1. (a) A registered nurse who is not practicing professional nursing in Texas and who allows his or her license to lapse for a period of time less than four years may bring his or her license up-to-date by filing such forms as the board may require, showing evidence of having completed 20 contact hours of acceptable continuing education within two years immediately preceding the application for relicensure, and paying the current licensure fee plus a late fee and any applicable fines, which are not refundable.

2. (b) A registered nurse who is not practicing professional nursing and who allows his or her license to lapse for four or more years will be required to:

   1. (1) complete a board approved refresher course, extensive orientation to the practice of professional nursing, or a reeducation program in an accredited nursing program. The applicant will submit an application for temporary permit for the limited purpose of completing a refresher course, extensive orientation to the practice of professional nursing, or academic course;
   2. (2) submit an NCLEX-RN application and examination fee upon successful completion of the course under subsection (b)(1) of this section;
   3. (3) pass the NCLEX-RN; and
   4. (4) submit evidence of successful completion of the requirements of paragraph (1) and (3) of this subsection, the relicensure application, and the current licensure fee, plus a late fee and any applicable fines, which are not refundable.
3. (c) A registered nurse whose Texas license has been expired four years or more and who is licensed and practicing in another state for two years preceding the application for relicensure in Texas, shall be exempt from requirements of subsection (b)(1), (2), and (3) of this section.

4. (d) The issuance of a license renewal may be refused to an individual who:

   1. (1) fails to submit an application for renewal; or

   2. (2) submits an application which:

      1. (A) is incomplete;
      2. (B) does not show that the person meets the requirements for renewal; or
      3. (C) is not accompanied by the correct fee(s).
5. (e) The refusal to renew the license for reasons in subsection (d)(1) and (2) of this section does not entitle the individual to a hearing.

6. (f) The individual refused a license renewal who wishes to reactivate his or her license will be required to:

   1. (1) correctly complete the reactivation application form;
   2. (2) show evidence of meeting all current requirements for licensure, including 20 contact hours of continuing education according to requirements in §217.15 of this title (relating to Continuing Education); and

   3. (3) submit payment of the correct non-refundable fee as follows:

      1. (A) if the license has not been renewed for more than 90 days, the required fee will equal the renewal fee plus one-half the examination fee, plus any applicable fines; or
      2. (B) if the license has not been renewed for more than 90 days, the required fee will equal the renewal fee plus the full examination fee, plus any applicable fines.

Source Note:The provisions of this §217.7 adopted to be effective October 26, 1981, 6 TexReg 3760; amended to be effective March 2, 1992, 17 TexReg 1384; amended to be effective December 20, 1995, 20 TexReg 10267; amended to be effective May 24, 1998, 23 TexReg 4910.