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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".13" citation="COMAR 10.27.01.13" title_num="10" subtitle_num="27" chapter_num="01" heading="Renewal of License.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The Board shall renew the license of a licensee who meets all the requirements of Health Occupations Article, §8-312, Annotated Code of Maryland and of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The Board shall renew licenses biennially according to the following schedule:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse with an odd-numbered birth year shall always renew in an odd-numbered year not later than the 28th day of the licensee’s birth month; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse with an even-numbered birth year shall always renew in an even-numbered year not later than the 28th day of the licensee’s birth month.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>At least 3 months before a license expires, the Board shall send the licensee a renewal notice by:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>First-class mail to the last known address of the licensee; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Electronic means to the last known electronic address of the licensee.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>It shall be the responsibility of the licensee to notify the Board if a renewal notice is not received.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>The Board cannot guarantee that renewal applications received later than 30 days before the expiration date will be processed before the expiration date.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>The Board shall issue a volunteer license to any registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who meets the licensure renewal requirements provided the licensee:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Certifies to the Board that the licensee provides professional services only as a volunteer;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Completes the required application; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Pays the required fee.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Active Licensure Renewal.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An individual applying for active licensure renewal shall show evidence of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>1,000 hours of active nursing practice within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Satisfactory completion of all requirements for a diploma or degree from a Board-approved nursing education program within the 5 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Completion of 30 continuing education units (CEUs) within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>College or University Coursework.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A renewal applicant may submit qualifying college or university coursework to fulfill the requirement under §G(1)(c) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>15 CEUs shall be awarded for each semester hour completed of a qualifying college or university course.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>For the coursework to qualify:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The college or university course shall be related to the renewal applicant’s nursing practice; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The renewal applicant shall receive a grade of C or higher, or the numeric equivalent in the course.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>An official transcript shall be acceptable as proof of completion of a qualifying college or university course.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Continuing Education.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as provided in §G(2) of this regulation, CEUs shall be approved by an entity listed in §H(5) of this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>CEUs used for the purpose of renewing a license are subject to random audits by the Board or the Board’s designee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>CEUs that are used for the purpose of renewing a license shall be earned within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of the renewal application.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The renewal applicant shall be responsible for:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Ensuring that a CEU course, forum, or meeting has been approved for CEUs by one of the entities listed in §H(5) of this regulation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Retaining evidence of completed CEUs that are submitted for the purpose of renewing a license for 6 years after the license is renewed; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Producing evidence of completed CEUs for an audit by the Board or the board’s designee within 30 days of the request.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The Board shall accept CEUs awarded or approved by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), including all local, state, and national centers;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The American Nurses Association (ANA);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Professional organizations offering CEUs for the purpose of renewing a national certification for advanced practice registered nursing;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A local, state, or national professional nursing association that provides educational programs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The Maryland Nurses Association (MNA);</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>The National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>The National League for Nursing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>CEUs may not be carried forward into the next renewal period.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>An individual applying for active licensure renewal who do not meet the requirements of §G of this regulation shall be required to successfully complete a Board-approved refresher program or Board-approved preceptorship program prior to renewal of the license.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Tax Deficiencies.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>On a monthly basis, the Board shall notify the Office of the Comptroller of any licensee or certificate-holder:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Whose license expires within the next 4-month period; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Whose identity has not previously been provided to the Office of the Comptroller.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Upon notification by the Office of the Comptroller of any licensee or certificate-holder who is delinquent in the payment of undisputed taxes or unemployment insurance contributions, the Board shall notify the licensee or certificate-holder that renewal processing shall be delayed until the Office of the Comptroller verifies that the licensee or certificate-holder has made arrangements for payment of the undisputed taxes or unemployment insurance contributions that are satisfactory to the unit responsible for collection.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Upon notification by the Office of the Comptroller that the licensee or certificate-holder has made satisfactory arrangements for payment of the undisputed taxes or unemployment insurance contributions, and where the licensee or certificate-holder is otherwise qualified for licensure, the Board shall renew the license or certificate.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Along with the renewal notice in accordance with §C of this regulation, the Board shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Notify every renewal applicant who is required to have a criminal history records check in the selected birth month; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Send the renewal applicant instructions for downloading and completing the documents needed to submit to a criminal history records check.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="L.">
    <text>If a renewal applicant is out of the state, the Board shall mail a packet to the applicant with the required documents and instructions for completing the documents.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="M.">
    <text>Upon notification by the Board that a criminal history records check is required before a license can be renewed, a renewal applicant shall comply with all of the requirements under Regulation .04A of this chapter.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="N.">
    <text>Criminal history record checks for renewal applicants shall be scheduled according to the licensee's birth month as follows:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In 2025 — all applicants with an August or September birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In 2026 — all applicants with a September or October birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In 2027 — all applicants with an October or November birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>In 2028 — all applicants with a November or December birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>In 2029 — all applicants with a December or January birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>In 2030 — all applicants with a January or February birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>In 2031 — all applicants with a February or March birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>In 2032 — all applicants with a March or April birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>In 2033 — all applicants with an April or May birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>In 2034 — all applicants with a May or June birth month;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>In 2035 — all applicants with a June or July birth month; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>In 2036 — all applicants with a July or August birth month.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="O.">
    <text>For renewal applicants who are required to submit to a criminal history records check, the Board may not renew a license without written documentation that the applicant has submitted to a criminal history record check in accordance with Health Occupations Article, §8-303, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>