Chapter 295-15 INACTIVE STATUS LICENSES
Prior to revocation for non-renewal of a license as defined in
O.C.G.A. 43-1-19(1), licensees of these Professional Licensing Boards may apply
for inactive licensure status in accordance with the following
provisions:
| (a) |
Georgia
State Board of Nursing Home Administrators.
| 1. |
Any licensee who holds a current license
and who is not practicing as a nursing home administrator may request the Board
to place that license into an "inactive status" upon written application to the
Board and payment of a non-refundable inactive status application fee. See fee
schedule. The Board, in its sole discretion, may grant or deny the request for
inactive status. Any licensee whose license is on inactive status may not
engage in the practice of nursing home administration or serve as the
administrator of record of a nursing home. |
| 2. |
In order to reactivate an inactive
license, submit the appropriate application, forms, and fee to the Board.
| (i) |
If a license is inactive for twelve
months or less, but no more than twenty-four months, the applicant must submit
forty (40) hours of CE obtained since the Board's last renewal
period. |
| (ii) |
If a license is
inactive for twenty-four months, but not more than thirty-six months, eighty
(80) hours of CE obtained since the Board's last renewal period must be
submitted to the Board. |
| (iii) |
If
the license has been inactive more than thirty-six months, the applicant must
meet current requirements and either submit eighty (80) hours of CE since the
Board's last renewal period, OR take and pass the national
exam. |
| (iv) |
If the inactive license
holds an active license from the Georgia Board's approved state's list and has
been employed for one year as a Nursing Home Administrator prior to the date of
the application, then the applicant must submit an application, fee, and
verification of an active, current license from the state or jurisdiction in
which the license is held. |
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| (b) |
State Board of Examiners of
Psychologists.
| 1. |
A licensee who
holds a current license and who is not using the title "psychologist" in
Georgia and will not practice psychology in the State of Georgia may apply for
Inactive Status by completing an Application for Inactive Status and submitting
the appropriate fee to the Board. A licensee may not use their license in the
State of Georgia while that license is on Inactive Status. |
| 2. |
A licensee who wishes to reactivate an
inactive license who has an active license in another state and who has been
actively practicing psychology there within the past two years must submit to
the Board an Application to Reactivate; documentation of 40 hours of continuing
education activities that were completed within two calendar years of the date
the application is received by the Board, and appropriate fee. |
| 3. |
For the Board to approve reactivation of
the license of a psychologist who has not had an active license in another
state and who has not been actively practicing psychology, the licensee must
also pass both the Georgia Jurisprudence and Oral Examinations in addition to
the requirements set forth in (2) above. |
|
| (c) |
Georgia State Board of
Veterinary Medicine.
| 1. |
A
veterinarian or veterinary technician who wishes to discontinue the practice of
veterinary medicine may apply for an "inactive license." A veterinarian or
veterinary technician holding an "inactive license" may not practice. |
| 2. |
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or a
veterinary technician who holds a valid current active license to practice
Veterinary Medicine as a veterinarian or veterinary technician in the State of
Georgia may request the license be placed on inactive status under the
following provisions:
| (i) |
The Board receives
a written request from the licensee requesting inactive status. The written
request shall contain the notarized signature of the licensee and contain the
following statements:
| I. |
"I understand that
with an inactive license I shall not engage in the practice of veterinary
medicine as a veterinarian or veterinary technician and shall not hold myself
out to the public as being available to provide veterinary services." |
| II. |
"I understand that I am not required to
renew said license while on inactive status." |
| III. |
"I understand I am not required to
obtain the continuing education credits while on inactive status unless I
request to be placed on active status." |
| IV. |
"I understand that to practice or to hold
oneself out as available to practice veterinary medicine with an inactive
license is unlicensed practice and I would be subject to disciplinary
action." |
|
| (ii). |
A Doctor
of Veterinary Medicine or veterinary technology holding an inactive license may
seek active status.
To reinstate the license to active status the licensee
must:
| I. |
Submit a written request for
reinstatement of said inactive license. |
| II. |
Submit proof of attendance at not less
than 30 hours of Board approved continuing education within two years of the
date of the request to reinstate. |
| III. |
Provide evidence acceptable to the Board
that the licensee has not had a license revoked, suspended, disciplined or
otherwise sanctioned in any other jurisdiction that ever issued a license to
practice. |
| IV. |
Provide evidence
acceptable to the Board that licensee has not been convicted of a felony or any
crime involving moral turpitude. |
| V. |
Pay the reinstatement fee, as determined by the Board in the fee
schedule. |
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| (d) |
Georgia Composite Board of
Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family
Therapists.
| (1) |
Inactive
licensure status is not available for Associate Professional Counselors or
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist licensees.
| 1. |
A licensee who does not intend to practice
in Georgia and who therefore does not intend 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. |
| 2. |
A licensee
who does not intend to practice in Georgia and who therefore does not intend to
practice or use the title Professional Counselor, Social Worker, or Marriage
and Family Therapist may apply to convert an active license to an 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 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 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:
| (i) |
Submit a completed, signed, notarized
"Request for Inactive Status" application to the Board. There is no fee to
apply for inactive status; |
| (ii) |
Submit the license pocket card with the application. |
|
| 5. |
A person who holds an inactive license may
apply to reactivate their license within five years or less from date active
status was converted to inactive status by the administrative staff in the
following manner:
| (i) |
Submit an Application
for Reactivation; |
| (ii) |
Submit the
reactivation fee (see fee schedule); |
| (iii) |
Submit evidence that the licensee has
obtained thirty five hours of continuing education pursuant to Board rule 135-9
within two years of the date of the application for reactivation. |
|
| 6. |
Upon receipt of the
application, the fee and continuing education documents the license will be
reactivated. |
| 7. |
After five years of
inactive status, an Application for Reinstatement must be filed pursuant to
Board rule
135-6-.04. |
|
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| (e) |
Georgia Board of
Athletic Trainers.
| 1. |
A licensee
who does not intend to hold themselves out as an athletic trainer or to
practice in Georgia as an athletic trainer may apply to convert his/her active
athletic trainer license into an inactive status. An individual who holds an
inactive license will not be required to renew that license. |
| 2. |
A licensee may maintain his/her license on
inactive status for no more than five years. If licensee does not apply to
reactivate his/ her license before the end of the five-year period, the license
will be revoked for failure to reactivate. In order to obtain a new license, a
person whose license has been revoked for failure to reactivate must apply for
licensure by examination following the procedure set out in Chapter
53-3. |
| 3. |
A licensee may apply for
inactive status by submitting an affidavit to the Board requesting inactive
status and affirming that while on inactive status he/she will not practice
athletic training in Georgia or hold themselves out to the public as an
athletic trainer in Georgia. The licensee shall forward their biennial renewal
license card to the Board with their affidavit but shall be permitted to retain
the decorative wall certificate. |
| 4. |
The board will reactivate a license upon receipt of the following:
| (i) |
Application for Reactivation; |
| (ii) |
Reactivation Fee (See Fee
Schedule); |
| (iii) |
Evidence of
completion of six hours of continuing education approved by the board for each
year the license was inactive. However, no proof of continuing education will
be required of an applicant for reactivation who during the period that the
Georgia license was inactive as (1) practicing with an active license in a
jurisdiction that requires continuing education to maintain that license; or
(2) practicing with NATA certification in a jurisdiction that has licensing
requirement. |
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| (f) |
Georgia State Board of
Funeral Service.
| 1. |
A funeral
director or embalmer who holds a current license and who will not practice
funeral directing or embalming in Georgia may apply for Inactive Status by
completing an Application for Inactive Status and submitting the appropriate
fee (see Fee Schedule) to the Board. Once the license is on inactive status, an
embalmer or funeral director shall not practice embalming or funeral directing
in the State of Georgia while that license is on Inactive Status. |
| 2. |
In order to be placed on Inactive Status,
the license must be in good standing and the licensee must show that he/she has
met continuing education hours, which will be required at their next
renewal. |
| 3. |
A funeral director or
embalmer who wishes to reactivate an inactive license must submit to the Board
an Application to Reactivate, appropriate fee, and documentation of continuing
education.
| (i) |
If the request to reactivate
is received more than two years but less than four years from the date on which
Inactive Status was approved, the licensee must document five (5) continuing
education hours. |
| (ii) |
If the
request to reactive is received four or more years after the date on which
Inactive Status was approved, the licensee must document ten (10) continuing
education hours and take and pass the State Laws and Rules Examination,
notwithstanding the fact that he/she may have passed the Laws and Rules
Examination on a prior date. |
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| (g) |
State Board of Registration
for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.
| 1. |
A licensee who is over the age of 65 and
retired; or who has become disabled may apply to the Board for inactive status
by submitting the required application and paying the proper fee. |
| 2. |
While on inactive status, a licensee is
exempt from the payment of the biennial renewal fee and continuing education
requirements. |
| 3. |
An inactive
licensee may not practice professional engineering or land surveying in this
State. |
| 4. |
An inactive license may
be restored by filing the proper application; proof of continuing education
requirements; and, approval and reactivation fee to be determined by the
Board. |
|
| (h) |
Georgia Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
| 1. |
A Doctor of Chiropractic who holds a valid
license to practice chiropractic in the State of Georgia may request the
license be placed on inactive status under the following provisions:
| (a) |
Notifies the Board, in writing, that he
or she chooses to retire from active practice of the profession or will no
longer practice Chiropractic in the State of Georgia. |
| (b) |
Provides a statement acknowledging that
he or she shall not engage in the practice of Chiropractic and shall not hold
themselves out to the public as being available to provide chiropractic
services in this state. |
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| 2. |
Upon meeting the aforementioned conditions
said license shall be considered inactive and the licensee:
| (a) |
Shall not be required to obtain the
necessary continuing education credits for renewal of the license. |
| (b) |
Shall not be assessed a renewal fee for
the period that the license is inactive. |
|
| 3. |
Within the State of Georgia, the practice
of chiropractic with an inactive license shall be considered unlicensed
practice and is subject to disciplinary action. |
| 4. |
Should a Doctor of Chiropractic holding an
inactive license choose to return to active practice in this state, the
following requirements must be met:
| (a) |
Submit an application for reactivation along with the reactivation fee
established by the Board. |
| (b) |
Submit evidence of attendance at forty (40) hours of Board approved continuing
education within the last two (2) years. |
| (c) |
Provide evidence that licensee is in good
standing in all jurisdictions in which he or she has ever been
licensed. |
|
| 5. |
After 5
years of continuous inactive status, the Board may, at its discretion require
successful completion of the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractic
(SPEC) and/or additional coursework. |
|
| (i) |
Georgia State Board of
Physical Therapy.
| 1. |
Any
licensee who is no longer practicing as a physical therapist or physical
therapist assistant in the State of Georgia may request an inactive license
status by filing an application for inactive status and paying the appropriate
fee. Refer to the fee schedule.
| (i) |
An
individual holding inactive status may not practice as a physical therapist or
work as a physical therapist assistant within the State of Georgia. |
| (ii) |
Any individual holding inactive status
is not subject to the biennial renewal fees or continuing competence
requirements. |
| (iii) |
An individual
whose license is under any sanction may not transfer to inactive status while
sanctions are in effect. |
| (iv) |
Any
individual holding inactive status may return to active status by meeting all
requirements for reinstatement as outlined herein. |
|
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| (j) |
Georgia Board of
Examiners of Licensed Dietitians.
| 1. |
The holder of an active license may
request to place the license on inactive status by submitting a written request
to the board no later than June 30th following the March 31st expiration
date. |
| 2. |
The holder of an inactive
license that continues to practice is subject to disciplinary action for
unlicensed practice. |
| 3. |
An inactive
license may be reinstated by application for Reinstatement as provided in Rule
157-2-.04(2). |
| 4. |
The holder of an inactive license is
required to obtain the required continuing professional education units that
are obtained by active licensees. |
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| (k) |
Georgia State Board of
Architects and Interior Designers.
| 1. |
A registered interior designer holding a
valid license to practice in Georgia who has retired from active practice and
is no longer practicing as a registered interior designer in Georgia, may
request inactive license status by filing the required application and paying
the appropriate fee indicated in the fee schedule. |
| 2. |
Any individual whose license is under any
sanction and is not in good standing may not transfer to inactive status while
sanctions are in effect. |
| 3. |
An
individual holding inactive status shall abide by the following conditions:
| (i) |
may not practice and may not offer
registered interior design services; |
| (ii) |
may not hold themselves out to the
public as being available to provide such services; and |
| (iii) |
may only use the term registered
interior designer as long as it is not used to imply active practice or that
registered interior design services are currently offered. |
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| 4. |
Any practice of registered interior design
services while holding an inactive license shall be considered unlicensed
practice and is subject to disciplinary action. |
| 5. |
Any individual holding inactive status is
not subject to the biennial renewal fee or the professional development
requirements. |
| 6. |
An individual may
apply to have an inactive license reactivated by submitting the following
items:
| (i) |
a completed application; |
| (ii) |
the appropriate fee as indicated in the
fee schedule; and |
| (iii) |
the
evidence of having satisfied the reinstatement requirements for professional
development as provided in Rule
50-9-.05(2)(b). |
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| 7. |
Reactivation of a license is at
the sole discretion of the Board. |
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| (l) |
State Licensing Board for
Residential and General Contractors.
| 1. |
A residential or general contractor who
holds a valid residential or general contractor's license in the State of
Georgia may request the license be placed on inactive status under the
following provisions:
| (i) |
Notifies the Board,
in writing, that he or she chooses to retire from active practice of the
profession. Said license shall be considered inactive. |
| (ii) |
Shall not engage in contracting and
shall not hold themselves out to the public as being available to provide
contractor services. |
| (iii) |
Shall
not be required to obtain the necessary continuing education credits. |
| (iv) |
Shall not be assessed a renewal fee for
the period that the license is inactive. |
|
| 2. |
Contracting with an inactive license shall
be considered unlicensed practice and is subject to disciplinary
action. |
| 3. |
Should contractor
holding an inactive license choose to return to active status, the following
requirements must be met:
| (i) |
Submit evidence
of attendance of the required Board approved continuing education for each
biennium that the license was inactive. |
| (ii) |
Provide evidence that licensee is in
good standing in all states in which he or she has ever been licensed. A
reactivation fee as established by the board must be submitted with the
application for reactivation. |
| (iii) |
Submit proof of current general liability insurance and workers' compensation
as required by law for the license type that is to be reinstated. |
| (iv) |
Submit other proof of financial
responsibility as is required for the license type that is to be
reinstated. |
|
| 4. |
After 5
years of continuous inactive status, the Board may, at its discretion require
successful passing of the contractor examination in the contractor field for
the license that the contractor wishes to reinstate. |
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| (m) |
Georgia Board of
Nursing.
| 1. |
A currently licensed
registered professional nurse or licensed practical nurse who wishes to
maintain his or her license but who does not wish to practice nursing in this
State may apply for inactive licensure status by submitting an application for
inactive status and paying the required fee. A licensee granted inactive status
is exempt from filing a biennial license renewal application and paying a
license renewal fee. A licensee who holds an inactive license shall not
practice as a registered professional nurse or licensed practical
nurse. |
| 2. |
An inactive license may
be changed to active status by filing an application for reinstatement with the
Board, complying with reinstatement requirements as defined by the Board, and
paying a reinstatement fee, as determined by the Board. Applicants must be able
to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that he or she has maintained
current knowledge, skill and proficiency in the practice of nursing and that he
or she is mentally and physically able to practice nursing with reasonable
skill and safety. |
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| (n) |
Georgia Board of Optometry.
| 1. |
Doctors of Optometry who have reached
their sixty-fifth (65th) birthday or who can provide certification of
disability to practice Optometry may request that their license be placed on
inactive status under the following provisions:
| (i) |
In the event that a Doctor of Optometry
who holds a valid license to practice Optometry in the State of Georgia
notifies the Board that he chooses to retire from active practice of the
profession, his license shall be considered to be inactive; |
| (ii) |
Doctors holding an inactive license
shall not engage in the practice of Optometry and shall not hold themselves out
to the public as being available to provide optometric services; |
| (iii) |
A Doctor of Optometry holding an
inactive license shall not be required to obtain the necessary continuing
education credits and no renewal fee shall be assessed. |
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| (o) |
Georgia Board of
Podiatry Examiners.
| 1. |
The Joint
Secretary has designated a category of inactive license which the Board has
determined will be available for those persons meeting the prescribed criteria
which shall remain in full force for life, unless reactivated under Board Rule
500-4-.02(2), and
which shall incur no fees. To be eligible to be placed in inactive status, a
licensee must:
| (i) |
Demonstrate an inability
to practice podiatry due to age, physical impairment, or infirmity which time
is not expected to resolve; |
| (ii) |
Have a current active license in good standing to practice podiatry in the
State of Georgia; |
| (iii) |
Must not be
under administrative disciplinary action or court action or
probation; |
| (iv) |
Licensees desiring
to be placed on inactive status must apply in writing to the Board and submit
evidence of inability to practice. |
|
| 2. |
Once placed in inactive status, the
license holder thereafter shall not engage in the practice of podiatry in any
manner in the State of Georgia. The only avenue of reactivation shall be at the
discretion of the Board under conditions acceptable to the Board. Licensees
seeking reactivation shall be required to pay past license renewal fees based
on the current renewal rate for each inactive renewal cycle and submit proof of
continuing education for each biennium on inactive status. |
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