Illinois Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure

Illinois Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure

In accordance with the Illinois Nurse Practice Act as delineated by the Illinois General Assembly (ILGA) in 2021, the process for attaining certification as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) necessitates that a registered nurse must hold a valid license in the state of Illinois, be a graduate of a nationally accredited Nurse Practitioner (NP) program, and successfully pass an approved examination recognized by the Board of Nursing. Two certifying bodies responsible for AGPCNP certification are the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) (AANP, 2019). Upon successful completion of the certifying exam, graduates must proceed to apply for their NP license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to practice as an NP within the state of Illinois.

Application and Regulations

To secure an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) license in Illinois, individuals must access or create an account on the IDFPR website (IDFPR, 2021). The online application process includes instructions for submission and involves various documents, such as the completion of the CCA form, which is used to report any prior felonies or sex offenses. Additionally, applicants are required to submit the CT-APN form, providing their certification of advanced practice nurse licensure number, origination date, and expiration date. For those who require it, there is also an option to apply for a temporary permit to practice as an NP. Further documentation is essential to demonstrate the successful completion of a graduate degree or post-master’s certificate in advanced practice nursing, as well as national certification by AANPCB or ANCC. The APN application incurs a fee of $125.

Illinois Nursing Practice Certification and Licensure

The Illinois Nurse Practice Act establishes the framework for the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) in the state. As outlined by Buppert (2021), APRNs are authorized to conduct advanced nursing patient assessments and diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic and therapeutic treatments, procedures, and tests, as well as prescribe and administer medical devices. APRNs are also equipped to offer palliative end-of-life care, patient and health education, advanced counseling, and patient advocacy. Additionally, APRNs possess prescriptive authority and have the ability to delegate nursing activities to other medical personnel, such as registered nurses or medical assistants.

As mandated by the ILGA (2021), APRNs working outside of a hospital or Ambulatory Surgery Center are obligated to establish a written collaborative agreement with a supervising physician, detailing the scope of care and treatments the APRN can provide within that collaborative relationship. However, APRNs working within a hospital or Ambulatory Surgery Center do not require such a collaborative agreement. After accumulating 4000 hours of practice and completing 250 hours of continuing education, APRNs are eligible to apply for “Full Practice Authority,” allowing them to practice without the need for a collaboration agreement with a physician.

NURS 6002 / 3 Part 1: Developing an Academic and Professional Network Example

The IDFPR (2021) provides guidance on the process for APRNs to obtain a Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) number. Initially, the APRN must have a clean record free from felony convictions and hold a valid Illinois APRN license. Furthermore, the APRN should maintain a practice site and reside in a state where prescribing controlled substances is legally permissible. In Illinois, the collaborating physician must specify which schedule of controlled substances the NP can prescribe, which may encompass schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances, all within the scope of the practicing physician. Once the collaboration agreement is finalized and signed by both the APRN and the physician, the APRN can proceed to apply for a mid-level practitioner-controlled substances license by submitting a paper form downloaded from the IDFPR website (309) Advance Practice Nurse Controlled Substance License. Included in the form is the “Notice of Delegated Prescriptive Authority for Controlled Substances,” which requires completion and signing by the collaborating physician. The application, along with a fee of $5.00, must be sent by mail to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

The Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing (ISAPN) (2021), our state’s nurse practitioner organization, actively engages in legislative activities aimed at enhancing healthcare services, including the promotion of Telehealth Services and the expansion of nursing education. Past legislative achievements by ISAPN encompassed granting APRNs the authority to sign death certificates, perform school physicals, and obtain full practice authority. ISAPN continues to advocate for APRNs, striving to secure greater practice autonomy and improved healthcare access in Illinois.

References

– American Association of Nurse Practitioners (2019). Illinois information and resources for Illinois NPs.
– Buppert, C. (2021). Nurse practitioner’s business practice and legal guide (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.
– Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (2021). IDFPR online services portal.
– Illinois General Assembly (2021). Part 1300: Nurse practice act.
– Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing (2021). ISAPN legislative history.