2019 Tennessee Code
Title 63 - Professions of the Healing Arts
Chapter 17 - Licensure Act for Communication Disorders and Sciences
Part 1 - Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists
§ 63-17-116. Expiration of licenses -- Renewal -- Retirement.

(a) Each licensed speech language pathologist or audiologist shall pay to the board a fee for a license renewal. The secretary of the board shall notify each licensed speech language pathologist and audiologist each year that such fee is due.

(b) When any licensed speech language pathologist or audiologist fails to register and pay the registration fee within sixty (60) days after registration becomes due, as provided in this section, the license of such person is automatically revoked at the expiration of the sixty (60) days after the registration was required, without further notice or hearing. Any person whose license is automatically revoked as provided in this section may make application in writing to the board for the reinstatement of such license or certificate, and, upon good cause being shown, the board, in its discretion, may reinstate such license upon payment of current renewal fee and upon further payment of a sum to be set by the board.

(c) A suspended license is subject to expiration and shall be renewed as provided in this chapter, but such renewal does not entitle the licensee while the license remains suspended and, until it is reinstated, to engage in the licensed activity or in any other activity or conduct in violation of the order or judgment by which the license was suspended.

(d) A license revoked on disciplinary grounds is subject to expiration as provided in this section, but it may be renewed. If it is reinstated after its expiration, the licensee, as a condition of reinstatement, shall pay a reinstatement fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee in effect on the last preceding regular renewal date before the date on which it is reinstated, plus the delinquency fee, if any, accrued at the time of its revocation.

(e) A person who fails to renew a license within the five (5) years after its expiration may not renew it and it may not be restored, reissued or reinstated thereafter; but, such person may apply for and obtain a new license if such person meets the requirements of this chapter.

(f) Any person licensed to practice by this chapter who has retired or may hereafter retire from such practice in this state shall not be made to register as required by this chapter if such person files with this board an affidavit on a form to be furnished by the board, which affidavit states the date on which such person retired from such practice and such other facts as tend to verify such retirement as the board deems necessary. If such person thereafter reengages in such practice in this state, such person shall apply for registration with the board as provided by this chapter and shall meet other requirements as may be set by the board.

(g)

• (1) Notwithstanding this chapter to the contrary, the division, with the approval of the commissioner, shall establish a system of license renewals at alternative intervals that will allow for the distribution of the license workload as uniformly as is practicable throughout the calendar year. Licenses issued under the alternative method are valid for twenty-four (24) months and expire on the last day of the last month of the license period. However, during a transition period, or at any time thereafter when the board determines that the volume of work for any given interval is unduly burdensome or costly, either the licenses or renewals, or both of them, may be issued for terms of not less than six (6) months nor more than eighteen (18) months. The fee imposed for any license under the alternative interval method for a period of other than twenty-four (24) months shall be proportionate to the annual fee and modified in no other manner, except that the proportional fee shall be rounded off to the nearest quarter of a dollar (25¢).

• (2) No renewal application will be accepted after the last day of the month following the license expiration date under the alternative method authorized in this subsection (g).