Physician duties · CNS · Illinois
Signing for a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Illinois: what the physician takes on
The agreement is mandatory for the clinician, which makes its duties mandatory for you. Illinois does not name a specific instrument.
CNSs are included in the same 2017 full-practice-authority attestation pathway as NP/CNM (P.A. 100-0513) — unlike Virginia, Illinois does not turn CNS independence on a prescribing/non-prescribing scope distinction.
Independent practice requires: ≥4,000 hours of clinical practice under a written collaborative agreement after first attaining national certification; ≥250 hours of continuing education/training; a notarized full-practice-authority attestation filed with IDFPR.
What you take on as the physician
The rules the physician relationship has to follow. Each fact comes from the statute or board rule listed under sources.
Proximity
below full-practice-authority attestation: Available remotely (no on-site requirement)
No codified mile/minute radius; governed by the written collaborative agreement.
Supervision ratio
Not codified — no cap on file
Chart review
Not codified — left to the agreement
Meeting cadence
Not codified — left to the agreement
Prescriptive authority
below full-practice-authority attestation: Separate prescribing terms required · controlled substances permitted
Whether Illinois CNS practice commonly includes independent prescribing to the same extent as NP practice was not separately confirmed in this research pass.
at/after full-practice-authority attestation: Covered by the practice agreement · controlled substances permitted
Independent prescriptive authority once the attestation is filed.
Written agreement
Required
Practice ownership (corporate practice of medicine)
Licensee-only ownership required — Professional service corporation (805 ILCS 10) or PLLC (805 ILCS 185) held by nursing licensees; excluded from the physician-only Medical Corporation Act.
Legal sources for these rules (1)
- 225 ILCS 65/65-43 — Full Practice Authority (Nurse Practice Act)
What physicians charge for this role
Typical monthly compensation in Illinois
$500 – $600
Estimate for one Clinical Nurse Specialist. This state's proximity rules add a small premium.
About Illinois's rules
The 2017 Nurse Practice Act reform (P.A. 100-0513) lets NP/CNM/CNS attest to full practice authority after 4,000 hours under a written collaborative agreement plus 250 hours of CE — CRNAs are not included in that attestation pathway. The Medical Corporation Act (805 ILCS 15) restricts clinical-entity ownership to physicians; APRNs/PAs may still use a professional service corporation or PLLC of their own licensees.
Other clinicians in Illinois: see the state overview.