If you have been granted a temporary or provisional license to practice genetic counseling, you'll need to pass the board exam before the license expires in order to obtain a permanent license. Once you've passed, you'll be eligible to apply for a permanent license. If you don't pass, then what happens next will depend on your state. You may or may not be able to renew or re-apply for a temporary license once you've re-established active candidate status. If your license expires, you cannot legally work as a genetic counselor in that state.
State (Click link for source) | Expiration Rules | Renewal/Reapplication Rules |
|---|---|---|
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Thirty (30) days after failing exam (b) One year from issue date (c) Issuance of regular license | May reapply for an additional temporary license if they satisfy the qualifications for temporary licensure. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Ninety (90) days aft failing exam 2nd time (b) One year from issue date (c) Issuance of regular license | May renew for one more year if applicant failed 1st attempt to pass the exam. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Thirty (30) days aft failing exam (b) Twenty-four (24) months from issue date (c) Issuance of regular license | Cannot be renewed or extended. | |
Shall expire 365 days after receiving master’s degree | Cannot be renewed or extended. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Issuance of regular license (b) One year from issue date; or (c) Upon notice of the second failure of the certification examination. | Can be renewed for an additional year. Also may reapply for provisional licensure after regaining active candidate status by the ABGC | |
Effective for two years from the date of issuance | Cannot be renewed or extended. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Thirty (30) days aft failing exam (b) Eighteen (18) months from issue date (c) Issuance of regular license | May reapply for an additional temporary license if they satisfy the qualifications for temporary licensure. | |
The provisional license shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of its issue. A provisional license shall expire automatically upon the issuance of a full license. | May be renewed at the discretion of the board for additional one (1) year periods up to a maximum of four (4) renewals. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) One year from issue date (b) Upon notice of failure of the certification examination (c) Issuance of regular license | May only be renewed if the certifying examination administered by ABGC or ABMG is not given during that 24 month period. In the event the individual fails to take the next available examination or fails to successfully complete the next available examination for licensure, the temporary license shall be void and the individual must cease practicing. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: | An individual who holds a temporary license and fails the examination for certification for the first time may reapply for a second temporary license. The board may not issue a temporary license to an individual who has failed the examination for certification more than one (1) time. | |
A provisional license shall expire and become inactive upon the earliest of the following: (a) Issuance of a license as a genetic counselor by the board. (b) Loss of active candidate status. | A person holding a provisional license which is inactive due to loss of active candidate status may submit an application for reactivation of the provisional license upon demonstrating that active candidate status has been reestablished. | |
A temporary license shall expire upon the earliest of the following: (a) One year from issue date (b) Thirty (30) days after failing exam (c) Issuance of regular license | The temporary license cannot be extended or renewed | |
A temporary license expires upon the earliest of the following dates: (a) Six (6) months from issue date (b) Thirty (30) days after the individual fails the examination for certification (c) Issuance of regular license | An individual who holds a temporary license fails to pass the examination for certification for the first time may reapply for a second temporary license. The board shall not issue a temporary license to an individual who has failed to pass the examination for certification more than one time. | |
A provisional license shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Two (2) years from issue date (b) 30 days after failing exam (c) Issuance of regular license | May be renewed for an additional 2 years if an applicant fails the first certification exam. | |
A temporary-licensed genetic counselor license automatically expires upon issuance of a genetic counselor license or upon loss of active candidate status with the ABGC or the ABMGG. A licensee shall report to the department a change in active candidate status not later than 30 days after the change occurs. | A temporary-licensed genetic counselor license may be renewed 4 times. | |
Minnesota | Information pending | |
A temporary license expires automatically on the earliest of the following: (a) issuance of a full license to a person who successfully passes the American board of genetic counseling certification exam; or (b) at the time a person loses active candidate status for failure to complete or pass the American board of genetic counseling certification exam. | Licenses issued under this section are valid for the period established by the department by rule and may be renewed only on the filing of a renewal application and payment of the license renewal fee. | |
A provisional license shall expire at the earlier of: (a) One (1) year from issue date (b) 30 days after failing exam (c) Issuance of regular license | Such license shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and may be renewed for one additional year if the applicant fails the certification examination one time. | |
Provisional licenses shall remain valid for no more than 24 months unless the period of validity is extended or upon one of the following occurrences: (a) 60 days after the issuance of a passing score on the examination; (b) Issuance of full license; (c) The date the board denies full licensure; (d) The date the provisional license expires | The board shall extend the period of validity of a provisional license for not more than 24 weeks if: (1) The provisional license is still valid at the time of extension; (2) The provisional licensee submits a written request for the extension stating facts relating to one of the reasons in (3) below; and (3) The provisional licensee is unable to submit the supervisory opinion of competence for a reason unrelated to the supervisor’s belief that the licensee is not competent to practice without supervision and under full licensure; or The board shall also extend the period of validity of a provisional license for not more than 24 weeks if: (1) The provisional licensee can’t meet licensing requirements because: a. The provisional licensee’s extended illness; or b. The provisional licensee’s need to take care of any of the following people during an extended illness: child, parent, sibling, spouse or spousal equivalent. (2) The provisional licensee submits a written request for the extension providing the supervisor’s signed opinion that the licensee will become competent to practice under full licensure if the provisional license is extended for the time specified by the supervisor. | |
The holder of a work permit letter shall take the first examination for which he or she is eligible. If the holder fails the first examination, he or she shall take the next examination for which he or she is eligible. If the holder fails the second examination, he or she shall surrender the work permit letter to the Committee and shall not provide genetic counseling until he or she passes the examination and obtains a license from the Committee. | The holder of a work permit letter who was permitted to maintain the work permit letter pursuant to (f) above shall take the first examination for which he or she is eligible. If he or she fails this examination, or fails to take the examination, he or she shall surrender the work permit letter to the Committee | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Three (3) months after the next ABGC certification exam is offered (b) Issuance of regular license | The Temporary License may be renewed as long as the applicant maintains “active candidate status”, and the applicant must sit for the examination within the first two consecutive exam cycles for which they are eligible. Applicants who fail to do this will have to reapply. The license may be renewed a maximum of two consecutive times within a five-year period following the first temporary licensure. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (a) Expiration date listed on temporary license (b) Failing exam (c) Issuance of regular license | A temporary licensee shall take the certification examination within eighteen months of obtaining the temporary license. If a temporary licensee fails the first sitting of the certification examination or the temporary license expires, the temporary licensee may reapply for another temporary license. A temporary license may not be issued or reissued if the applicant failed the certification examination three times. | |
The license is valid for one year from the date it was issued. The applicant must have passed the certification exam within that year. | Cannot be renewed. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (1) Date printed on the temporary license (2) Thirty (30) days after failing exam (3) Issuance of regular license | Yes, if the applicant fails first exam, they may reapply for a second temporary license | |
A licensed genetic counselor temporary license is valid for one year. | May be renewed once, resulting in the temporary license being valid for a two-year maximum duration | |
A temporary provisional genetic counselor license will expire upon notice that the holder has not passed the certification examination within two examination cycles after receiving the temporary provisional license. | Cannot be renewed. | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (1) Expiration date listed on temporary license (2) Failure to pass the examination; or (3) Issuance of regular license | Yes, can be extended for another year | |
Shall expire at the earlier of: (1) Expiration date listed on temporary license (2) Failure to pass the examination; or (3) Issuance of regular license | If any temporary licensee fails the first sitting of the certification examination or the temporary license expires, then the applicant may reapply for a second temporary license. A temporary license may not be issued if the applicant has failed the certification examination more than twice. | |
A temporary license shall expire upon the earliest of one (1) of the following: 1. issuance of full licensure; 2. ninety (90) days after notification of failing the certification exam without obtaining current active candidate status; or 3. the date printed on the temporary license. | Temporary license applicants must have active candidate status conferred by the ABGC and take the next available certification examination. A temporary license will not be issued if the applicant has failed the ABGC certification examination more than twice. | |
Temporary licenses are valid for a maximum of 18 months. The licensee shall take the next available examination; and the temporary license automatically expires upon release of official examination results if the applicant fails the examination. | Cannot be extended or renewed. | |
Such license shall expire 12 months from issuance or upon expiration of active candidate status, whichever comes first. | An applicant shall not be eligible for temporary license renewal upon expiration of Active Candidate Status as defined by the American Board of Genetic Counseling. | |
A provisional license shall expire on the practitioner's birthday as provided under WAC 246-12-020 or upon the earliest of the following: (a) A license is granted; or (b) A notice of decision is mailed. | A provisional license may be renewed a maximum of three times. |
