Policy Statement  Policy Regarding Reinstatement of Lapsed/Expired Licenses

Date:	12/06/2017
Referenced Sources:	Statutes and Regulations (Allied Health)

Policy Regarding Reinstatement of Lapsed/Expired Licenses

Policy Regarding Reinstatement of Lapsed/Expired Licenses

Purpose:

259 CMR 2.05 provides the procedures that licensees must follow in order to reinstate a lapsed/expired license. 

The purpose of this policy statement is to offer guidance to Licensees/Applicants regarding the “other Board requirements”, as stated in 259 CMR §§2.05 (1)(d) & (2)(d), that the Board may impose as a condition for re-licensure after a licensee has allowed his or her license to expire.

Policy:

Individuals previously licensed by the Board of Registration in Allied Health Professionals (“the Board”) may be eligible for reinstatement by the Board under the following conditions:

1. An individual whose license has lapsed for one year or fewer than five years is required to demonstrate successful completion of such continuing education credits as are necessary for the Board to determine proficiency in the profession.  For those professions, i.e., athletic training and occupational therapy, whose licensure also requires or allows maintaining national certification as a prerequisite for license renewal and whose certifying bodies require continuing education as a condition of certification, maintenance of certification during the period of lapsed licensure will satisfy this proficiency requirement. In the event the Board cannot determine proficiency in the profession through successful completion of continuing education credits, then the applicant must take and pass the appropriate licensing examination upon reexamination.
2. Individuals whose license has lapsed for five years or more are required to take and pass the appropriate licensing examination.
3. The Board may also exempt from the examination requirement individuals who submit satisfactory proof that they were unable to renew their license in a timely manner due to illness and/or other extenuating circumstances.
4. For the purposes of 259 Code Mass. Regs. §2.05(3)(c), a person who has been licensed and practicing in another jurisdiction during the entire period of Massachusetts licensure lapse/expiration must submit at least twenty-four (24) continuing competency units taken within the preceding two (2) years for Board review.
5. In any circumstance, the Board reserves the right to require the licensee/applicant to appear before the Board to demonstrate sufficient proficiency and knowledge in the appropriate profession.