CHAPTER 257. LICENSE RENEWAL

OCCUPATIONS CODE

TITLE 3. HEALTH PROFESSIONS

SUBTITLE D. DENTISTRY

CHAPTER 257. LICENSE RENEWAL

Sec. 257.001. LICENSE EXPIRATION. (a) The board by rule may

adopt a system under which licenses expire on various dates

during the year.

(b) Dates of license suspension and reinstatement after failure

to pay the license fee shall be adjusted accordingly.

(c) For the year in which the expiration date is changed,

license fees payable on or before March 1 shall be prorated on a

monthly basis so that each license holder pays only that portion

of the fee that is allocable to the number of months during which

the license is valid. On renewal of the license on the new

expiration date, the total license fee is payable.

(d) An initial license issued under this subtitle expires on the

30th day after the date the license is issued if the holder of

the license fails to pay the required license fee on or before

that date.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.

772, Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.

Sec. 257.002. LICENSE RENEWAL. (a) A person required to hold a

license as a practitioner under this subtitle who fails or

refuses to apply for renewal of a license and pay the required

fee on or before the specified date of each calendar year is:

(1) suspended from practice; and

(2) subject to the penalties imposed by law on any person

unlawfully engaging in a practice regulated under this subtitle.

(b) A person who is otherwise eligible to renew a license may

renew an unexpired license by paying the required renewal fee to

the board before the expiration date of the license. A person

whose license has expired may not engage in activities that

require a license until the license has been renewed.

(c) A person whose license has been expired for 90 days or less

may renew the license by paying to the board a renewal fee that

is equal to 1-1/2 times the normally required renewal fee.

(c-1) A person whose license has been expired for more than 90

days but less than one year may renew the license by paying to

the board a renewal fee that is equal to two times the normally

required renewal fee.

(d) Except as provided by Subsection (d-1) or (d-2), a person

whose license has been expired for one year or more may not renew

the license. The person may obtain a new license by complying

with the requirements and procedures, including the examination

requirements, for obtaining an original license.

(d-1) A person who was licensed in this state, moved to another

state, and is currently licensed and has been in practice in the

other state for the two years preceding the date of application

may obtain a new license without reexamination. The person must

pay to the board a fee that is equal to two times the normally

required renewal fee for the license.

(d-2) The board may renew the license of a person whose license

has been expired for one year or more without requiring the

person to comply with the requirements and procedures for an

original license if the person places the person's renewed

license on retired status and confines the person's practice

solely to voluntary charity care under Section 256.102(f).

(e) Not later than the 30th day before the date a person's

license is scheduled to expire, the board shall send written

notice of the impending expiration to the person at the person's

last known address according to the board's records.

(f) The requirements prescribed by this section relating to the

payment of annual license fees and penalties for the failure to

timely renew a license do not apply to license holders who are on

active duty with the armed forces of the United States and are

not engaged in private or civilian practice.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.084(a), eff.

Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 17, Sec. 15, eff. Sept.

1, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch.

456, Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.

Sec. 257.004. CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION REQUIREMENTS. (a)

A person holding a dental or dental hygienist license must submit

at the time the person applies for renewal of the license:

(1) a written statement executed by the person stating that the

person has successfully completed a current program or course in

cardiopulmonary resuscitation that includes a demonstration of

skills and a written evaluation; or

(2) if the person is not physically able to comply with the

requirements of Subdivision (1), a written statement describing

the person's physical incapacity executed by a licensed

physician.

(b) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 17, Sec. 28, eff.

Sept. 1, 2003.

(c) A dentist or dental hygienist licensed by the board who

resides in a country other than the United States on the renewal

date of the person's license and has not practiced dentistry or

dental hygiene in the United States during the year preceding the

renewal date is exempt from the requirements of Subsection (a) if

the person submits proof of foreign residence with the person's

renewal application.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1249, Sec. 7, eff. Jan. 1,

2002; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 17, Sec. 16, 28, eff. Sept. 1,

2003.

Sec. 257.005. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR DENTIST AND DENTAL

HYGIENIST. (a) The board shall develop a mandatory continuing

education program for licensed dentists and dental hygienists.

The board by rule shall require a license holder to complete at

least 12 hours of continuing education for each annual

registration period to renew the license for a subsequent annual

period.

(b) The board may:

(1) assess the continuing education needs of license holders;

and

(2) require license holders to attend continuing education

courses specified by the board.

(c) The board by rule shall:

(1) identify the key factors required for competent performance

of professional duties under this subtitle;

(2) develop a process to evaluate and approve continuing

education courses; and

(3) develop a process to assess a license holder's participation

and performance in continuing education courses to evaluate the

overall effectiveness of the program.

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.079(d), eff.

Sept. 1, 2001.