OCCUPATIONS CODE

CHAPTER 257. LICENSE RENEWAL


	§ 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.

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


	§ 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)  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.
	(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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended 
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 14.084(a), eff. Sept. 1, 
2001;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 17, § 15, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


	§ 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, § 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended 
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1249, § 7, eff. Jan. 1, 2002;  Acts 
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 17, § 16, 28, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.  Amended 
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, § 14.079(d), eff. Sept. 1, 
2001.