Tennessee § 63-7-114 - Renewal of license.

§ 63-7-114. Renewal of license.

All licensed professional or registered nurses shall submit an application for renewal of licensure registration to the board of nursing with a biennial renewal fee as set by the board. Each licensed practical nurse shall submit an application for the renewal of licensure registration to the board with a biennial renewal fee as set by the board. 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 shall 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 shall determine 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¢). 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 (c). The executive director of the board shall notify each person holding a current licensure registration to practice as a professional or registered nurse or as a practical nurse at least sixty (60) days prior to the due date of the renewal fee that the fee is due. Failure of any licensee to receive such notice shall not relieve or exempt such licensee from the requirements of this section. The license of any nurse who fails to renew the licensure registration, provide any information requested by the board to perform its duties or pay any fees required by this chapter shall be automatically revoked unless registration is made within sixty (60) days. Reinstatement may be obtained upon good cause being shown to the board, payment of all past due fees and upon payment of a reinstatement fee as set by the board. The board may request evidence of nursing competence prior to renewal of the nursing license. Any nurse who has not been engaged in the practice of nursing for five (5) years or more shall be issued an inactive license. If such nurse desires to resume practice, notice in writing shall be given to the board and evidence of nursing competence may be required prior to license renewal. The board shall evaluate, on an individual basis, evidence of nursing competence, which may include, but is not limited to, continuing education, a refresher program, comprehensive orientation program, employment in a health-related policy position or nursing educational program. Acts 1967, ch. 78, § 23; 1972, ch. 523, § 2; 1976, ch. 501, § 9; 1981, ch. 462, § 13; T.C.A., § 63-751; Acts 1982, ch. 712, § 7; 1989, ch. 360, §§ 27-29; 1989, ch. 523, §§ 209-211; 2005, ch. 387, §§ 8, 9.