Section 273.8 - Renewal of License(a) Expired license. (1) If a license is not renewed on or before the expiration date, it becomes expired. All licenses renew on a biennial basis. Initial licenses expire on the second January 1 after the date the license is first issued.(2) If a person's license has been expired for 90 days or less, the person may renew the license by paying to the Board the amount of one and one-half times the renewal fee.(3) If a person's license has been expired for longer than 90 days but less than one year, the person may renew the license by paying to the Board the amount of two times the renewal fee.(4) If a person's license has been expired for one year or longer, the person may not renew the license but may obtain a new license by reapplying and passing the jurisprudence exam and complying with the requirements and procedures for obtaining an initial license. However, the Board may reinstate a license without requiring reapplication and reexamination of the jurisprudence examination an expired license of a person who was previously licensed in Texas, is currently licensed in another state, and has been in practice as a therapeutic optometrist for two years immediately preceding application for reinstatement. The person shall be required to furnish documentation of continuous practice for the two-year period and pay the renewal fee as established by subsection (a)(3) of this section. The person must furnish license verifications from each state in which the person is currently or previously licensed. A license renewal under this section is subject to the same requirements of §351.501 of the Act as a license applicant.(5) For licenses expired for more than one year, if the person was not licensed as a therapeutic optometrist when the license expired, the person must also complete the requirements for therapeutic license as outlined in Chapter 271 of this title prior to obtaining a new license.(6) A licensee receiving a felony or misdemeanor criminal conviction as outlined under Occupations Code Chapter 53 shall report the conviction on the next license renewal. This requirement is in addition to the 30 day reporting requirement in § 277.5 of this title (relating to Convictions). This paragraph does not require the reporting of a Class C Misdemeanor traffic violation. The failure of a licensee to report a criminal conviction is deceit, dishonesty and misrepresentation in the practice of optometry and authorizes the Board to take disciplinary action under §351.501 of the Act. The licensee shall furnish any document relating to the criminal conviction as requested by the Board.(7) Only an active licensee who has provided a complete fingerprint criminal history report to the Board is eligible to renew a license.(b) Mandatory Continuing Education for Renewal of License. (1) The Board may not issue a renewal license to a licensee who has not complied with the mandatory continuing education requirements unless an exemption provided by § 275.1 of this title (relating to General Requirements) is applicable.(2) If a licensee has not fulfilled the required continuing education requirements prior to the license renewal date, the license shall expire. To renew that expired license, the licensee may obtain and provide the Board with certified records that the licensee has, since the expiration of the license, completed sufficient hours of approved continuing education courses to satisfy any deficiency. Education obtained for renewal of an expired license cannot be applied toward subsequent renewal of license.(3) The licensee cannot practice optometry until such time as education is obtained and the expired license has been renewed.(4) The licensee must pay to the Board the license renewal fee with a late penalty fee authorized by §351.304 of the Act, plus a penalty authorized by §351.308 of the Act.(5) The Executive Director shall determine if all requirements for renewal of license have been fulfilled, and will notify the licensee when the practice of optometry can resume.(6) To practice optometry with an expired license shall constitute the practice of optometry without a license.(c) Outstanding Administrative Penalty or Failure to Comply with Board Condition.(1) The Board may refuse to renew a license to a person who has: (A) not paid an administrative penalty owed to the Board at the time of renewal; or(B) not complied with a term or condition of a disciplinary order or agreement issued by the Board.(2) The Board may refuse to renew a license, until such time as: (A) every administrative penalty payable on or before the time of renewal is paid; or(B) all terms or conditions of a disciplinary order or agreement issued by the Board are satisfied.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 273.8
The provisions of this §273.8 adopted to be effective September 10, 1993, 18 TexReg 5745; amended to be effective August 2, 1998, 23 TexReg 7563; amended to be effective April 7, 2003, 28 TexReg 2923; amended to be effective December 28, 2003, 28 TexReg 11258; amended to be effective September 13, 2005, 30 TexReg 5800; amended to be effective September 12, 2007, 32 TexReg 6153; amended to be effective March 9, 2009, 34 TexReg 1591; amended to be effective August 28, 2011, 36 TexReg 5362; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 42, Number 36, September 8, 2017, TexReg 4650, eff. 9/11/2017; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 38, September 21, 2018, TexReg 6281, eff. 9/27/2018; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 44, Number 49, December 6, 2019, TexReg 7540, eff. 12/9/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 48, Number 34, August 25, 2023, TexReg 4665, eff. 8/27/2023; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 37, September 13, 2024, TexReg 7324, eff. 9/16/2024