(a) Certificates issued for certified home health aides shall be renewed every two years and renewal shall be conditioned on the certificate holder obtaining a criminal record clearance pursuant to Section 1736.6.
(b) Certificates issued to certified home health aides shall expire on the certificate holder’s birthday.
(c) To renew an unexpired certificate, the certificate holder shall, on or before the certificate expiration date, apply for renewal on a form provided by the state.
(d) The department shall give written notice to a certificate holder 90 days in advance of the renewal date and 90 days in advance of the expiration of the fourth year that an application has not been submitted, and shall give written notice informing the certificate holder in general terms of the provisions governing certificate renewal for certified home health aides. Nonreceipt of the renewal notice does not relieve the certificate holder of the obligation to make a timely renewal. Failure to make a timely renewal shall result in expiration of the certificate.
(e) Except as otherwise provided in this article, an expired certificate may be renewed at any time within four years after its expiration on the filing of an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the department.
Renewal under this article shall be effective on the date on which the application is filed. If renewed, the certificate shall continue in effect until the date provided for in this section, when it shall expire if it is not again renewed.
(f) If a certified home health aide applies for renewal more than 30 days after expiration but within four years after the expiration, and demonstrates in writing to the department’s satisfaction why the renewal application was late, then the state department shall issue a renewal. A suspended certificate is subject to expiration and shall be renewed as provided in this article, but this renewal does not entitle the certificate holder, while the certificate remains suspended, and until it is reinstated, to engage in the certified activity, or in any other activity or conduct in violation of the order or judgment by which the certificate was suspended.
(g) A revoked certificate is subject to expiration as provided in this section, but it cannot be renewed.
(h) A certificate that is not renewed within four years after its expiration cannot be renewed, restored, reissued, or reinstated except upon completion of a certification training program unless deemed otherwise by the state department if both of the following conditions are met:
(1) No fact, circumstance, or condition exists that, if the certificate were issued, would justify its revocation or suspension.
(2) The person takes and passes any examination that may be required of an applicant for a new certificate at that time, that shall be given by an approved provider of a certification training program.
(i) Certificate holders shall notify the department within 60 days of any change of address. Any notice sent by the department shall be effective if mailed to the current address filed with the department.
(j) Certificate holders that have been certified as both nurse assistants pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 1337) of Chapter 2 of Division 2 and home health aides pursuant to this chapter shall renew their certificates at the same time on one application.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 74, Sec. 21. Effective July 12, 2006.)