Illinois § 12

§ 12.

Expiration of license; renewal. (a) The expiration date and renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. (b) As a condition for the renewal of a license as a pharmacist, the licensee shall provide evidence to the Department of completion of a total of 30 hours of pharmacy continuing education during the 24 months preceding the expiration date of the certificate. Such continuing education shall be approved by the Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education. (c) The Department may establish by rule a means for the verification of completion of the continuing education required by this Section. This verification may be accomplished through audits of records maintained by licensees, by requiring the filing of continuing education certificates with the Department or a qualified organization selected by the Department to maintain such records or by other means established by the Department. (d) Rules developed under this Section may provide for a reasonable biennial fee, not to exceed $20, to fund the cost of such recordkeeping. The Department may, by rule, further provide an orderly process for the restoration of licenses which have not been renewed due to the failure to meet the continuing education requirements of this Section. The requirements of continuing education may be waived, in whole or in part, in cases of extreme hardship as defined by rule of the Department. Such waivers shall be granted for not more than one of any 3 consecutive renewal periods. (e) Any pharmacist who has permitted his license to expire or who has had his license on inactive status may have his license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of his fitness to have his license restored, and by paying the required restoration fee. The Department shall determine, by an evaluation program established by rule his fitness for restoration of his license and shall establish procedures and requirements for such restoration. However, any pharmacist who demonstrates that he has continuously maintained active practice in another jurisdiction pursuant to a license in good standing, and who has substantially complied with the continuing education requirements of this Section shall not be subject to further evaluation for purposes of this Section. (f) Any licensee who shall engage in the practice for which his or her license was issued while the license is expired or on inactive status shall be considered to be practicing without a license which, shall be grounds for discipline under Section 30 of this Act. (g) Any pharmacy operating on an expired license is engaged in the unlawful practice of pharmacy and is subject to discipline under Section 30 of this Act. A pharmacy whose license has been expired for one year or more may not have its license restored but must apply for a new license and meet all requirements for licensure. Any pharmacy whose license has been expired for less than one year may apply for restoration of its license and shall have its license restored. (h) However, any pharmacist whose license expired while he was (1) in Federal Service on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, or the State Militia called into service or training, or (2) in training or education under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction into the military service, may have his license or certificate restored without paying any lapsed renewal fees, if within 2 years after honorable termination of such service, training or education he furnishes the Department with satisfactory evidence to the effect that he has been so engaged and that his service, training or education has been so terminated. (Source: P.A. 100-497, eff. 9-8-17.)