Subchapter F. VOLUNTEER LICENSES
Sec.
21.601. Purpose and definitions.
21.602. Volunteer license.
21.603. Applications.
21.604. Validity of license.
21.605. Biennial renewal.
21.606. Return to active practice.
21.607. Disciplinary provisions.
Authority The provisions of this Subchapter F issued under section 5 of the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P.S. § 449.45); section 2.1(k) of The Professional Nursing Law (63 P.S. § 212.1(k)); and section 17.6 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P.S. § 667.6), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Subchapter F adopted November 28, 1997, effective November 29, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 6212, unless otherwise noted.
§ 21.601. Purpose and definitions.
(a) This subchapter implements the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P.S. § § 449.41—449.50) and provides for the issuance of a volunteer license to a qualified registered nurse, a certified registered nurse practitioner and a licensed practical nurse who retires from active practice and seeks to provide professional services as a volunteer. A volunteer license authorizes the holder to practice only in an organized community-based clinic without remuneration.
(b) The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Approved clinic—An organized community-based clinic offering primary health care services to individuals and families who cannot pay for their care, to Medical Assistance clients or to residents of medically underserved areas or health professionals shortage areas. The term includes a State health center, nonprofit community-based clinic and Federally qualified health center, as designated by Federal rulemaking or as approved by the Department of Health or the Department of Public Welfare.
Unrestricted license—A license which is not restricted or limited by order of the Board under its disciplinary power.§ 21.602. Volunteer license.
A volunteer license may be issued to a licensee of the Board who documents to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant will practice without personal remuneration in approved clinics and meets one of the following conditions:
(1) Holds a currently renewed, active, unrestricted license as a registered nurse, a certified registered nurse practitioner or a licensed practical nurse in this Commonwealth and retires from active practice at the time the applicant applies for a volunteer license.
(2) Retires from the active practice of nursing in this Commonwealth in possession of an unrestricted license which was allowed to lapse by not renewing it. A registered nurse whose license had lapsed or had been placed on inactive status shall comply with § 21.30a or § 21.156a (relating to continued competency).
§ 21.603. Applications.
(a) An applicant for a volunteer license shall complete an application obtained from the Board. In addition to providing information requested by the Board, the applicant shall provide:
(1) An executed verification on forms provided by the Board certifying that the applicant intends to practice nursing exclusively:
(i) Without personal remuneration for professional services.
(ii) In an approved clinic.
(2) A letter signed by the director or chief operating officer of an approved clinic that the applicant has been authorized to provide volunteer services in the named clinic by the governing body or responsible officer of the clinic.
(b) An applicant for a volunteer license shall complete at least 3 hours of approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with § 21.508(a) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement) as a condition of issuance of a volunteer license.
Authority The provisions of this § 21.603 amended under section 2.1(k) of The Professional Nursing Law (63 P.S. § 222.1(k)); section 17.6 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P.S. § 667.6); and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 21.603 amended March 25, 2022, effective March 26, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1916. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (385247) to (385248).
§ 21.604. Validity of license.
A volunteer license shall be valid for the biennial period for which it is issued, subject to biennial renewal. During each biennial renewal period, the licensee shall notify the Board of any change in clinic or volunteer status within 30 days of the date of a change, or at the time of renewal, whichever occurs first.
§ 21.605. Biennial renewal.
A volunteer license shall be renewed biennially on forms provided by the Board. In accordance with section 6(c) of the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P.S. § 449.46(c)), a volunteer license holder shall comply with the applicable continuing education requirements imposed by the Board, including at least 2 hours of training in approved child abuse recognition and reporting in accordance with § 21.508(b) (relating to child abuse recognition and reporting—mandatory training requirement). The applicant shall be exempt from payment of the biennial renewal fee of § 21.5, § 21.147 or § 21.253 (relating to fees), as applicable.
Authority The provisions of this § 21.605 amended under section 2.1(k) of The Professional Nursing Law (63 P.S. § 222.1(k)); section 17.6 of the Practical Nurse Law (63 P.S. § 667.6); and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6383(b)(2).
Source The provisions of this § 21.605 amended March 25, 2022, effective March 26, 2022, 52 Pa.B. 1916. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (385248).
§ 21.606. Return to active practice.
A volunteer license holder who desires to return to active practice shall notify the Board and apply for biennial registration on forms provided by the Board.
§ 21.607. Disciplinary provisions.
A volunteer license holder shall be subject to the disciplinary provisions of the act and this chapter. Failure of the licensee to comply with the Volunteer Health Services Act (35 P.S. § § 449.41—449.50) or this subchapter may also constitute grounds for disciplinary action.
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
