(a) General.
  (1) When issued, an initial permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
  (2) A medication aide must renew the permit annually.
  (3) Each medication aide is responsible for renewing the permit before the expiration date. Failure to receive notification from HHSC before the expiration date of the permit does not excuse the medication aide's failure to file for timely renewal.
  (4) A medication aide must complete a seven hour continuing education program approved by HHSC before expiration of the permit in order to renew the permit. Continuing education hours are not required for the first renewal. After a permit is renewed for the first time, the medication aide must earn approved continuing education hours to have the permit renewed again.
  (5) HHSC denies renewal of the permit of a medication aide who:
    (A) is in violation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242, Subchapter N, Texas Human Resources Code §161.083, or this chapter at the time of application for renewal;
    (B) has a conviction of a criminal offense listed in Texas Health and Safety Code §250.006(a), or a conviction of a criminal offense listed in Texas Health and Safety Code §250.006(b) within five years before the date HHSC receives the renewal application;
    (C) is listed as unemployable on the EMR;
    (D) is listed with a revoked or suspended status on the NAR; or
    (E) is in default on a guaranteed student loan as described in Texas Education Code §57.491.
  (6) A person whose permit has expired may not engage in activities that require a permit until the permit has been renewed.
(b) Permit renewal procedures.
  (1) After receiving proof of the successful completion of the seven hour continuing education requirement, HHSC sends notice of the expiration date of the permit, the amount of the renewal fee due, and a renewal form to the medication aide physical or email address listed in HHSC records.
  (2) The renewal form, which includes the contact information and preferred mailing address of the medication aide.
  (3) Medication aides will be required to submit fingerprints to the Texas Department of Public Safety for a Federal Bureau of Investigations criminal background check, if not submitted previously.
  (4) HHSC issues a renewal permit to a medication aide who meets all requirements for renewal, including payment of the renewal fee.
(c) Late renewal procedures.
  (1) If a medication aide submits a renewal application to HHSC that is late or incomplete, HHSC assesses the appropriate late fee described in §557.109(c)(1)(C) of this chapter (relating to Application Procedures). HHSC uses the postmark date to determine if a renewal application is late. If there is no postmark or the postmark is not legible, HHSC uses the date the renewal application was received and recorded by the HHSC Medication Aide Program to determine if the renewal application is late.
  (2) A person whose permit has been expired for less than one year may renew the permit by submitting to HHSC:
    (A) the permit renewal form;
    (B) all accrued renewal fees;
    (C) proof of having earned, during the expired period, seven hours in an approved continuing education program for each year, or part of a year, since the permit expired; and
    (D) proof of having earned, before expiration of the permit, seven hours in an approved continuing education program as required by subsection (a)(4) of this section.
  (3) A person whose permit has been expired for 90 days or less must pay HHSC the late renewal fee stated in §557.109(c)(1)(C)(i) of this chapter (relating to Application Procedures) or §557.125(f)(3)(A) of this chapter (relating to Requirements for Corrections Medication Aides).
  (4) A person whose permit has been expired for more than 90 days but less than one year must pay HHSC the late renewal fee stated in §557.109(c)(1)(C)(ii) or §557.125(f)(3)(B) of this chapter.
  (5) A person who previously held a permit in Texas issued under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242, Subchapter N, may obtain a new permit without reexamination if the person holds a facility medication aide permit from another state, practiced in that state for at least the two years preceding the application date, and pays to HHSC the late renewal fee stated in §557.109(c)(1)(C)(iii) of this chapter.
  (6) HHSC denies late renewal of the permit if a permit holder:
    (A) is in violation of Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242, Subchapter N, Texas Human Resources Code §161.083, or this chapter on the date HHSC receives the application for late renewal;
    (B) has a conviction of a criminal offense listed in Texas Health and Safety Code §250.006(a), or a conviction of a criminal offense listed in Texas Health and Safety Code §250.006(b) within five years before the date HHSC receives the application for late renewal;
    (C) is listed as unemployable on the EMR;
    (D) is listed with a revoked or suspended status on the NAR; or
    (E) is in default on a guaranteed student loan as described in Texas Education Code §57.491.
(d) A person whose permit has been expired for one year or more may not renew the permit. To obtain a new permit, the person must apply for a permit in accordance with §557.109 of this chapter (relating to Application Procedures) and in §557.111 of this chapter (relating to Examination).

Source Note: The provisions of this §557.115 adopted to be effective September 24, 2018, 43 TexReg 6328; amended to be effective December 26, 2021, 46 TexReg 9054