Section 20.31. Expiration, renewal and reactivation of license

(a) Expiration of license. Licenses expire on January 31 of each odd-numbered year beginning in 2013, regardless of the date of issuance. Licenses are renewable for a 2-year period beginning each October 31 of each even-numbered year beginning in 2012.

(b) Practice prohibited. A licensee may not practice massage therapy in this Commonwealth after the last day of January of the renewal year unless the license has been renewed.

(c) Renewal application. A licensee shall:

(1) Apply for licensure renewal online or on the form provided by the Board.

(2) Pay the biennial renewal fee as set forth in § 20.3 (relating to fees).

(3) Submit proof of current certification in CPR.

(4) Submit verification of completion of at least 24 hours of Board-approved continuing education.

(5) Submit verification that the licensee has read, understood and will comply with the act and this chapter.

(d) Reporting requirements.

(1) Disclosure of licensure or discipline in another jurisdiction. A licensee who becomes licensed to practice massage therapy in another jurisdiction shall report this information on the biennial renewal form or within 90 days of licensure, whichever occurs sooner. Disciplinary action taken in another jurisdiction shall be reported to the Board on the biennial renewal form or within 90 days, whichever is sooner.

(2) Disclosure of the filing of formal criminal charges (information or indictment). A licensee shall report, on the biennial renewal form or within 30 days, whichever occurs sooner, the filing of any criminal charges, the licensee’s sentencing on any criminal charges or the licensee’s admission into an accelerated rehabilitative disposition program.

(e) Licensure documentation. Upon renewing a license, a licensee will receive an updated license and wallet-size card that will show the next expiration date of the license. A licensee who renews online may print a temporary license that may be used until the biennial license is received.

(f) Inactive status. A license may be placed on inactive status by the licensee notifying the Board during the online renewal process or in a notarized statement that the licensee wishes to have the license marked inactive. The licensee shall immediately return all licensure documents to the Board and may not practice massage therapy in this Commonwealth until the licensee’s license is reactivated and renewed.

(g) Reactivation. The holder of an inactive or expired license to practice massage therapy may reactivate and renew the license within 5 years from the date of its expiration by submitting:

(1) An application to the Board.

(2) Payment of the current biennial renewal fee as set forth in § 20.3.

(3) Certificates of attendance at continuing education courses required under § 20.32 (relating to continuing education hours; maintenance of certificates of completion) for the previous biennial renewal period.

(4) Current CPR certification.

(5) An affidavit of nonpractice within this Commonwealth.

(h) Late fees. A licensee who practiced massage therapy on an inactive or expired license will be subject to late fees as prescribed by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs Fee Act (63 P. S. § § 1401-101—1401-501) upon renewal.

(i) Disciplinary action authorized. A licensee who practiced massage therapy on an inactive or expired license may be subject to discipline by the Board under section 9(a)(7) of the act.

(j) Demonstration of competence after 5 years. The holder of an inactive or expired license to practice massage therapy will not be reactivated and renewed if more than 5 years have passed from the date of the license expiration unless the licensee has demonstrated current competence to practice. To demonstrate current competence to practice, a licensee must either prove continuous active practice in another jurisdiction during the past 5 years or achieve a passing score on a licensure examination approved for entry into practice in this Commonwealth.