Part III. Renewal and Reinstatement
18VAC85-170-70. Renewal of license.
A. Every licensed genetic counselor who intends to maintain an active license shall biennially renew his license each odd-numbered year during his birth month and shall:
1. Submit the prescribed renewal fee; and
2. Attest to having met the continuing education requirements of 18VAC85-170-100.
B. The license of a genetic counselor that has not been renewed by the first day of the month following the month in which renewal is required is lapsed. Practice with a lapsed license may be grounds for disciplinary action. A license that is lapsed for two years or less may be renewed by payment of the renewal fee, a late fee as prescribed in 18VAC85-170-40, and attestation of compliance with continuing education requirements.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.19 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 19, eff. June 14, 2017.
18VAC85-170-80. Inactive license.
A licensed genetic counselor who holds a current, unrestricted license in Virginia shall, upon a request at the time of renewal and submission of the required fee, be issued an inactive license. The holder of an inactive license shall not be entitled to perform any act requiring a license to practice genetic counseling in Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.19 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 19, eff. June 14, 2017.
18VAC85-170-90. Reactivation or reinstatement.
A. To reactivate an inactive license or to reinstate a license that has been lapsed for more than two years, a genetic counselor shall submit evidence of competency to return to active practice to include one of the following:
1. Information on continued active practice in another jurisdiction during the period in which the license has been inactive or lapsed;
2. Attestation of meeting requirements for continuing education as specified in 18VAC85-170-100 for each biennium in which the license has been inactive or lapsed, not to exceed four years; or
3. Current certification by ABGC or ABMG.
B. To reactivate an inactive license, a genetic counselor shall pay a fee equal to the difference between the current renewal fee for inactive licensure and the renewal fee for active licensure.
C. To reinstate a license that has been lapsed for more than two years a genetic counselor shall file an application for reinstatement and pay the fee for reinstatement of his licensure as prescribed in 18VAC85-170-40. The board may specify additional requirements for reinstatement of a license so lapsed to include education, experience, or reexamination.
D. A genetic counselor whose licensure has been revoked by the board and who wishes to be reinstated shall make a new application to the board, fulfill additional requirements as specified in the order from the board, and make payment of the fee for reinstatement of his licensure as prescribed in 18VAC85-170-40 pursuant to § 54.1-2408.2 of the Code of Virginia.
E. The board reserves the right to deny a request for reactivation or reinstatement to any licensee who has been determined to have committed an act in violation of § 54.1-2915 of the Code of Virginia or any provisions of this chapter.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.19 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 19, eff. June 14, 2017.
18VAC85-170-100. Continuing education requirements.
A. In order to renew an active license biennially, a licensee shall complete the Continued Competency Activity and Assessment Form that is provided by the board indicating completion of at least 50 contact hours of continuing learning activities as follows:
1. A minimum of 30 of the 50 hours shall be in Category 1 activities approved by the ABGC, the ABMG, or the NSGC and may include in-service training, self-study courses, continuing education courses, or professional workshops.
2. No more than 20 of the 50 hours may be Category 2 activities or professional activity credits, which may include consultation with another counselor or a physician, independent reading or research, authorship, clinical supervision, volunteer leadership in the profession, preparation for a presentation, or other such experiences that promote continued learning.
B. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first biennial renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia.
C. The licensee shall retain in his records the completed form with all supporting documentation for a period of four years following the renewal of an active license.
D. The board shall periodically conduct a random audit of its active licensees to determine compliance. The licensees selected for the audit shall provide all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving notification of the audit.
E. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.
F. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for continuing competency requirements, for up to one year, for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date.
G. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-2957.19 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 19, eff. June 14, 2017.