What happens if a licensee fails to renew or has a lapse in license?

• A. Practice is not authorized; the license may be suspended or renewal denied until compliance.
• B. Practice continues normally.
• C. The board will automatically renew anyway.
• D. Lapses have no effect on authority to practice.

Answer: (A)

When a license lapses or isn’t renewed, the authority to practice is no longer in effect. The licensee cannot legally practice until the license is renewed or reinstated. Regulators may suspend the license or deny renewal until all compliance requirements are met (such as paying fees, completing continuing education, or satisfying any renewal conditions). Practicing without an active license is generally treated as unlicensed practice and can carry penalties. The other ideas—continuing to practice normally, automatic renewal, or no effect from a lapse—don’t reflect that the license must be active to authorize practice.