I am posting this to share my experience getting my license from the IDFPR in Illinois. While going through this I read every thread I could find related to this to try and ease my anxiety. I graduated June 21, 2019. The day of my graduation my school sent continental testing services my character references, letter of explanation, and certified court documents through the mail, as this has been their practice for years. I have 2 misdemeanors that are non-convictions from 10 years ago. I received my ATT June 27th. FAST RIGHT! Whew I was ready to go! I took the first test date I could get, and took my NCLEX on July 9th. I immediately did the trick in the parking lot and found out my results were put on hold. Oh boy that was a tough 2 days! After 2 days they came off hold, and I found out I passed. I did some investigating on the internet and found out I could create an acct on https://ilesonline.idfpr.illinois.gov/DFPR/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/DFPR/Activities/LicenseStatus.aspx to check the status of my application. I could already see my status, and see that under State Fingerprinting, Fees, Positive Personal History, & FBI Background it said failed/rejected. I was nervous, but I had no information about what this information meant so I began to wait for my official pass letter from CTS so I could pay for my license. Again after doing some reading in threads here I actually found out I didn't have to wait for the letter, that I could actually just go to IDFPR office in Springfield and pay for my license without it. I did just that. I took a money order to the office, and was told my license should be posted by the end of the week.
I received 1st deficiency checklist July 19th. It wanted info I had already had mailed, and uploaded onto the IDFPR site. I went back and forth for almost 2 weeks with call center, because unfortunately they don't have access to all my info, so I would get a different answer every time I called.
I went to Springfield office on Aug 1st with photocopies of everything. I submitted it and was told they again they had everything they needed, and I would have my license posted within the week.
I received my 2nd deficiency letter Aug 4th. It was a photocopy of the first except it said at the top not to submit docs that I had already submitted twice.
I waited on hold for 2 hours to be told they needed all my docs. !!!!!! I almost lost my mind!
I went again to Springfield on Aug 6th. They then showed me what the issue was. On my background check the 2 misdemeanors showed up twice. Meaning it appeared I had 4 charges. So they were wanting docs on charges I actually had never received. They looked up the charges on public access right in front of me and saw there were in fact no charges. They acknowledged it to be truth and told me they would push my license through immediately. It posted within a few hours, and then I received a personal call from a licensing agent to inform me that it had posted.
This whole situation for me was a nightmare. I signed an offer a month ago, and also have another job that I was working at license pending waiting on this license. I know this is long, but I also know the desperation of not knowing what is happening with your license. I read every single thing I could while I was waiting. I hope my story gives someone peace during their wait.
I'm going through the same thing, I have a misdemeanor 23 years ago when I was 14 years old smh. I got all the court documents, but now I'm stuck on how to write the statement required. I was told by a lawyer that I will need legal aid. However, after reading all the threads in here I think I can do it myself. How Long was your statements? and do we have to write anything specific in the statement. TIA
@jennterrazas01 I did not use anyone to help me. For the statement I just wrote I am writing to explain my charges. There are 3 charges. Charge 1. For the charge on x/xx/20xx whatever the charge was I was xx years old at the time. I wrote about the charge and the circumstances surrounding my life at the time. I wrote about how far I have come in my life. You will want to stick to facts. With me I am 15 yrs sober. I have 2 degrees aside from nursing. I wrote about my children and how I have raised them. I said I took full responsibility for what I did and how I have changed my life. Try to keep the emotion to a minimum and just be matter of fact. I wrote my statement the same way I did for my CNA waiver. My statement was 1 page front and back and then 1 more page just front. So 3 all together. Make sure you sign and date each page and write page 1 of x on each one.
I have no clue why they say get legal aid or a lawyer. I did it all by myself w my CNA waiver and this. Once you do the statement and have your cert. Copies you should be good to go.
Thank you for respond, you brought light to my question. Do you recall how long was the whole process after you submitted your statement and court papers? I'm thinking of taking the drive to Springfield just so I can hopefully speed things up.
I rec. My email on 9/8 submitted everything on 9/11 at Springfield. The gentleman took my ppw and made sure I had everything. He came back and said I did. The person reviewing the papers was out w an emergency until Wednesday. I waited until Monday 9/18 and went to talk to someone. I explained I had a job offer pending and the call center couldn't tell me anything. She said the call center doesn't always know, especially when docs are dropped off. She told me 2-4 weeks. For some reason I checked on 9/19 and my license was active. So I'm thinking she pushed it through. Id say if you can drop them off do it asap.
Thank you, and yes I will be writing my statement this weekend and I will be going to Springfield by Monday. I will keep you updated. I'm hoping my turn around will be as fast yours.
@Lpnl unfortunately I live in Illinois, so the city I live in would not let me work license pending. Some of my nursing friends who also live in Illinois but different cities still worked license pending while sorting out their deficiencies. Just all depend on the nursing facility.
I received a license pending letter that I can provide to my employer. And I mailed out everything for my deficiency checklist which was only one item.
Hey nurses I have the same issue going on I mailed all of my document express but I want d to know how long would the process be for a reply should I just watch out for my license to be posted as active or should I receive a call ?
I received an email stating my license was active. I turned all my documents in July 28th 2023 and received the email regarding my active license on August 11th. 2023
I submitted everything for my deficiency checklist, my case was sent to the Chicago office for further review by the prosecution section! Does anyone know if the deficiency checklist is ALL they look into? Or does the that not show everything? I have been waiting 3 weeks and 1 day now.
Also does anyone know if they can hold DISMISSED charges against you? Even if they are disqualifying they aren't CONVICTIONS! They have been dismissed.
I just sent everything back in the email on a Thursday and they emailed me with my license number the next Monday so it was 3 business days total for me
jennterrazas01
3 Posts
@Lmjlpn and @Lise Lu
Hello ladies,
I'm going through the same thing, I have a misdemeanor 23 years ago when I was 14 years old smh. I got all the court documents, but now I'm stuck on how to write the statement required. I was told by a lawyer that I will need legal aid. However, after reading all the threads in here I think I can do it myself. How Long was your statements? and do we have to write anything specific in the statement. TIA