What happens if a licensee does not meet the necessary continuing education requirements?

If a licensee does not meet the necessary continuing education requirements, the correct outcome is that the license becomes inactive. This is important because continuing education is a key component of maintaining professional competency and ensuring that licensees are up to date with the latest laws, practices, and technologies relevant to their field.

When a license becomes inactive, it signifies that the individual is not permitted to exercise the rights and privileges associated with that license until they complete the requisite continuing education. This system encourages ongoing learning and development, which is crucial in fields such as law enforcement where changes in regulations, policies, and best practices occur frequently.

In contrast, the other options either do not align with the purpose of continuing education or do not reflect the consequences of failing to fulfill these requirements. For example, upgrading a license or initiating a new training cycle does not occur if the minimum standards for educational progression are not met. Likewise, the notion that no action would be taken contradicts the fundamental intent of professional regulatory standards in maintaining public safety and professional integrity.