The Department may adopt rules of continuing education for registered professional nurses licensed under this Act that require 20 hours of continuing education per 2-year license renewal cycle. The rules shall address variances in part or in whole for good cause, including without limitation illness or hardship. The continuing education rules must ensure that licensees are given the opportunity to participate in programs sponsored by or through their State or national professional associations, hospitals, or other providers of continuing education. The continuing education rules must allow for a licensee to complete all required hours of continuing education in an online format. Each licensee is responsible for maintaining records of completion of continuing education and shall be prepared to produce the records when requested by the Department.