Illinois Administrative Code
Title 68 - PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS
Part 1310 - NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS LICENSING AND DISCIPLINARY ACT
Section 1310.85 - Continuing Education

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.

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:

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.

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

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

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:

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:

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.

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.

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].

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:

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.