.09 Terms of Perfusionist-Basic License.

A. Term and Expiration.

(1) A perfusionist-basic license shall expire 2 years after it is issued.

(2) Except as provided in §§D and E of this regulation, a perfusionist-basic license may not be renewed or extended beyond the 2-year expiration date.

(3) An individual who previously held a perfusionist-basic license may not be granted a new perfusionist-basic license.

(4) Upon expiration of the perfusionist-basic license, an individual who does not meet the requirements for a perfusionist-advanced license is ineligible for licensure and may not practice perfusion in this State.

B. Conversion.

(1) The holder of a perfusionist-basic license shall convert the license to a perfusionist-advanced license at any time before the expiration after meeting the requirements outlined in Regulation .06B(2) of this chapter.

(2) The individual shall ensure that the national certifying board submits evidence, satisfactory to the Board, that the individual meets the requirements of Regulation .06B(2) of this chapter.

(3) If the Board receives the notification specified in §B(2) of this regulation, the Board shall issue a perfusionist-advanced license to the individual at no additional charge.

(4) If the holder of the perfusionist-basic license fails to convert the license to a perfusionist-advanced license before the expiration date, the individual shall file a new application for a perfusionist-advanced license.

C. Conversion-or-Expiration Notice. At least 1 month before the expiration of the perfusionist-basic license, the Board shall send notice to the licensed perfusionist-basic that states:

(1) The date on which the current perfusionist-basic license expires;

(2) The date by which notification of meeting requirements outlined in Regulation .06B(2) shall be received in order to convert to a perfusionist-advanced license before the perfusionist-basic license expires; and

(3) Notice that upon expiration of the perfusionist-basic license, if the holder does not qualify for a perfusionist-advanced license, the holder is no longer permitted to practice perfusion in this State.

D. The Board may permit a perfusionist with a basic license to continue to practice on that license if extenuating circumstances prevented the applicant for an advanced license from taking the national certifying examination given by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion. The applicant shall specify the:

(1) Extenuating circumstances; and

(2) Basis for granting the request.

E. Petition for Extension.

(1) At the discretion of the Board, a petition for extension of a perfusionist-basic license expiration date may be considered if:

(a) The licensee:

(i) Incurs a hardship that prevents the licensee from active use of the perfusionist-basic license for a period of at least 45 consecutive calendar days;

(ii) Provides a written request, with supporting documentation if applicable, stating the extenuating circumstances that will prohibit or has prohibited the licensee from active use of the perfusionist-basic license for at least 45 consecutive calendar days; and

(iii) Provides an anticipated date for resuming activity on the perfusionist-basic license; and

(b) The national certifying examination has been administered during no more than three testing windows from the time the application for the perfusionist basic license was approved.

(2) A perfusionist with a basic license may not practice during the paused time frame. Practicing or attempting to practice without an active license is in violation of Regulation .15 of this chapter and is punishable under that regulation.

(3) The Board may grant a one-time extension of the perfusionist-basic license expiration date but the extension may not exceed the time period that the perfusionist with the basic license did not have active use of the license.

(4) The Board may grant an extension if the Board determines that failure to fulfill the license requirements is clearly the result of:

(a) Functional impairment;

(b) Prolonged and serious illness;

(c) Mandatory military service or deployment;

(d) A prolonged absence from the United States;

(e) An officially declared disaster; or

(f) Other exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the applicant.

(5) Failing the national certification examination is not grounds for obtaining an extension.