R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-34-19

(a) The license of every person licensed under this chapter shall expire on the first day of March of every other year following the date of license. On or before the first day of January of every year, the director shall mail an application for renewal of license to persons scheduled to be licensed that year. Every person who wishes to renew his or her license shall file with the department a duly executed renewal application together with the renewal fee as set forth in § 23-1-54.

(b) Upon receipt of an application accompanied by payment of fees, the department shall grant a renewal license effective March second and expiring two (2) years later on March first, and that renewal license shall render the holder a legal practitioner of nursing for the period stated on the certificate of renewal. Every person seeking renewal of a license pursuant to this section shall provide satisfactory evidence to the department that in the preceding two (2) years the practitioner has completed the ten (10) required continuing education hours as established by the department through rules and regulations. The department may extend for only one six-month (6) period these educational requirements if the department is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship that prevented meeting the educational requirement.

(c) Any person practicing nursing during the time his or her license has lapsed shall be considered an illegal practitioner and is subject to the penalties provided for violation of this chapter.

(d) A licensee whose license has expired by failure to renew may apply for reinstatement according to the rules established by the board. Upon satisfaction of the requirements for reinstatement, the board shall issue a renewal of license.