(a) The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this subchapter shall be renewed every two years in the licensee’s birth month. The Board shall mail an application for renewal of licensing to every person to whom a license was issued during the current period no later than 75 days before the expiration date of the person’s license. The applicant shall complete the application form and return it to the Board with the renewal fee. The Board shall verify the accuracy of the application and issue the applicant a renewal for the current period. Such certificate of renewal shall render the holder thereof a legal practitioner of nursing for the period stated on the certificate of renewal.
(b) Any licensee who allows such license to lapse for one year may renew his or her license by application and payment of current renewal fees.
(c) Any person practicing nursing during the time his or her license has lapsed shall be considered an illegal practitioner, and shall be subject to the penalty provided for violations of this subchapter.
(d) The Board shall prescribe continuing education as a prerequisite for license renewal or acceptance of certificate.
(e) A licensee may request that his or her license be placed on an inactive status. A license which has been inactive for less than one year may be reactivated by the submission of an application for renewal and the payment of late renewal penalty fees.
(f) A license that has been inactive for more than one year may be reactivated upon reapplication to the Board and payment of all required fees. The Board shall require evidence of continuing education commensurate with the number of years the license was inactive or evidence of involvement in the practicing of nursing.
(g) Any license which is inactive for more than 10 years shall automatically be suspended. One year prior to the automatic suspension of the license, the Board shall give written notice to the licensee.
(h) A suspended license may be reinstated by application and payment of all required fees. Additionally, the Board shall require evidence of continuing education or involvement in the practice of nursing within another state or a recognized jurisdiction.
(i) If the applicant cannot provide evidence of continuing education or involvement in the practice of nursing, he or she shall be required to successfully complete a formal refresher program as prescribed by the Board.
(j) Fee schedules—
(1) Fee schedules for all licensing activities shall be established and revised as necessary by the Board.
(2) There is established the Board of Nurse Licensure Revolving Fund in which shall be deposited all monies received in the form of fees by the Board of Nurse Licensure. Monies shall be disbursed from the Nurse Licensure Revolving Fund by the Commissioner of Finance, upon the certification of the Chairman of the Board of Nurse Licensure, to pay the administrative expenses of the Board.