(a)  Every clinical mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist who desires to continue licensure as a licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist shall present satisfactory evidence to the board and approved by rule or regulation of the board that the licensed clinical mental health counselor and licensed marriage and family therapist has completed a prescribed course of continuing education. The license of every person licensed under the provisions of this chapter shall expire on the first day of July of the next even year following the date of his or her license; provided, that no license shall expire prior to July 1, 1998. On or before the first day of May in each even year, commencing in the year 1998, the administrator shall mail an application for renewal of license to every person to whom a license is issued or renewed during the current year, and every licensed person who desires to renew his or her license shall file with the division the renewal application executed. This application shall include verification of prescribed continuing education requirements, together with a renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, on or before the first day of June in each even year. Upon receipt of the application and payment of the fee, the accuracy of the application shall be verified and the administrator of professional regulation shall grant a renewal license effective July 1st and expiring twenty-four (24) months later.

(b)  Any person who allows his or her license to lapse, by failing to renew it on or before June 1st in each year, as provided in this section, shall be reinstated by the administrator of professional regulation on payment of the current renewal fee plus an additional fee as set forth in § 23-1-54; and verification of prescribed continuing education requirements. Any person using the title “clinical mental health counselor” and/or “marriage and family therapist” during the time his or her license has lapsed shall be subject to the penalties provided for violation of this chapter; provided, that if a person has allowed his or her licensure to lapse for four (4) years or more, he or she shall be reinstated at the discretion of the board.