If a license has lapsed for four years, what is the recommended action to restore licensure?

• A. Apply for reinstatement
• B. Reapply as new applicant
• C. Re-take the licensure exam
• D. Wait for automatic reinstatement

Answer: (C)

When a license has been inactive for several years, the board expects you to demonstrate current competency by reexamining. A four-year lapse typically signals that knowledge and standards may have changed, so the straightforward way to prove you’re up to date is to retake the licensure exam. Reinstatement without retesting is usually only an option for shorter gaps or when the board allows it, not after a four-year break. Reapplying as a new applicant would require starting from scratch with all current requirements, which is not the prescribed path in this scenario. There’s no automatic reinstatement after such a long inactivity, so the exam retake is the most direct route to restore licensure.