The Department may, in its discretion, license as a massage therapist, by endorsement, on payment of the required fee, an applicant who is a massage therapist licensed under the laws of another state or territory, if the requirements for licensure in the state or territory in which the applicant was licensed were, at the date of his or her licensure, substantially equivalent to the requirements in force in this State on that date. The Department may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.
     Applicants have 3 years from the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within the 3 years, the application shall be denied, the fee forfeited, and the applicant must reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.