The expiration date and renewal date for each license issued under this Act shall be set by rule. The renewal period for each license issued under this Act shall be 3 years. A dentist or dental hygienist may renew a license during the month preceding its expiration date by paying the required fee. All initial licenses issued during an open renewal period shall have the next expiration date. A dentist or dental hygienist shall provide proof of current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification intended for health care providers at the time of renewal as provided by rule. Basic Life Support certification training taken as a requirement of this Section shall be counted for no more than 4 hours during each licensure period towards the continuing education hours under Section 16.1 of this Act. The Department shall provide by rule for exemptions from this requirement for a dentist or dental hygienist with a physical disability that would preclude him or her from performing BLS.
Any dentist or dental hygienist whose license has expired or whose license is on inactive status may have his license restored at any time within 5 years after the expiration thereof, upon payment of the required fee and a showing of proof of compliance with current continuing education requirements, as provided by rule.
Any person whose license has been expired for more than 5 years or who has had his license on inactive status for more than 5 years may have his license restored by making application to the Department and filing proof acceptable to the Department of taking continuing education and of his fitness to have the license restored, including sworn evidence certifying to active practice in another jurisdiction, and by paying the required restoration fee. A person practicing on an expired license is deemed to be practicing without a license. However, a holder of a license may renew the license within 90 days after its expiration by complying with the requirements for renewal and payment of an additional fee. A license renewal within 90 days after expiration shall be effective retroactively to the expiration date.
If a person whose license has expired or who has had his license on inactive status for more than 5 years has not maintained an active practice satisfactory to the department, the Department shall determine, by an evaluation process established by rule, his or her fitness to resume active status and may require the person to complete a period of evaluated clinical experience and may require successful completion of a practical examination.
However, any person whose license expired while he or she was (i) on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or called into service or training by the State militia or (ii) in training or education under the supervision of the United States preliminary to induction into the military service, may have his or her license renewed, reinstated, or restored without paying any lapsed renewal or restoration fee, if within 2 years after termination of such service, training, or education other than by dishonorable discharge, he or she furnishes the Department with satisfactory proof that he or she has been so engaged and that his or her service, training, or education has been so terminated.
225 ILCS 25/16