Starting January 1, 2023, health care professionals in Illinois will need to complete a one-hour course in implicit bias awareness training as part of their required continuing medical education. For licensees who hold multiple licenses subject to this new requirement, they can count this one hour course toward meeting the minimum credit hours required for continuing education for each professional license (they do not have to repeat the course for each license).
Training courses that qualify under the new Rule will need to, at a minimum, include the following topics: an explanation of implicit bias and the difference between explicit and implicit biases; causes of implicit bias and how it forms and operates; effects of implicit bias and the harms it can cause; and how to recognize, interrupt, and mitigate implicit bias.
The new Rule applies to individuals with the following licenses: physician (medical), physician (osteopathic), chiropractic physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, clinical psychologist, dentist, dental hygienist, optometrist, pharmacist, registered certified pharmacy technician, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, physician assistant, acupuncturist, athletic trainer, clinical social worker, social worker, dietitian nutritionist, naprapath, nursing home administrator, occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, podiatric physician, respiratory care practitioner, clinical professional counselor, professional counselor, sex offender evaluator, sex offender treatment provider, associate sex offender provider, speech-language pathologist, speech-language pathology assistant, audiologist, perfusionist, registered surgical assistant, registered surgical technologist, and genetic counselor.
Additionally, there are only certain persons or entities that are approved to provide the required implicit bias training course, including a Division-approved continuing education provider for any profession subject to the requirement of implicit bias awareness training or an entity that is recognized as a continuing education provider under any licensing Act administered by the Division for professions subject to the requirements of implicit bias awareness training.
Courses may be provided online, in a webinar, or in a live classroom setting.
Additional License Renewal Requirements
In addition to the new implicit bias course requirement, physicians will also be required to complete sexual harassment prevention training and mandated reporter training (including child abuse), starting in the 2023 license renewal year. Alzheimer’s and dementia training will be a fourth required course area when the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation adopts a rule to implement the training, prior to the current license expiration on July 31, 2023.
Upcoming Opportunity to Meet the Requirement
On August 2, 2022, the Illinois Chiropractic Society will present a live webinar class that meets the requirements of the rule. The live course may be counted as one formal hour toward the 60 formal hours (plus 90 informal hours) that are required for each 3-year license cycle.