If a license is not renewed after a certain period, what happens to it?

When a license is not renewed within a specified time frame, it lapses and becomes invalid. This means that the license holder can no longer legally practice or operate under that license until it is properly renewed or reinstated, depending on the regulations governing that particular license. The lapse indicates that the state or regulatory body no longer recognizes the license as current, resulting in the need for potential additional steps to have it reinstated, such as meeting certain requirements or fulfilling continuing education obligations.

While there may be provisions for reviewing the license for renewal or other options, simply failing to renew on time means it has lapsed and cannot be used in practice, which underscores the importance of timely renewal to maintain active licensure status.