Chapter 135-6 REGULATION OF LICENSES
Licensed Professional Counselors, Master's Social Workers,
Clinical Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists shall display their
license and evidence of renewal in a conspicuous place in their office or place
of business or employment.
It is the duty of each licensee to notify the Board in writing
of any change of name or address from that previously filed with the Board. A
notice of change of name must be accompanied by a certified copy of a marriage
certificate, court order or other legal document.
| (1) |
All licenses shall expire on September 30
of even numbered years. |
| (2) |
Renewal
notices are only sent as an accommodation. The responsibility of license
renewal remains with the license holder. |
| (3) |
The applicant for renewal shall submit to
the Board, on or before September 30 of even numbered years:
| (a) |
A completed application for renewal;
and |
| (b) |
The biennial renewal fee
(See Fee Schedule); and |
| (c) |
Certification of having satisfied the continuing education requirement, as set
forth in Rule
135-9-.01, during the preceding two
year period, beginning October 1 of even numbered years. |
|
| (4) |
Applications for renewal of licenses
submitted between October 1 of the renewal year and December 31 of same even
numbered year s will be considered late and will be required to pay a late
renewal penalty fee (See Fee Schedule). Failure to renew a license by the end
of the established late renewal penalty period, which is December 31 of the
renewal year, shall have the same effect as a revocation and reinstatement of
the revoked license shall be in the discretion of the Board. |
| (5) |
Unless the license is renewed on or
before September 30 of even numbered years, continued practice after such date
shall constitute unlawful practice and is grounds for discipline. |
| (1) |
Failure to
renew a license by the end of the established late renewal penalty period,
December 31 of even numbered years, shall have the same effect as a revocation
of said license and reinstatement of the license shall be in the discretion of
the Board. If an application for reinstatement is submitted to the Board within
five (5) years of the expiration date of the license, the Board shall require
documentation of thirty five (35) hours of continuing education activities for
EACH renewal cycle missed, a minimum of thirty five (35) of which
must have been completed within two years of the date the reinstatement
application is received by the Board, and payment of a late renewal penalty fee
as set by the Board (See Fee Schedule). At its discretion, the Board may
require additional information. |
| (2) |
If an application for reinstatement is submitted to the Board more than five
(5) years after the expiration of a license, an applicant must provide the
following with their application:
| (a) |
A
completed application for reinstatement, the required fee and documentation of
thirty five (35) hours of continuing education activities that were completed
within two years of the date the reinstatement application is received. In
addition, the applicant must (re)take and pass the required licensing
examination. However, the (re)taking of the exam is not required
if an applicant for reinstatement is currently, and has continuously been,
licensed and practicing in another state/jurisdiction whose licensure
requirements meet or exceed the current Georgia licensure requirements. All
other provisions apply. |
| (b) |
In
order to meet the requirements listed above (2), the applicant may use any
qualifying education, experience and supervision, including any which were
applied toward his/her previous application for licensure. |
|
| (3) |
Associate level licenses (Associate
Professional Counselor and Associate Marriage and Family Therapist) that lapse
for failure to renew by the end of the established late renewal penalty period
may be reinstated only once, and reinstatement is at the discretion of the
Board. All other provisions apply. |
| (1) |
Inactive licensure status is not available for Associate Professional
Counselors or Associate Marriage and Family Therapist licensees. |
| (2) |
A licensee who does not intend to
practice in Georgia and who therefore does not intend to practice or to use the
title Professional Counselor, Social Worker, or Marriage and Family Therapist
may apply to convert an active license to inactive status. An individual who
holds an inactive license will not be required to renew their license or to
satisfy the biennial renewal requirements. |
| (3) |
A license may remain inactive for no more
than five (5) years from the date the status is converted to inactive by the
administrative staff. If a licensee has not applied to reactivate their license
before the five (5) year deadline, the license will be revoked for failure to
reactivate. |
| (4) |
A person who holds
an active license may apply for inactive status in the following manner:
| (a) |
Submit a completed, signed, notarized
"Request for Inactive Status" application to the Board. There is no fee to
apply for inactive status; |
| (b) |
Submit the license pocket card with the application. |
|
| (5) |
A person who holds an inactive license
may apply to reactivate their license within five (5) years or less from date
active status was converted to inactive status by the administrative staff in
the following manner:
| (a) |
Submit an
Application for Reactivation; |
| (b) |
Submit the reactivation fee (see fee schedule); and |
| (c) |
Submit evidence that the licensee has
obtained thirty five (35) hours of continuing education pursuant to Board rule
135-9 within two (2) years of the date of the application for
reactivation. |
| (d) |
Upon receipt of
the application, the fee and continuing education documents, and upon approval
by the Board, the license will be reactivated. |
|
| (6) |
After five (5) years of inactive status,
an Application for Reinstatement must be filed pursuant to Board
rule 135-6-.04. |
