(A)

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all of the following apply with respect to the schedules for renewal of licenses and certificates issued by the board of nursing:

(a) An active license to practice nursing as a registered nurse is subject to renewal in odd-numbered years. An application for renewal of the license is due on the fifteenth day of September of the renewal year. A late application may be submitted before the license lapses. If a license is not renewed or classified as inactive, the license lapses on the first day of November of the renewal year.

(b) An active license to practice nursing as a licensed practical nurse is subject to renewal in even-numbered years. An application for renewal of the license is due on the fifteenth day of September of the renewal year. A late application may be submitted before the license lapses. If a license is not renewed or classified as inactive, the license lapses on the first day of November of the renewal year.

(c) An active license to practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse is subject to renewal in odd-numbered years. An application for renewal of the license is due on the fifteenth day of September of the renewal year. A late application may be submitted before the license lapses. If a license is not renewed or classified as inactive, the license lapses on the first day of November of the renewal year.

(d) All other active licenses and certificates issued under this chapter are subject to renewal according to a schedule established by the board in rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code.

(2) The board shall provide an application for renewal to every holder of an active license or certificate, except when the board is aware that an individual is ineligible for license or certificate renewal for any reason, including pending criminal charges in this state or another jurisdiction, failure to comply with a disciplinary order from the board or the terms of a consent agreement entered into with the board, failure to pay fines or fees owed to the board, or failure to provide on the board's request documentation of having completed the continuing nursing education requirements specified in division (C) of this section.

If the board provides a renewal application by mail, the application shall be addressed to the last known post-office address of the license or certificate holder and mailed before the date the application is due. Failure of the license or certificate holder to receive an application for renewal from the board shall not excuse the holder from the requirements contained in this section, except as provided in section 5903.10 of the Revised Code.

(3) A license or certificate holder seeking renewal of the license or certificate shall complete the renewal application and submit it to the board with the renewal fee established under section 4723.08 of the Revised Code. If a renewal application is submitted after the date the application is due, but before the date the license or certificate lapses, the applicant shall include with the application the fee established under section 4723.08 of the Revised Code for processing a late application for renewal.

With the renewal application, the applicant shall report any conviction, plea, or judicial finding regarding a criminal offense that constitutes grounds for the board to impose sanctions under section 4723.28 of the Revised Code since the applicant last submitted an application to the board.

(4) On receipt of the renewal application, the board shall verify whether the applicant meets the renewal requirements. If the applicant meets the requirements, the board shall renew the license or certificate.

(B) Every license or certificate holder shall give written notice to the board of any change of name or address within thirty days of the change. The board shall require the holder to document a change of name in a manner acceptable to the board.

(C)

(1) Except in the case of a first renewal after licensure by examination, to be eligible for renewal of an active license to practice nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, each individual who holds an active license shall, in each two-year period specified by the board, complete continuing nursing education as follows:

(a) For renewal of a license that was issued for a two-year renewal period, twenty-four hours of continuing nursing education;

(b) For renewal of a license that was issued for less than a two-year renewal period, the number of hours of continuing nursing education specified by the board in rules adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code;

(c) Of the hours of continuing nursing education completed in any renewal period, at least one hour of the education must be directly related to the statutes and rules pertaining to the practice of nursing in this state.

(2) To be eligible for renewal of an active license to practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse, each individual who holds an active license shall, in each two-year period specified by the board, complete continuing education as follows:

(a) For renewal of a license that was issued for a two-year renewal period, twenty-four hours of continuing nursing education ;

(b) For renewal of a license that was issued for less than a two-year renewal period, the number of hours of continuing nursing education specified by the board in rules adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, including the number of hours of continuing education in advanced pharmacology;

(c) In the case of an advanced practice registered nurse who is designated as a clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or certified nurse practitioner, of the hours of continuing nursing education completed in any renewal period, at least twelve hours of the education must be in advanced pharmacology and be received from an accredited institution recognized by the board.

(d) The continuing education required by division (C)(2) (a) or (b) of this section is in addition to the continuing education required by division (C)(1)(a) or (b) of this section.

(3) The board shall adopt rules establishing the procedure for a license holder to certify to the board completion of the required continuing nursing education. The board may conduct a random sample of license holders and require that the license holders included in the sample submit satisfactory documentation of having completed the requirements for continuing nursing education. On the board's request, a license holder included in the sample shall submit the required documentation.

(4) An educational activity may be applied toward meeting the continuing nursing education requirement only if it is obtained through a program or course approved by the board or a person the board has authorized to approve continuing nursing education programs and courses.

(5) The continuing education required of a certified registered nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse-midwife, or certified nurse practitioner to maintain certification by a national certifying organization shall be applied toward the continuing education requirements for renewal of the following if the continuing education is obtained through a program or course approved by the board or a person the board has authorized to approve continuing nursing education programs and courses:

(a) A license to practice nursing as a registered nurse;

(b) A license to practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse.

(D) Except as otherwise provided in section 4723.28 of the Revised Code, an individual who holds an active license to practice nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse and who does not intend to practice in Ohio may send to the board written notice to that effect on or before the date the license lapses, and the board shall classify the license as inactive. During the period that the license is classified as inactive, the holder may not engage in the practice of nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse in Ohio and is not required to pay the renewal fee.

The holder of an inactive license to practice nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse or an individual who has failed to renew the individual's license to practice nursing as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse may have the license reactivated or reinstated upon doing the following, as applicable to the holder or individual:

(1) Applying to the board for license reactivation or reinstatement on forms provided by the board;

(2) Meeting the requirements for reactivating or reinstating licenses established in rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code or, if the individual did not renew because of service in the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any other state, as provided in section 5903.10 of the Revised Code;

(3) If the license has been inactive for at least five years from the date of application for reactivation or has lapsed for at least five years from the date of application for reinstatement, submitting a request to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation for a criminal records check and check of federal bureau of investigation records pursuant to section 4723.091 of the Revised Code.

(E) Except as otherwise provided in section 4723.28 of the Revised Code, an individual who holds an active license to practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse and does not intend to practice in Ohio as an advanced practice registered nurse may send to the board written notice to that effect on or before the renewal date, and the board shall classify the license as inactive. During the period that the license is classified as inactive, the holder may not engage in the practice of nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse in Ohio and is not required to pay the renewal fee.

The holder of an inactive license to practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse or an individual who has failed to renew the individual's license to practice nursing as an advanced practice registered nurse may have the license reactivated or reinstated upon doing the following, as applicable to the holder or individual:

(1) Applying to the board for license reactivation or reinstatement on forms provided by the board;

(2) Meeting the requirements for reactivating or reinstating licenses established in rules adopted under section 4723.07 of the Revised Code or, if the individual did not renew because of service in the armed forces of the United States or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the Ohio national guard or the national guard of any other state, as provided in section 5903.10 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 216, §1, eff. 4/6/2017.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 188, §1, eff. 3/23/2016.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 45, HB 98, §1, eff. 11/15/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.194, HB 303, §1, eff. 3/20/2013.

Effective Date: 04-10-2001 .