(1) No later than six (6) months after the beginning of a licensure period, each board shall initiate a random audit of licensees to determine their compliance with license renewal requirements. This audit shall be conducted by the appropriate office of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
    (2) Each licensee randomly selected for audit shall be so notified by email or regular mail, and each selected licensee shall ensure that the Department receives all documentation specified by the Department no later than twenty-one (21) days from the licensee’s receipt of notice.
    (3) If notification is returned to the Department because of an incorrect email or mailing address, the Department shall attempt again to notify the licensee after making a reasonable effort to determine the licensee’s correct email or mailing address. The licensee so notified shall ensure that the Department receives all documentation specified by the Department no later than twenty-one (21) days from the licensee’s receipt of notice.
    (4) If notification sent to the licensee by regular mail is returned to the Department unclaimed or refused, the Department shall by certified mail attempt to notify the licensee of the information contained in the original mailing. The licensee so notified shall ensure that the Department receives all documentation specified by the Department no later than twenty-one (21) days from the licensee’s receipt of notice.
    (5) If a licensee’s documentation of compliance with the requirements for license renewal is not sufficient, the Department shall notify the licensee, by email or regular mail, of the deficiencies, and the licensee shall ensure that the Department receives all documentation specified by the Department no later than twenty-one (21) days from the licensee’s receipt of notice.
    (6) Commencing on the twenty-second (22) day after a licensee selected for audit receives notice, the board may grant the licensee up to thirty (30) additional days in which to obtain appropriate documentation and supply that documentation to the Department if: (1) the licensee’s written request was received by the board within twenty-one (21) days of the licensee’s receipt of notice of audit or receipt of documentation deficiency, (2) the licensee’s written request stated with particularity the reasons an extension should be granted, and (3) the board’s written notification as to the length of the extension granted was received by the Department office conducting the audit no more than ten (10) days after the twenty-one (21) day compliance period had lapsed.
    (7) The Department may take whatever action is appropriate against any licensee selected for audit who:
    (a) Has not kept the Department informed of an accurate mailing and email address,
    (b) Does not cooperate in the audit, or
    (c) The audit reveals has not met the requirements for license renewal.
Rulemaking Authority 455.203(5), 455.2177 FS. Law Implemented 455.203, 455.2177 FS. History-New 2-10-93, Formerly 21-6.020, Amended 9-1-21.