Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners
Inactive Status/Reactivation of License

Applications/Forms Complaint Process Contact Us Enforcement Actions Links Open Records Rules/Regulations Statutes/Laws

Placing Licenses on Inactive Status/Reactivation of License

Rules regarding placing a license on inactive status are found at TAC § 781.505 .

Placing a current license on inactive status

A person whose license is current may place their license on inactive status by submitting a signed request and payment of the inactive status fee TAC § 781.217 .

A license “expires” at the end of the last day of the period for which it was issued. An expired license can be renewed by paying the applicable late fee TAC §781.217. A license “lapses” at the end of the day one year after the day the license expired. A lapsed license cannot be renewed or placed on inactive status. If a person whose licensed has lapsed wishes to be licensed, he/she must submit a new application and qualify for licensure under the current rules, including provisions regarding passing the national examination.

Placing an expired license on inactive status

A person whose license is expired, but not lapsed may place their license on inactive status by submitting a signed request and payment of the inactive status fee and all applicable late fees TAC § 781.217 .

Inactive Status

A license on inactive status must be renewed or it will expire and eventually lapse.

A person whose license is inactive may not use the title “Social Worker,” or “Licensed Social Worker” or engage in the practice of social work. If a person who holds an inactive license plans to practice social work or use the title, he/she must reactivate their license before practicing (paid or volunteer).

Continuing education on inactive status and upon reactivation of a license

A person whose license is on inactive status is not required to complete continuing education in order to renew their license; however, if a person reactivates their license within six (6) months of the date that their license was placed on inactive status, the person will be required to demonstrate completion of the continuing education which was required at their last renewal (whether or not the renewal occurred before or after the license was placed on inactive status).

Reactivation of a license

A person whose license is on inactive status may reactivate their license by submitting a signed request and payment of a prorated license fee. Prorated fees are based on the number of months remaining on the license before it expires. Any part of a month, even a single day, is counted as an entire month. Please refer to this chart for your projected fee. Your license will be reactivated upon receipt of your original signed request, the correct fee, and documentation of completion of required continuing education, if applicable.

Example: A person’s LBSW license is on inactive status. The license expires on December 31, 2007. On March 15, 2006, the person requests to go to active status. There are 22 months remaining on the license. The fee is $73.

If a person with 2 or fewer months remaining on their current license wishes to reactivate their license, they may reactivate the license and renew the license by paying the full two-year licensing fee(s) for their category of license and endorsements (supervisor status or independent practice recognition), if any. The license will become active when the renewal is processed.

Continuing education required for renewal of a reactivated license

In order to renew a license which has been reactivated, the licensee must complete continuing education hours based on the number of months remaining on their license before it expires. Any part of a month is counted as a full month. It is the responsibility of the licensee renewing their license to determine the number and type of continuing education hours that are required.

The required number and types of hours based on the number of months remaining on the license before it expires are listed below:

Last Updated August 10, 2006