(225 ILCS 65/65-5) (was 225 ILCS 65/15-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)

Sec. 65-5. Qualifications for APRN licensure.

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

(b) An applicant for licensure to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse is eligible for licensure when the following requirements are met:

(1) the applicant has submitted a completed application and any fees as established by the Department;

(2) the applicant holds a current license to practice as a registered professional nurse under this Act;

(3) the applicant has successfully completed requirements to practice as, and holds and maintains current, national certification as, a nurse midwife, clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, or certified registered nurse anesthetist from the appropriate national certifying body as determined by rule of the Department;

(4) the applicant has obtained a graduate degree appropriate for national certification in a clinical advanced practice registered nursing specialty or a graduate degree or post-master's certificate from a graduate level program in a clinical advanced practice registered nursing specialty;

(5) (blank);

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

(7) if applicable, the applicant has submitted verification of licensure status in another jurisdiction, as provided by rule.

(b-5) A registered professional nurse seeking licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in the category of certified registered nurse anesthetist who does not have a graduate degree as described in subsection (b) of this Section shall be qualified for licensure if that person:

(1) submits evidence of having successfully completed a nurse anesthesia program described in item (4) of subsection (b) of this Section prior to January 1, 1999;

(2) submits evidence of certification as a registered nurse anesthetist by an appropriate national certifying body; and

(3) has continually maintained active, up-to-date recertification status as a certified registered nurse anesthetist by an appropriate national recertifying body.

(b-10) The Department may issue a certified registered nurse anesthetist license to an APRN who (i) does not have a graduate degree, (ii) applies for licensure before July 1, 2028, and (iii) submits all of the following to the Department:

(1) His or her current State registered nurse license number.

(2) Proof of current national certification, which includes the completion of an examination from either of the following:

(A) the Council on Certification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists; or

(B) the Council on Recertification of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

(3) Proof of the successful completion of a post-basic advanced practice formal education program in the area of nurse anesthesia prior to January 1, 1999.

(4) His or her complete work history for the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of his or her application.

(5) Verification of licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse from the state in which he or she was originally licensed, current state of licensure, and any other state in which he or she has been actively practicing as an advanced practice registered nurse within the 5-year period immediately preceding the date of his or her application. If applicable, this verification must state:

(A) the time during which he or she was licensed in each state, including the date of the original issuance of each license; and

(B) any disciplinary action taken or pending concerning any nursing license held, currently or in the past, by the applicant.

(6) The required fee.

(c) Those applicants seeking licensure in more than one advanced practice registered nursing specialty need not possess multiple graduate degrees. Applicants may be eligible for licenses for multiple advanced practice registered nurse licensure specialties, provided that the applicant (i) has met the requirements for at least one advanced practice registered nursing specialty under paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) possesses an additional graduate education that results in a certificate for another clinical advanced practice registered nurse specialty and that meets the requirements for the national certification from the appropriate nursing specialty, and (iii) holds a current national certification from the appropriate national certifying body for that additional advanced practice registered nursing specialty.

(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-786, eff. 1-1-23.)