Frequently Asked Questions

Renewal for AUD and SLP

When does the online renewal system open?

The online renewal system will be open in March 2020 for individuals holding a full license in audiology or speech-language pathology with an expiration date of May 31, 2020.

When does the online renewal system close?

For audiologists and speech-language pathologists the online renewal system will close at exactly midnight on June 30, 2020. Renewal applications must be completed by midnight on May 31, 2020 to avoid assessment of the late fee.  A late fee of $100.00 is automatically assessed from June 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020.  Please note that the Board cannot waive fees for any reason.

What are the Continuing Education (CE) requirements for the 2020 renewal?

For individuals that obtained their initial full license in audiology or speech-language pathology between December 1, 2018 and November 31, 2019 the continuing education requirement is subject to the prorated amount. See the table on the Professionals page for more information.

For the 2020 renewal an individual holding an audiology license that has already renewed their license at least once must complete a minimum of 30.0 CE hours between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2020 – not more than 10.0 CE hours can be completed in related areas.

For the 2020 renewal an individual holding a speech-language pathology license that has already renewed their license at least once must complete a minimum of 30.0 CE hours between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2019 – not more than 10.0 CE hours can be completed in related areas.

What should I do prior to the opening of the online renewal website?

Licensees are advised to ensure that the mailing address and e-mail address on file with the Board are current and up-to-date no later than February 28, 2020.

If a licensee has recently experienced a name change the name change information should be submitted to the Board no later than February 28, 2020 – to complete a name change the licensee must submit a copy of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or other court order regarding a name change. For a duplicate license to be issued with the new name the licensee should submit a check or money order in the amount of $5.00 payable to the Board of SLP.

What is the link to the online renewal site?

The link to the online renewal site: https://mdbnc.dhmh.md.gov/aud/logon.aspx

Is there anything special that needs to be done before starting the online renewal process?

All licensees are expected to input basic information into the online database that captures continuing education information such as course title, course sponsor, course starting date, course ending date, number of hours and course type (licensure or related). Accordingly, licensees utilizing the online renewal system should have their continuing education documentation readily available when beginning the online renewal process.

What should I know about the continuing education audit process for a license that expires on May 31, 2020?

The Board is required by law to audit ten percent of all eligible renewal candidates. Renewal candidates should review their continuing education records immediately to ensure that they have met or exceeded the minimum continuing education hours to renew a license that expires on May 31, 2019.

Renewal candidates should not send copies of their continuing education completion certificates and related documentation to the Board unless instructed to do as part of the continuing education audit.

How should I document the CE hours in the online renewal system?

The online renewal system tracks CE hours on a one-to-one ratio. Some CE providers indicate the number of CE hours in tenths rather than whole numbers. For example, if you completed an eight hour program and your completion certificate shows 0.8 hours then you should enter 8.0 hours into the Board’s online renewal system for that program.

If you completed more than 30.0 hours of CE activities you need only input the minimum 30.0 hours to get the third arrow to turn green.

What is the difference between Category I and Category II continuing education hours?

Category I hours are CEUs earned that are in the area of licensure. Category II hours are CEUs earned that are related to the licensee’s area of professional licensure.

I’ve been audited for continuing education compliance in consecutive renewals. How is this possible? I thought a licensee was exempt from a CE audit for the next renewal once it’s been demonstrated to the Board that the licensee can meet or exceed the continuing education requirements.

The audit is completely random and is handled by non-Board employees using a computer algorithm to ensure randomness. There is no provision of law or regulation that exempts a licensee from future audits once they’ve demonstrated successful completion of the continuing education requirements in any previous continuing education audit.

Should I mail copies of my continuing education completion certificates to the Board if I have not been selected for an audit?

A renewal candidate that has not been selected for an audit of their continuing education activities should not send CE documentation to the Board. However, all renewal candidates must submit basic information regarding continuing education activities into the online renewal system.  Details regarding the input of CE activities into the online renewal system are available in Part 3 of the Online Renewal Instructions.

What should I do if I haven’t completed the continuing education requirements?

The Board strongly suggests that all licensees make every effort to complete the continuing education requirements by the appropriate deadline.

Speech-language pathologists that do not complete the continuing education requirements prior to December 31, 2019 will be subject to discipline for failure to complete the required continuing education hours.

Please be advised that pursuant to COMAR 10.41.03.06C(6) a licensee that has not completed the continuing education requirements by the required date may be subject to a penalty not to exceed twice the missing number of continuing education hours. For example, a licensee that is required to complete at least 30.0 continuing education hours but only completes 26 of those hours may be subject to 12.0 hours of continuing education hours to qualify for renewal (the balance of 4.0 hours and 8.0 hours as a penalty).

How long will the online renewal site be available during the 2020 renewal process?

The online renewal site for audiologists and speech-language pathologists will be available without the imposition of a late fee from March 2019 through midnight on May 31, 2020. The online renewal site is available 24 hours a day during that time.

Please note that the late fee is automatically assessed from June 1, 2020 through midnight on June 30, 2020. The late fee is $100.00.

The online renewal process will close at midnight at the conclusion of June 30, 2020. Individuals wishing to renew their license after that time would be required to utilize the reinstatement process and pay the appropriate fees. The reinstatement fee is $200.00.

What should I do if I experience technical difficulties during the online renewal process?

Board staff have taken every necessary step to ensure that every eligible renewal candidate is able to use the online renewal system without experiencing any difficulty. However, some issues may result that are outside the Board’s control. A renewal candidate should call the Board offices during regular business hours to resolve technical issues related to the online renewal process.

Why doesn’t the Board accept Discover or American Express?

Collectively, all the Boards and Commission opted to use a vendor that has worked closely with other State agencies in online matters. This vendor only accepts Visa and MasterCard credit cards and debit cards. The paper-based renewal process is an alternative way to complete the renewal process with the renewal applicant sending a check to pay for the renewal.

Why doesn’t the Board accept credit cards over the phone?

To ensure security and integrity of the transaction the credit card payment must be completed online.

Why doesn’t the online verification system update my license expiration date right after I paid by credit card?

While the online renewal process is automated the printing of renewal licenses remains a manual process. Furthermore, strict guidelines imposed upon all of the health occupational licensing boards require the Board to ensure that a deposit of all appropriate fees for the renewal license has occurred before Board staff reviews the renewal application and prints the renewal license. Once the renewal license has been printed the online verification system is updated with the new expiration date.

How long should it take for my renewal license to arrive in the mail?

The online verification process indicates that the renewal license has been printed with the updated expiration date. However, this is not an indicator of when the renewal license was placed in the mail. The Board is required to follow additional administrative steps once a renewal license has been printed. Accordingly, please allow up to two weeks between completion of the online renewal process and receipt of the renewal license.

My employer is insisting that I have a physical copy of my license after May 31, 2020 before I can return to work. What should I do to ensure that I have my renewal license in my possession before May 31, 2020?

It is the renewal applicant’s responsibility to check with their employer regarding policies for working on or after June 1, 2020 during the renewal process. The Board strongly encourages all renewal applicants to complete the online renewal process no later than April 30, 2020 to ensure reasonable delivery of the renewal license prior to May 31, 2020.

Please remember that the Board experiences a four-day State holiday during the Memorial Day weekend. The four-day State holiday is Friday, May 24, 2019 through Monday, May 27, 2019. Assistance will not be available during those days.

Oops! I forgot to complete the online renewal process by May 31, 2020. What do I do now?

The online renewal process will be open during the month of June 2020. However, the late fee will be automatically assessed during this time. The late fee of $100.00 is automatically assessed during online renewals in June 2020. Please note that the Board has no authority to waive the late fee for any reason.

What happens when I don’t renew my license? Is there anything that I have to do when I don’t renew my license?

An individual who does not renew their license will receive a non-renew notice dated the first business day in July 2020 after the grace/late period has ended. The non-renew notice simply advises the individual that the license has expired and the candidate is eligible for reinstatement for five years. A licensee is not required to notify the Board that there is no intent to renew a license. However, the Board appreciates any information regarding such intent – an individual may simply e-mail the Board’s Executive Director at candace.robinson@maryland.gov to advise the Board of their intent to not renew a license.

Any individual holding an audiology or speech-language pathology license that fails to renew their license by May 31, 2020 must cease from practicing beginning June 1, 2020. From June 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020 an individual may retroactively renew their license. However, beginning July 1, 2020 licensees that fail to renew their licenses will be in a non-renewed status and may not retroactively reinstate their license.through June 30, 2020 an individual may retroactively renew their license. However, beginning July 1, 2020 licensees that fail to renew their licenses will be in a non-renewed status and may not retroactively reinstate their license.

Can the Board waive late fees or reinstatement fees?

The Board has no authority to waive any fee. This includes late fees and reinstatement fees.

I currently have an “inactive” license. Why can’t I reactivate to an active status using the online renewal?

Individuals with an inactive status are not eligible to reactive with the online renewal system during the 2020 renewal process. These individuals must reactivate with paper form that is available for download from the Board’s website.

How does the reinstatement process work? What is the effective date of a reinstated license?

An individual with a non-renewed license has up to five years to reinstate a license. A reinstatement candidate must request a reinstatement form from the Board. A reinstatement candidate must advise the Board of their current mailing address. A reinstatement candidate must submit all fees (renewal fee, HCC fee, and reinstatement fee) as well as all continuing education documentation. A reinstated license is effective the day the license is printed. A reinstated license cannot be retroactively reinstated to any previous day.

I completed the online renewal process and my renewal license was issued to me. I have decided that I no longer need the renewal license. Can I request a refund if I return the license to the Board?

The Board has no authority to issue refunds for renewal fees paid to the Board.

I am using Google Chrome to complete the online renewal process. It doesn’t seem to be working very well. What should I do?

The online renewal process was designed for use with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Please use Microsoft Internet Explorer for the online renewal process. If you own an Apple device it is strongly recommended that you use Firefox browser instead of Apple’s Safari browser. The Board cannot guarantee successful completion of the online renewal process with Google Chrome.

Am I required to fill out the racial data in the online renewal form?

Filling out the racial data is strictly voluntary. If you do not wish to update the racial data simply check off the “opt out”/”decline” option to move forward with the online renewal process.

The racial data in the online renewal form is incorrect. How did that happen?

The Board’s current licensure database contains information migrated from multiple sources. It is entirely likely that the incorrect data was created by the migration process. The online renewal process is an opportunity for each renewal applicant to review and correct, if necessary, the racial data in the licensee’s record in the license database. An individual’s self-disclosed racial data is not shared with anyone.