SECTION 571.61. Inactive License Status

(a) Application. A licensee may request his/her license be placed on inactive status, whether or not he/she is practicing within the State of Texas, provided:

(1) his or her current license is active and is in good standing; and

(2) a request in writing, on the form prescribed by the Board, is made for his or her license to be placed on official inactive status.

(b) Restrictions. The following restrictions shall apply to veterinary licensees whose licenses are on inactive status:

(1) Except as provided in §801.004, Texas Occupations Code, the licensee may not engage in the practice of veterinary medicine or otherwise provide treatment to any animal in the State of Texas.

(2) If the licensee possesses or obtains a federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) controlled substances registration for a Texas location, the licensee must comply with §573.43 and §573.50 of this title (relating to Controlled Substances Registration and Controlled Substances Records Keeping for Drugs on Hand, respectively).

(c) Return to Active Status. A licensee on inactive status wishing to practice within the State of Texas must receive written approval from the Board prior to returning to active status. In addition to other information which may be requested or required by the Board, the following conditions apply to licensees applying to return to active status.

(1) A licensee who is licensed and practicing in another state or jurisdiction must prove he or she is in good standing in that state or jurisdiction.

(2) A licensee on inactive status must pay the reactivation fee set by the Board. The regular annual renewal fee shall not be prorated for applications to return to active status made after the annual renewal period.

(d) Continuing Education Requirements.

(1) If a licensee on inactive status requesting a return to regular license status has maintained an annual average equal to the number of continuing education hours required annually for renewal of the license, not including any portion of the reactivation year, the licensee will be placed on regular license status without any additional requirements. If the average annual continuing education is less than the number of hours required annually for renewal of the license, the licensee will be placed on regular license status but must complete twice as many continuing education hours as is required to renew the license in the twelve months immediately following the licensee's attaining of regular license status.

(2) For the year of reactivation, proof of continuing education shall not be required for an active license renewal in the year following reactivation.

(3) For purposes of this subsection, the terms "year" and "annual" mean the renewal year.

(e) Annual Renewal Fees. The annual fee for a license on inactive status shall be as set by the Board in §577.15 of this title (relating to Fee Schedule).

Source Note: The provisions of this §571.61 adopted to be effective May 29, 2011, 36 TexReg 3187; amended to be effective June 19, 2012, 37 TexReg 4424; amended to be effective May 4, 2014, 39 TexReg 3423; amended to be effective November 22, 2015, 40 TexReg 8024; amended to be effective September 24, 2018, 43 TexReg 6283; amended to be effective May 12, 2019, 44 TexReg 2266