2.4 Biennial Renewal, Expiration, Inactive Status, Activation & Reinstatement

Renewal, Inactive Status, Activation, and Reinstatement

The renewal framework — RSA 317-A:13 and RSA 310:8

RSA 317-A:13, I sends renewals to OPLC's umbrella statute, RSA 310:8:

• Term: licenses are valid for 2 years (RSA 310:8, II).
• Deadline: renewal applications, fees, and supporting documents are due on or before expiration (RSA 310:8, III).
• Expiration: if the renewal is not filed by the expiration date, the license expires, and the holder may not practice until it is reinstated.
• Lapse: an expired license lapses 1 year after expiration. Holders of expired licenses cannot renew; they must reinstate.
• Notice: OPLC sends renewal notices at least 2 months before expiration, but failing to receive the notice does not excuse late renewal (RSA 310:8, IV). The date stamp, or electronic time stamp, shows timeliness.

OPLC's Board of Dental Examiners license page states that dental licenses renew biennially between February and April of even-numbered years, and dental hygienist licenses between February and April of odd-numbered years. EFDA permits and CPHDH certificates renew in odd-numbered years before May 1 (Den 302.07(b)(2); Den 302.08(b)(8)).

What a renewal requires — Den 401

Renewals are reviewed under Plc 308.09–308.12. Continuing-competence audits follow Plc 308.04(d) (Den 401.07). Den 401.01(d) repeats the key point: a licensee whose license has lapsed may not practice until OPLC reinstates it.

Inactive status — RSA 317-A:16 and Den 401.06

A dentist or hygienist who does not actively practice in New Hampshire within 2 years of the previous biennial registration is moved to the inactive list. The licensee keeps registering biennially and pays the inactive registration fee.

To return to active status, Den 401.06(b) requires:

1. a written request to change the license from inactive to active;
2. proof of 20 hours (hygienist) or 40 hours (dentist) of continuing education;
3. the required fees; and
4. a letter of good standing from any other state where the licensee has been practicing.

License activation tiers — Den 301.04

Den 301.04, which implements RSA 317-A:16, sets requirements based on time out of practice. The applicant files a written request, has letters of good standing sent directly from every board where he or she practiced, pays the full registration fee, and completes a state and federal criminal history check. The continuing competence showing then depends on the time away:

Reinstating a lapsed license — RSA 317-A:15-a and Den 301.08

The Board reinstates a license that lapsed for failure to qualify for, or file, a timely renewal if the applicant:

1. meets the renewal eligibility requirements;
2. meets the Board's reinstatement rules; and
3. pays the registration fee, late fee, and reinstatement fee (RSA 317-A:15-a).

Den 301.08 adds:

• The reinstatement application must include the information required for initial licensure, plus proof of 40 CEUs for the biennium (dentists) or 20 CEUs (hygienists).
• If reinstating to active status, the applicant must retake the NH dental jurisprudence examination (Den 301.08(c)).
• A new state and federal criminal history check with fingerprints is required (Den 301.08(d); RSA 317-A:8-a applies to "reinstatement").

Status summary

Worked scenario

Dr. Lee's license expired April 30 because she forgot to submit her renewal. She keeps seeing patients through June. Under RSA 310:8, III, she was not authorized to practice after expiration. Every patient visit was practice without a valid license, which exposes her to discipline and to RSA 317-A:33. To return, she must reinstate rather than renew: file the application with proof of 40 CEUs, pay registration, late, and reinstatement fees, complete a fingerprint check, and retake the jurisprudence exam to return to active status.