On March 18, 2020 the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issued a press release announcing that those professions whose licenses expire between March 17, 2020 and July 31, 2020 and are currently in renewal are automatically having the expiration date extended to September 30, 2020. https://www.idfpr.com/News/2020/2020%2003%2018%20IDFPR%20Variance%20Press%20Release.pdf
The professions which have licensure renewals during that period of time include physicians and surgeons and chiropractic physicians. All of these licenses were previously required to renew by July 31, 2020 and are now extended to September 30, 2020. Nursing licenses are also in renewal in 2020 with all categories of nursing licenses set to renew by May 31, 2020. Those licenses are now extended to September 30, 2020. IDFPR also allows for out of state practitioners to practice in Illinois under certain circumstances.
The Department has also allowed participation in continuing education remotely for programs or requirements that had mandated in person participation. This requirement did not apply to all professions regulated by IDFPR. For medical or osteopathic physicians and surgeons and chiropractic physicians the requirement for 60 hours of Category I continuing education did not include a requirement for in person attendance. Nurses must complete 20 hours of continuing education per two year cycle for renewal of their licenses in 2020. IDPFR has issued answers to frequently asked questions for nursing continuing education issues. That can be found at the following link: http://nursing.illinois.gov/PDF/2018-11_IL_RN_CE_Relicensure_FAQ.pdf
Beginning in 2020 licensure renewals in most health professions include a requirement of one hour of education in sexual harassment prevention where continuing education is required for renewal of the license. See the ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR GENERAL PROFESSIONAL REGULATION UNDER THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE which can be accessed at the following link: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068011300E04000R.html
If there are questions on these licensure issues please contact Cunningham, Meyer & Vedrine for assistance.