Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or other licensed professional, the road to obtaining your Illinois professional license is a long one. You go through years of education, training and examinations before you can practice in your chosen field.
A denial from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) can feel like a sudden stop after all that investment. But a denial isn’t necessarily the end of the road.
Knowing the most common reasons for denial before you apply or immediately after you receive one can help you take the right next steps.
[Related: How To Obtain Your Medical License in Illinois]
4 Common Reasons the IDFPR Denies a Professional License Application
The IDFPR can deny a professional license application for a range of reasons. These are some of the most frequent we encounter as IDFPR defense attorneys.
1. Application Errors
The IDFPR has stringent rules governing the application process. Most applications include a sworn statement under penalty of perjury that all information is correct.
The department doesn’t treat an unintentional error, once sworn to, as a mistake. The sworn statement eliminates that defense.
Having a professional license defense attorney review your application before submission can prevent errors that would otherwise be difficult to explain after the fact. They’ll help you dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s.
2. Failure To Disclose
Failing to disclose required information is one of the most common and damaging reasons for license application denial.
Even when a failure to disclose is unintentional, the IDFPR may treat it as a deliberate attempt to conceal derogatory information. The underlying issue itself is often less of a problem than the omission.
A license defense attorney can help you determine what you’re required to disclose and how to present it.
[Related: Does an Illinois Physician Have To Submit to Questioning by an IDFPR Investigator?]
3. Unsatisfied Obligations
Licensing boards require applicants to demonstrate not only the education and training required for their profession but also good moral character.
Outstanding judgments, liens or other unpaid financial obligations can raise concerns about your character and financial responsibility. The IDFPR may view these as evidence of a pattern of behavior that warrants denial.
4. Criminal Convictions
A criminal conviction, particularly a felony, is a common basis for license application denial in Illinois.
The IDFPR has discretion in how it evaluates criminal history. The nature of the offense, its age and evidence of rehabilitation all factor into that analysis.
An experienced license defense attorney can help present your history in the most favorable light and challenge a denial where grounds exist.
[Related: How a Criminal Arrest can Affect Your Illinois Professional License]
What To Do After a Denial: Your Legal Options
A denial from the IDFPR isn’t a final decision. Under the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, a denied applicant has the right to request a formal hearing before the IDFPR.
There, you can present evidence, call witnesses and challenge the basis for the denial. The burden is on you as the applicant to demonstrate you meet the requirements for licensure.
If the hearing results in an unfavorable outcome, you may seek administrative review in the circuit court of the county where you reside or where the hearing was held. The court reviews whether the agency’s decision was arbitrary, capricious or contrary to the manifest weight of the evidence.
This is the same standard that proved decisive in cases like Cadogan.
Deadlines apply at every stage.
Missing a filing window can forfeit your right to challenge the denial at that level. An experienced Illinois professional license defense attorney can help you at every stage:
- Navigate the procedural requirements
- Build the strongest possible record at the hearing stage
- Where appropriate, pursue review in the courts
Early representation gives you the best chance of a successful outcome.
[Related: Why You Need an Illinois Professional License Defense Attorney if You Are Under Investigation]
Contact Williams & Nickl To Fight Your Illinois License Denial
A denial doesn’t have to end your career before it starts. At Williams & Nickl, we have extensive experience representing Illinois professionals whose license applications were denied by the IDFPR.
Contact us online or call 312-335-9470 to schedule a confidential, no-cost 1-hour consultation.
Read our case results and testimonials to see how we’ve helped Illinois professionals appeal IDFPR license denials.