accessed on July 24, 2012 1. http://law.onecle.com/illinois/225ilcs65/index60.

html

2. http://www.upwardlyglobal.org/job-seekers/american-licensedprofessions/illinois/nurse/illinois-nurse-rn-professional-licensing-guide

ILLINOIS NURSE (RN) PROFESSIONAL LICENSING GUIDE

1. How the Profession Is Organized in Illinois 2. Eligibility for Licensing 3. Tests 4. Time and Costs 5. Other Careers and Credentials 6. Beyond Licensing 7. Important Links 8. Tips 1. HOW THE PROFESSION IS ORGANIZED IN ILLINOIS REGULATION OF THE NURSING PROFESSION Nursing in Illinois is regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) and its Division of Professional Regulation. IDFPR manages 3 types of nursing licenses related toincreasing degrees of education, examination and experience: 1. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN); 2. Registered Professional Nurse (RN); and 3. Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) The guide assumes that you hold the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor of Science in Nursing, so the most appropriate license type for you is a Registered Nurse (RN). It also assumes that your Illinois license will be your first U.S. nursing license. You will become an RN through Licensure by Examination. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) administers the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which is required for licensing as an RN in Illinois. REGISTERED NURSES (RNS) AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND In the U.S., the term RN includes professionals with a variety of education levels but with certain skill setsin common. Most people become RNs after participating in one of two types of educational programs:

An Associates Degree of Nursing or ADN (2 years of study, typically in a community college) A Bachelor of Science in Nursing or BSN (a 4-year university degree) Usually, a higher level of education corresponds to greater responsibility, specialization, and advancement opportunities in the workplace. Many RNs later go on to receive masters or doctoral degrees in nursing and pursue careers as APNs or in healthcare management, consulting, research, or education roles. THE JOB MARKET FOR NURSING IN ILLINOIS Nursing is a growing field in the U.S., due to factors such as the aging U.S. population, nurse attrition (choosing to leave the job), and the increasing complexity of nursing practice. The state of Illinois Nursing Center reports that by 2020 there will be a nursing shortage of over 21,000 nurses in Illinois. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that from 2010 to 2020, the fastest growing jobs for RNs will be employment in physician's offices, home health care, and outpatient care facilities. The highest average earnings are paid to nurses working in private industry ($66,650), physicians offices ($62,880), hospitals ($62,690), and home health care ($60,690), and housing care facilities ($58,180). THE JOB SEARCH

Qualified RNs are in high demand and employers will compete for their skills. Bilingual and bicultural nurses can be even more attractive to employers who serve diverse communities. Because of this demand, even part-time employment can include attractive benefits such as health insurance, childcare, and tuition fees for continued education. (BACK TO TOP) 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR LICENSING OVERVIEW Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) need to meet several requirements to receive Licensure by Examination as a RN in Illinois. Steps to licensing are as follows:

1. EVALUATE YOUR FOREIGN DEGREE AND FOREIGN LICENSE WITH AN APPROVED CREDENTIALING ORGANIZATION AND RECEIVE A CREDENTIAL EVALUATION SERVICE REPORT The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation allows you to have your foreign nursing degree evaluated by one of two organizations: the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or the Education Records Evaluation Service, Inc. (ERES). We recommend CGFNS for its long-established service, web access by regulation officials, and fast turnaround times. The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) instructs you on the steps necessary to evaluate your foreign degree and licensure. Here are the steps: Apply for evaluation by either registering online or downloading an application form and sending it by mail Request the "Healthcare Profession & Science Report" (cost: $335 in 2012). Make sure that you ask for your report to be prepared for the Illinois Board of Nursing - this will make your record available to the State electronically Use CGFNS forms to send requests for official academic records and licensing confirmation to the educational institution(s) you attended and your country's nursing regulation agency. These records must be delivered from the institutions directly to CGFNS - you cannot handle them yourself Provide translations for any documents not in English. This is most often done through your foreign school(s) or licensing agency. You will need to research how to do this and what you will be charged by these institutions Your report is active for 12 months; renewing access to it for another 12 months costs $200 for the Healthcare Profession & Science Report and $250 for the Full Education Course-by-Course Report You must show proof that you graduated from high school (a photocopy of a high school diploma or exit exam will work). You must submit this directly with your application, accompanied by a translation and special translator statement CGFNS will evaluate your education and licensing to see if it is comparable to the minimum standards for an Illinois Registered Nurse program. This includes standards for coursework and clinical experience infive areas of nursing practice: Adult medical nursing Adult surgical nursing

Obstetrics (maternal and infant health) Pediatrics (care of children) Psychiatric or mental health nursing After evaluation, CGFNS will decide either that:

Your degree is comparable except for a missing clinical component in one of the five areas of nursing OR that Your degree is not found as comparable In the first case, you will need to have your training pre-approved by IDFPR and choose a school or other training provider from a list of approved nursing education programs (the list is available on the IDFPR website). After completing this clinical requirement and sending transcripts to IDFPR, you will be able to continue your licensing process In the second case, you will need to return to school for a degree program to qualify you for licensure as a Registered Nurse. You should research nursing education programs in your area, and bring your transcripts and credential evaluation to the program coordinators to see if you can receive advanced standing for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The quickest route to becoming an RN may be to earn an Associates Degree of Nursing. However, if you choose this option you will be settling for a U.S. degree that is not as advanced as your foreign degree, and you will have to continue studying for a BSN if you want better career opportunities. If you hold a BSN from another country, your degree might be determined comparable to the minimum standard required by the State of Illinois. However, sometimes different standards in nursing practice can affect your degree evaluation, such as male nurses not practicing obstetrical nursing, or nurse midwives not receiving training in other areas of nursing. 2. GET FINGERPRINTED VIA AN IDFPR (ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION), AN APPROVED VENDOR FOR A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK A list of service providers approved by IDFPR and the Illinois State Police is listed in the Licensure by Examination application. Costs vary by site. Call to set up an appointment. It is critical that you save the receipt as proof that you have taken this step: You must include it in the Licensing by Examination application package you will later send to Continental Testing Services (CTS). 3. REGISTER ONLINE WITH CONTINENTAL TESTING SERVICES (CTS), SUBMIT YOUR LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION APPLICATION, REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, AND PAY APPLICATION FEE

CTS manages licensing applications for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You should call the CTS help number for application assistance: (708) 354-9911. There are two steps involved: First, register online and arrange for payment of an $91 application fee (as of 2012) Mail all required documentation to CTS. Illinois requires notarized translations of any foreign-language documents Your final application package should include: Four-page Licensure by Examination application from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) CT-NUR forms completed by the licensing agency or board of any jurisdiction(s) in which you were first licensed, are currently licensed, or have been licensed in the last 5 years Credential Evaluation Service report (your foreign degree and licensing evaluation) Receipt from fingerprinting appointment Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if you are not a native English speaker and the language of instruction and textbooks in your nursing program was not English (The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) requires minimal scores of 560 on the paper-based test, 220 on the computer-based test and 83 on the Internet-based test) This application is valid for 3 years. If you have not passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) or met other licensing requirements within these 3 years you will have to submit a new application and pay the processing fee again. 4. REGISTER WITH PEARSON VUE FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION (NCLEX) BY WEB, MAIL OR TELEPHONE Register with Pearson for the NCLEX at the same time as submitting your application to Continental Testing Services (CTS). The NCLEX costs $200 (as of 2012). 5. RECEIVE AN APPROVAL LETTER FROM CONTINENTAL TESTING SERVICES (CTS) AND AUTHORIZATION TO TEST (ATT); SCHEDULE YOUR TESTING APPOINTMENT WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION (NCLEX) You have only 90 days from receipt of the ATT to take the NCLEX. Set up your appointment immediately.Instructions are included in the ATT notice.

6. TAKE AND PASS THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION (NCLEX) AND RECEIVE A PASSAGE LETTER ALLOWING LIMITED PRACTICE FOR 3 MONTHS WHILE LICENSE IS BEING PROCESSED Your NCLEX scores should be available to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) within one month after testing. Once you have received a passing grade on the NCLEX you will receive a letter of passage from IDFPR and your licensure will be issued as soon as it can be processed, usually within a few months. Your passage letter will give you details that allow you to practice nursing for up to 3 months pending receipt of Illinois licensure, provided that you work under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or an advanced practicing nurse. (BACK TO TOP) 3. TESTS The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is the only examination required in the Illinois Licensure by Examination process. TEST TECHNOLOGY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR REGISTERED NURSES (NCLEX-RN) The NCLEX-RN is computer-based test, called a variable length adaptive test. This means that the test will adjust its difficulty level, content, and number of questions based on your answers. The test will continue until all content areas are covered in the required proportions, and the system is 95% certainthat your abilities are either above or below the passing standard due to its analysis of your answers. As a result, you may be asked to answer anywhere from 75 to 265 items. Test takers with either very high or very low abilities tend to have the tests with the fewest items. You are not allowed to skip any questions, but you should avoid making random guesses, as this can quickly lower your score. The exam is mostly multiple-choice but other question types are also included. You will be given a short tutorial that will expose you to the different question types. You cannot bring reference materials or other testing aids to the exam. An on-screen calculator is provided for some problems. CONTENT AREAS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR REGISTERED NURSES (NCLEX-RN) The content of the NCLEX-RN concentrates on the patient as the focus of care. The current NCLEX-RNexam (2011 edition) is divided into four categories of Client Needs, some of which have subcategories. The percentages show the approximate percent of questions each test taker will receive in the category:

1. Safe and Effective Care Environment Coordinated Care (13-19%) Safety and Infection Control (11-17%) 2. Health Promotion and Maintenance 7-13% 3. Psychosocial Integrity 7-13% 4. Physiological Integrity Basic Care and Comfort (9-15%) Pharmacological Therapies (11-17%) Reduction of Risk Potential (9-15%) Physiological Adaptation (9-15%) SCHEDULING AND TESTING SITE PROCEDURES OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR REGISTERED NURSES (NCLEX-RN) Pearson Vue holds the NCLEX-RN in testing centers across the U.S. and internationally. You can registerinformation with Pearson and pay for the test ($200), but you cannot schedule the NCLEX-RN exam until your application for Licensure by Examination has been processed and you have received an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice. The ATT includes detailed instructions for choosing a testing center and scheduling a date to take the NCLEX-RN. The ATT is valid for only 90 days, so you should not delayin scheduling an exam session. On the day of the test, you must bring the ATT and acceptable identification. You will be fingerprinted and photographed before your test and will be fingerprinted when you re-enter the testing area after breaks. You should arrive at least a half hour early; you will not be allowed to take the test if you arrive more than a half hour late for your appointment. You will have up to six hours to complete the test, including time scheduled for the computer tutorial and optional breaks. FAILING THE NCLEX-RN If you fail your exam, the Illinois Nursing Board will send you a Candidate Performance Report which shows the areas that need improvement. You can use the report to learn what areas to study before you retake the exam. You may take the NCLEX-RN again after waiting 90 days. If your score is far from passing you should consider additional test preparation or taking refresher courses so that you can passin the three-year period after your first application. PRACTICING FOR THE NCLEX-RN There are many different resources that can help you prepare for the content and the computer-based testing technology. The Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium offers a variety of test preparation resources for low cost. Consider investing in test preparation as it may save you money by

not having to pay to retake the test and by entering the job market faster. Please refer to Important Links for test preparation options. (BACK TO TOP) 4. TIME AND COSTS Evaluating your foreign degree and achieving licensing as a Registered Professional Nurse in Illinoisdepends on many factors. A few of these include: The completeness of your educational and professional records (the more documentation, the better) The efficiency of your home country's system in compiling and transmitting your university records and verification of licensing Your performance on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Your free time and how much money you have to spend We provide two hypothetical scenarios below to show some of the variety in results that immigrant professionals may find when they seek to become registered nurses in Illinois. Please consider these scenarios as two examples out of many possibilities. Your experience will vary. TWO HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS FOR LICENSING AS A REGISTERED NURSE:
Step 1 Degree Evaluation More Efficient Scenario Approximate Time and Cost It takes you just 3 months to get your home country documents to a credentialing organization to complete your degree evaluation No translation is needed 3 months + $500

Less Efficient Scenario Approximate Time and Cost Problems with your documents take 6 months to resolve and are expensive since you must pay others in your country to visit institutions for you Your documents must be translated 8 months + $1,100

2 Fingerprints

You identify a finger printing provider and make an appointment 1 month + $50

You identify a finger printing provider and make an appointment 1 month + $50

3 Submit Licensure by Examination Application to CTS 4 Register with

You assemble your Licensing by Examination packet relatively quickly 6 months + $100

Your licensing application is incomplete the first time and you must resubmit it 9 months + $100

You register for the NCLEX at the same as you

You register for the NCLEX at the same as you apply to CTS

Step Pearson Vue for NCLEX

More Efficient Scenario Approximate Time and Cost apply to CTS You begin a self-study course for the NCLEX for $300 $500 You schedule the NCLEX right after receiving the Authorization to Test

Less Efficient Scenario Approximate Time and Cost

$200

5 Receive Authorization to Test and Schedule NCLEX 6 Take and Pass NCLEX

You schedule the NCLEX right after receiving the Authorization to Test

Your skills are fresh and you've been using a self-study program throughout the process; you pass the NCLEX on the first try. Your license is received 3 months after you take the exam 5 months

It takes you 2 tries to pass the NCLEX.In between tests, you enroll in a 4-month NCLEX preparation class for $1,000. Your license is received 3 months after you take the second exam 8 months + $1,200

More Efficient Total About 1 1/2 years and $1,200

Less Efficient Total About 2 years and $2,650

(BACK TO TOP) 5. OTHER CAREERS AND CREDENTIALS LOWER-LEVEL OPPORTUNITIES You may want to consider if taking a lower-level job in healthcare in the short-term can help you meet longer-term goals of licensing as a registered nurse. Preparing for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) can take time. Working in healthcarein a different way and with fewer responsibilities may offer you some advantages, such as employers paying for tuition and fees associated with the NCLEX and licensing more energy to focus on studying a chance to adapt to the U.S. healthcare system and workplace culture in a lower-pressure environment You should be honest with your employer about your long-term plans and be sure that they have benefits such as tuition reimbursement or schedule flexibility that will support your goals. CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT, CNA

CNAs are also commonly referred to as nurses' aides or orderlies. CNAs have very limited responsibilities and work under nurse supervision. As a foreign trained nurse, you can become a CNA fairly easily once you have completed your degree evaluation through either ERES or CGFNS.You do not need to take a U.S. CNA course if you can provide the following materials to register for the written competency exam: A copy of your diploma translated into English Copy of official transcripts in English, including the number of hours of training you received for each course Social Security card Proof of employment authorization After you have the necessary materials to register for the CNA exam, you can find an exam site through Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C). Their website, www.nurseaidetesting.com, also offers practice materials, a study guide, and test locations. This exam is basic, but CNA test preparation materials are available to practice. If you fail the email 3 times, you must take a CNA training course inorder to be able to register for the exam again. CNA training programs are short courses that last only 1 or 2 months. They are offered through many community colleges or larger healthcare facilities in Illinois. Additionally, you must pass a test and a criminal background check before working as a CNA. Working as a CNA in the healthcare field will provide you with an opportunity to build a professional network, gain U.S. experience that is highly relevant to your profession, and possibly receive tuition reimbursement for relicensing purposes. CNAs typically earn approximately $12 per hour. HEALTHCARE INTERPRETER If you are bilingual and a strong communicator, you may want to research opportunities for work inhospitals as an interpreter. This type of role is not regulated in Illinois, so standards for employment as well as pay and benefits may be very different depending on the employer. You are more likely to have benefits such as tuition reimbursement if you find work as a direct employee of a healthcare facility,instead of working for a company that provides interpretation services to hospitals. You may want to begin your research by directly contacting human resource departments at hospitals. HIGHER-LEVEL OPPORTUNITIES After you receive your Registered Nurse license in Illinois you may find you want to continue your professional development. If you have the equivalent

of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, you can qualify to train as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSE (APN) The advanced practice nurse is the highest licensure in nursing practice and involves graduate school education, examination, and licensing processes beyond the level required of Registered Nurses. APNs inmost states are allowed a more independent nursing practice, which includes diagnosis and treatment of patients and the ability to prescribe medications. In Illinois, APNs must have a joint agreement with anIllinois licensed physician on record, but direct physician supervision is not required in order to practice. APNs can choose from specialties in one of 4 recognized practice areas: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), or Nurse Practitioner (CNP). A RN who wants to become an APN will find a variety of opportunities for education, including accelerated degree programs or courses designed for working professionals (e.g. weekend and evening courses). (BACK TO TOP) 6. BEYOND LICENSING JOINING A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION State and national associations for nurses provide opportunities for professional development and networking. They also help set acceptable working conditions for nurses, and give information and opinions on policy in Illinois and across the U.S. Their websites may offer useful information to nursing candidates about the licensing and examination process, including test preparation. They often provide Continuing Education to members as well. STATE: Illinois Nurses Association NATIONAL:

American Nurses Association Additionally, there is a large variety of professional associations for nurses that cater to specific disciplines, job type, ethnicity, gender, or religion of registered nurses. LICENSING MOBILITY (RECIPROCITY) The state of Illinois does not have any shared agreement to honor the nursing licenses of other states. It grants licensing to nurses by either examination (the process described in this topic) or endorsement (where a

registered nurse licensed in another state must meet all Illinois requirements for licensing). Fortunately, since the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is accepted by all states, a registered nurse looking to relocate to Illinois will not have to retake the NCLEX. However, the country is now moving toward increased mobility of nursing licenses, as the nursing shortage encourages states to attract more qualified professionals. See the National Resources part of the Important Links section to view the states that are currently participating in mutual licensing reciprocity for licensed practice nurses and registered nurses; you can learn more about this Nurse Licensure Compact through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (BACK TO TOP) 7. IMPORTANT LINKS Common Words used in this article REGULATION: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation issues licenses for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Professional Nurses (RN) and Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). Application packets (both by Examination and Licensing by Endorsement) can be downloaded on the homepage. The state of Illinois has established the Illinois Center for Nursing to promote nursing in the state. It has useful links to education and employment information, as well as professional associations TESTING: Pearson Vue administers the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) and gathers importantinformation and further links regarding the NCLEX Download the latest NCLEX Examination Candidate Bulletin as well as a small software program that offers an online tutorial for the NCLEX computer-based exam interface - this will familiarize you with the appearance and operation of the interface including the variety of possible question formats (multiple choice, ordering, fill in the blank) Continental Testing Service registers candidates and collects licensing applications for the IllinoisDepartment of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), serving as intermediary between the state, the candidate, and Pearson Vue. Questions about the application process should be directed to them. Phone: (708) 354-9911 Address: Continental Testing Services Inc., P.O. Box 100, LaGrange,Illinois 60525. The online registration can be accessed through clicking on "Apply for Exam"

CREDENTIALS: The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) in Philadelphia, PA is one of two credentialing organizations accepted by the State of Illinois for RN licensure. Phone: (215) 349-8767 ext. 476. Some resource tools include their useful CES Application Instructions Handbook and fee schedule The Education Records Evaluation Service, Inc. in Sacramento, CA is the other credentialing organization accepted by the State of Illinois for RN licensure. Phone: (916) 921-0790 ILLINOIS RESOURCES: The Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium is a non-profit organization working with foreign trained nurses to assist in navigating the health care, immigration, and education systems to secure licensure as registered professional nurses in Illinois. They offer TOEFL classes for nurses, NCLEX preparation courses, and CPR courses, as well as coaching in the relicensing process specific to nurses The Illinois Health Care Worker Registry shows the required steps of licensing as a CNA in Illinois NATIONAL RESOURCES:

The National Council on State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) represents member Nursing Boards for all 50 states. It develops the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). It is also, coincidentally, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Its website also has an up-to-date map of states which have formed a Nurse Licensure Compact National Council on State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Learning Extension is a portal for e-learning for nursing that includes test preparation for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) for nursing candidates and continuing education for practicing nurses at all levels. The NCSBN's Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination v5.4 is an online subscription service that includes extensive NCLEX preparation resources, including skills assessment to identify knowledge gaps, plus curriculum, test questions and interactive exercises The Illinois Nurses Association is the largest nursing association in the state The American Nurses Association is its national counterpart (BACK TO TOP) 8. TIPS PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTS

Nursing foreign degree evaluation services require that your university and licensing authority send transcripts directly to them. Invest the time and money early to facilitate this process. Providing additional documentation about your program of study, such as syllabi or course descriptions, can make the most of your degree evaluation. Making an effort here can result in significant savings of time and money by minimizing the gaps in comparing your degree to its U.S. equivalent. GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Be your own advocate throughout the licensing process. Seek clarification about questions and concerns directly from official sources. If you feel your degree has been misinterpreted or you do not understand a fine point of the state regulations, organize your questions, contact Continental Testing Services (CTS), Pearson Vue, or Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), and ask for assistance. INVEST IN TEST PREPARATION If you can afford it, invest some money in test preparation. There are online and in-person formats available, including a moderately priced subscription service by the makers of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Investing money wisely now to make your licensing process a success will get you into a job that pays well that much faster! You should feel prepared to take the NCLEX by the time your licensing by examination application is ready to submit to Continental Testing Services (CTS), because the events that follow are sensitive to deadlines and you will lose money if you delay BE FLEXIBLE IN YOUR JOB SEARCH Build professional networks; consider employment in healthcare at a lower level, such as a CNA, to give you a lower-stress job that allows you to study for licensing and open opportunities to meet employers. If you are overqualified for positions you are applying for, explain how your plans can bring long-term value to the employer (BACK TO TOP)
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