outline for review prior to being approved as a CE sponsor;

 

B)        The sponsor will be responsible for verifying attendance at each course or program and provide a certificate of completion as set forth in subsection (c)(7); and

 

C)        Upon request by the Department, the sponsor will submit such evidence as is necessary to establish compliance with this Section. The evidence shall be required when the Department has reason to believe that there is not full compliance with the Act and this Part and that this information is necessary to ensure compliance.

 

3)         Each sponsor shall submit, by November 30 of each odd-numbered year, a sponsor renewal application, along with the required fee set forth in Section 1310.65.  With the renewal application, the sponsor shall be required to submit to the Department a list of all courses and programs offered in the past 2 years that includes a description, location, date and time the course was offered.

 

4)         State agencies, colleges and universities shall submit a sponsor application in accordance with subsections (c)(2) and (3); however, they shall be exempt from payment of the fee in accordance with Section 1310.65.

 

5)         All courses and programs shall:

 

A)        Contain materials that contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of professional skills and knowledge in the practice of nursing home administration;

 

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

 

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

 

D)        Specify the number of CE hours that may be applied to fulfilling the Illinois CE requirements for license renewal; and

 

E)        Include some mechanism by which participants evaluate the overall quality of the program.

 

6)         An approved sponsor may subcontract with individuals and organizations to provide approved programs.  All advertising, promotional materials, and certificates of attendance must identify the licensed sponsor and the sponsor's license number.  The presenter of the program may also be identified, but should be identified as a presenter.  When a licensed sponsor subcontracts with a presenter, the licensed 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.

 

7)         All programs given by sponsors shall be open to all licensed nursing home administrators and not be limited to the members of a single organization or group.

 

8)         Certificate of Attendance or Participation.  It shall be the responsibility of the sponsor to provide each participant in an approved program or course with a certificate of attendance or participation that shall contain the following information:

 

A)        The name and address of the sponsor;

 

B)        The name, address and license number of the participant;

 

C)        A brief statement of the subject matter;

 

D)        The number of clock hours actually attended in each program;

 

E)        The date and place of the program; and

 

F)         The signature of the sponsor.

 

9)         The sponsor shall maintain course materials and attendance records containing all information in subsection (c)(8) for not less than 5 years, except for the signature of the sponsor.

 

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

 

11)         If a sponsor should fail to comply with any of the foregoing requirements, the Department, after notice to the sponsor and hearing before, and recommendation by, the Board, shall thereafter refuse to accept for CE credit attendance at or participation in any of that sponsor's CE activities until the Department receives assurances of compliance with this Section.

 

12)         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Department or Board may evaluate any sponsor of any CE program at any time.

 

13)         The Department shall maintain a list of all approved CE sponsors.

 

d)         Continuing Education Earned in Other Jurisdictions

 

1)         If a renewal applicant will be earning or has earned CE hours in another jurisdiction, but is not licensed in that jurisdiction, and when the course is not presented by an approved sponsor, the applicant shall submit an individual program approval request form, along with a $20 processing fee, to have the program reviewed.  The Board shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of the programs using the criteria set forth in subsection (c)(5).  Applicants may seek individual program approval prior to participation in the course or program.  All individual program approval requests shall be submitted prior to the expiration date of the license.

 

2)         If a licensee fails to submit an out-of-state CE approval form within the required time, late approval may be obtained by submitting the application with the $20 processing fee plus a $10 per hour late fee not to exceed $150. The Board shall review and recommend approval or disapproval of this program using the criteria set forth in this Section.

 

e)         Certification of Compliance with CE Requirements

 

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

 

2)         The Department may require additional documentation in order to demonstrate compliance with the CE requirements.  It is the responsibility of each renewal applicant to retain or otherwise produce evidence of compliance.  The additional documentation will be required in the context of the Department's random audit.

 

3)         When there appears to be a lack of compliance with CE requirements, an applicant will be notified and may request an interview with the Board, at which 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].

 

f)         Restoration of Nonrenewed License. Upon evidence of compliance with CE requirements, the Department shall restore the license upon payment of the required fee.

 

g)         Waiver of CE Requirements

 

1)         Any renewal applicant seeking renewal of a license without having fully complied with this Section shall file with the Department a renewal application, the required renewal fee, a statement setting forth the facts concerning the non-compliance, and a request for waiver of the CE requirements on the basis of these facts.  If the Department, upon the written recommendation of the Board, finds from the applicant's affidavit or any other evidence submitted, that extreme hardship has been shown to substantiate the granting of a waiver, the Department shall waive enforcement of those requirements for the renewal period for which the applicant has applied.

 

2)         If an interview with the Board is requested at the time the request for the waiver is filed with the Department, the renewal applicant shall be given at least 20 days written notice of the date, time and place of the interview by certified mail, return receipt requested.

 

3)         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 States of America during a substantial part of the prerenewal period;

 

B)        An incapacitating illness, documented by a currently licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or full practice authority advanced practice registered nurse;

 

C)        A physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a currently licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, or full practice authority advanced practice registered nurse; or

 

D)        Any other similar extenuating circumstances (i.e., family illness and prolonged hospitalization).

 

4)         Any renewal applicant who, prior to the expiration date of the license, submits a request for a waiver, pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be deemed to be in good standing until the Department's final decision on the application has been made.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 12280, effective August 2, 2024)