Becoming a nurse takes years of education, passing difficult exams, and meeting licensing requirements. But even after completing these steps, some applicants are surprised to find their nursing license denied. If you’ve applied for a nursing license in Illinois and received a denial, it’s important to understand why and what options you have moving forward.
At Callahan Law Firm, we help nurses defend their professional licenses and challenge denials from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Whether you’re facing issues with your initial application or your existing license is at risk, we can help you fight for your career.
Why Is My Nursing License Being Denied?
If you’ve passed your board exams but received a denial from IDFPR, several factors could be at play. Some of the most common reasons for license denials include:
- Criminal Convictions – A past conviction can impact your eligibility for a nursing license, especially if it involves dishonesty, violence, drug-related offenses, or crimes against patients. If a conviction wasn’t disclosed in your application, the IDFPR may consider it an attempt to mislead the board, which could result in an automatic denial.
- Disciplinary Actions in Another State – If you’ve held a nursing license in another state and faced disciplinary action, the IDFPR may use that history as grounds to deny your application in Illinois.
- Issues with Other Healthcare Licenses – If you have held a different professional healthcare license - such as a physician’s assistant license - and it was suspended, revoked, or otherwise sanctioned, this could also affect your ability to get a nursing license in Illinois.
- Application Deficiencies – If your application is missing key documentation, contains errors, or lacks required details, the IDFPR may reject it. In some cases, you may be able to correct the issue and resubmit your application.
What Can You Do If Your Nursing License Was Denied?
If your nursing license application was denied, you may have options to challenge the decision:
- Petition for Review – If you believe there was an error or misunderstanding, you can file a petition for review within 20 days of receiving your denial notice.
- Seek Legal Help – It is always the best option to contact an attorney experienced in Nursing Licenses and the IDFPR process. Working with a nursing license defense attorney can improve your chances of a successful appeal.
- Contact the IDFPR – You can reach out to the IDFPR for clarification on the denial and to determine if any steps can be taken to correct deficiencies.
- Submit Additional Documentation – If your denial is due to missing or incomplete information, promptly providing the required details may help resolve the issue.
What Happens If Your Nursing License Is Revoked?
If you already have a nursing license but are facing a revocation, the situation is more serious. IDFPR may revoke a license due to:
- Criminal convictions involving fraud, violence, or drug-related offenses
- Violations of Illinois or federal drug laws
- Misconduct related to patient care
- Failing to comply with previous disciplinary conditions
Even if your license has been revoked, there may be a path forward. If you’ve completed probation or parole, you may be eligible to apply again after a set period. However, if there are outstanding fines, missing documentation, or misleading statements on your application, you could face additional obstacles.
Get Help From an Illinois Nursing License Defense Attorney
A nursing license denial or revocation can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Callahan Law Firm represents nurses across Illinois in professional license defense cases. Whether you’re dealing with a license denial, disciplinary action, or an investigation by the IDFPR, we can help you fight for your career.
Contact us today to discuss your case and discuss what options you have.
