Obtaining a professional license can feel like a significant step in a positive direction. It may take years of work, but once you get your license, you have a new path you can follow.
A significant aspect of having a professional license is maintaining it. In many professions, that means taking classes every year to keep your certification.
Here’s what can happen if you do not keep up with your professional license’s continuing education requirements.
You still must fulfill the requirement
The obligation to complete continuing education credits does not go away. While some licensing bodies have alternative requirements for those who are not practicing, if you want to continue using your license, you must maintain it.
Depending on the stage of your career, it could be challenging to schedule education requirements. Start to look into options early in the year so that you have plenty of time to make other arrangements if a class gets canceled.
There could be penalties
When you do not fulfill the requirements, your licensing board could impose penalties, including:
- Fines
- Suspension
- Revocation
Missing your requirements could impact your clients, too. If you do not fulfill the requirement, your clients could be stuck waiting while you attempt to get your license reinstated. You could also lose a client who is unable or unwilling to wait.
Keep in mind, continuing education requirements are intended to help you in your professional practice. It is a way for you to build your knowledge and stay up to date on new methods in your field.