Reinstatement of Expired Licenses

(1) Reinstatement of License Expired for Less than Two Years. A licensed dispensing optician who fails to renew his or her license, or who otherwise fails to meet the requirements for renewal of his or her license, prior to its expiration date, may obtain reinstatement of that expired license at any time within the first two years after its expiration date by: (a) Filing a properly-completed license reinstatement application on a form furnished by the Board for that purpose; and (b) Submitting to the Board satisfactory written proof that he or she has completed all continuing education hours required by 235 CMR 3.00: Continuing Education for the last licensure period during which his or her license was valid; and (c) Submitting to the Board satisfactory written proof that he or she has completed all continuing education hours required by 235 CMR 3.00: Continuing Education for the period of time which has elapsed since his or her license expired. If that period of time is less than one full licensure period, as defined in 235 CMR 2.10, the number of hours of continuing education required by 235 CMR 2.12(1)(c) for reinstatement of the license shall be pro-rated accordingly; and (d) Paying the license renewal fee prescribed by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance pursuant to M.G.L. c. 7, § 3B and 801 CMR 4.00: Rates; and (e) Paying an additional late license renewal fee prescribed by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance pursuant to M.G.L. c. 7, § 3B and 801 CMR 4.00: Rates. (2) Special Reinstatement Following Temporary Retirement or Relocation. A licensed dispensing optician who applies for reinstatement of his or her expired license at any time within the first five years after the date on which that license expired may also obtain reinstatement of that license pursuant to 235 CMR 2.12(1) if: (a) He or she submits satisfactory proof that he or she notified the Board, in writing, not later than 90 days after the expiration of his or her last valid license, that he or she temporarily ceased practice as a dispensing optician within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or temporarily relocated to a location outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and (b) He or she submits a sworn affidavit attesting that he or she has not engaged in the “practice of opticianry”, as defined in 235 CMR 2.04, within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at any time since the expiration of his or her last valid license to practice as a dispensing optician in Massachusetts; and (c) He or she submits all of the documentation and payments required by 235 CMR 2.12(1). 2.12: continued (3) Reinstatement of Licenses Expired for More than Two Years. A licensed dispensing optician who fails to renew his or her license, or who otherwise fails to meet the requirements for renewal of his or her license, prior to its expiration date, and who does not meet the requirements for reinstatement set forth in 235 CMR 2.12(1) or 235 CMR 2.12(2), may obtain reinstatement of that license only if: (a) He or she files a properly-completed license reinstatement application on a form furnished by the Board for that purpose; and (b) He or she personally appears before the Board and submits satisfactory written proof that: 1. He or she has completed all continuing education hours required by 235 CMR 3.00: Continuing Education for the last licensure period during which his or her license was valid; and 2. He or she has completed all continuing education hours required by 235 CMR 3.00: Continuing Education for the period of time which has elapsed since his or her license expired. If that period of time includes any portion of a full licensure period, as defined in 235 CMR 2.10, the number of hours of continuing education required by 235 CMR 2.12(3) for that partial licensure period shall be pro-rated accordingly; (c) He or she submits satisfactory written proof that he or she has retaken, and achieved a passing score on, the practical examination in opticianry prescribed by the Board; and (d) He or she pays the late reinstatement fee prescribed by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance pursuant to M.G.L. c. 7, § 3B and 801 CMR 4.00: Rates.