(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

1. (a) The Department shall, upon the applicant's satisfactory completion of the requirements set forth in this Act and upon receipt of the fee, issue the license indicating the name and business location of the licensee and the date of expiration.
2. (b) An applicant may, upon satisfactory completion of the requirements set forth in this Act and upon receipt of fees related to the application and testing for licensure, elect to defer the issuance of the applicant's initial license for a period not longer than 3 years. An applicant who fails to request issuance of his or her initial license or agency license and to remit the fees required for that license within 3 years shall be required to resubmit an application together with all required fees.

3. (c) The expiration date, renewal period, and conditions for renewal and restoration of each license, permanent employee registration card, canine handler authorization card, canine trainer authorization card, and firearm control card shall be set by rule. The holder may renew the license, permanent employee registration card, canine handler authorization card, canine trainer authorization card, or firearm control card during the 30 days preceding its expiration by paying the required fee and by meeting conditions that the Department may specify. Any license holder who notifies the Department on forms prescribed by the Department may place his or her license on inactive status for a period of not longer than 3 years and shall, subject to the rules of the Department, be excused from payment of renewal fees until the license holder notifies the Department, in writing, of an intention to resume active status. Practice while on inactive status constitutes unlicensed practice. A non-renewed license that has lapsed for less than 3 years may be restored upon payment of the restoration fee and all lapsed renewal fees. A license that has lapsed for more than 3 years may be restored by paying the required restoration fee and all lapsed renewal fees and by providing evidence of competence to resume practice satisfactory to the Department and the Board, which may include passing a written examination. All restoration fees and lapsed renewal fees shall be waived for an applicant whose license lapsed while on active duty in the armed forces of the United States if application for restoration is made within 12 months after discharge from the service.

   Any person seeking renewal or restoration under this subsection (c) shall be subject to the continuing education requirements established pursuant to Section 10-27 of this Act.

4. (d) Any permanent employee registration card expired for less than one year may be restored upon payment of lapsed renewal fees. Any permanent employee registration card expired for one year or more may be restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of the licensee's fitness to have the permanent employee registration card restored, including verification of fingerprint processing through the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation and paying the restoration fee.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)