If an administrator does not renew their certificate within four years of the expiration date, what must they do?

If an administrator does not renew their certificate within four years of the expiration date, they must restart the certification process. This requirement is in place because a certificate that has lapsed for such a prolonged period indicates that the administrator has not maintained their qualifications or engaged in ongoing professional development in that time frame. As a result, the administrator must go through the entire certification process again to ensure that they are updated on current standards, regulations, and practices in the field.

This policy helps maintain the integrity and competency of administrators in the field, ensuring that those in charge of managing care facilities are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills necessary to provide high-quality care. This requirement emphasizes the importance the state places on continuous professional development and adherence to regulatory standards.

While late renewal fees and courses might apply in other situations, they do not address the significant gap in certification that occurs when renewal is not completed within four years. The appeal for late renewal is also not applicable in this context, as the lapse is too long for it to be simply remedied by paying a fee or taking a class. Hence, restarting the certification process becomes the necessary course of action in this scenario.