(a) A license is effective at the time of issuance by the Arkansas Social Work Licensing Board.

(b) The license of a licensed social worker, licensed master social worker, and licensed certified social worker is valid for two (2) years after the date of issuance.

(c)

(1) A license may be renewed by the payment of a renewal fee as set by the board.

(2) A notice of license renewal shall be sent to a licensee at the most recent address as it appears in the records of the board approximately two (2) months before the expiration date of the license.

(3) Before the expiration date of the license, the licensee shall:

(A) Submit a renewal application and fee online; or

(B) Mail the renewal application and fee to the office of the board.

(4) Upon receipt of an application and fee, the board shall verify the accuracy of the application and, if approved, issue to the applicant a notice of license renewal valid for the next two (2) years.

(d)

(1) If a licensee fails to renew his or her license before the expiration date, the license shall lapse the last day of the month of the calendar year that is exactly two (2) years from the calendar year and month in which the license was issued.

(2) A license that has lapsed for a period of less than three (3) months may be renewed by submission of:

(A) A completed renewal application;

(B) A fee that is two (2) times the amount of the renewal fee specified; and

(C) An attestation that the licensee has not practiced social work since the day that his or her license lapsed and the licensee will not practice social work until his or her license is approved for renewal by the board.

(3) If a license has lapsed for three (3) months or longer, the applicant for the license shall be considered a new applicant subject to appropriate provisions of this chapter.

(4) A license that has expired over three (3) months is not renewable.

(e) At the time of license renewal, an applicant shall present satisfactory evidence that in the period since the license was issued, he or she has completed the continuing education requirements as required by the board.