If a hygienist's license lapses for four years, what should they do to regain licensure?

• A. Apply for reinstatement
• B. Reexamine license requirements
• C. Retake the licensing exam
• D. Submit a new license application

Answer: (A)

When a professional license lapses, you don’t start over as a new applicant—you restore your license through reinstatement. For a four-year gap, the route most boards expect is to apply for reinstatement with the licensing board (in Louisiana, the board that governs dental hygiene). This process is designed to bring your license back to active status under current rules, not to issue a brand-new license.

As part of reinstatement, you’ll typically file the reinstatement application, pay any associated fees, and demonstrate you’ve met current continuing education requirements since the lapse. The board may also require proof of competency or completion of certain examinations or jurisprudence/ethics requirements, depending on their policies. Reexamination or submitting a new license application aren’t the standard paths for someone who already held a license; reinstatement is the appropriate mechanism to regain licensure after a lapse.