§ 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(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028) Sec. 60-10.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 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 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).

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-533, eff. 1-1-24; 103-686, eff. 1-1-25 .)