A candidate whose certificate has been expired for 90 days or less may renew the certificate by submitting an application accompanied by a non-refundable renewal fee that is equal to ______ the normal required application renewal fee for that level.

The correct answer reflects the specific provision in the regulations governing the renewal of emergency medical technician (EMT) certifications in Texas. According to these regulations, if a candidate’s certificate has been expired for 90 days or less, they are eligible to renew by submitting an application along with a non-refundable renewal fee that is set at one and one-half times the regular renewal fee for that certification level. This allows for a simplified process for those who may have inadvertently allowed their certification to lapse for a short period, rather than imposing a much higher penalty or requiring a completely new application process.

The other options suggest higher multiples of the normal fee, which are not in line with the established regulations for a certificate expired for up to 90 days. Hence, those options do not accurately reflect the intent of the renewal provisions for such a situation. By establishing a fee structure that is somewhat lenient for short lapses, the regulations aim to encourage timely renewals and maintain a higher number of actively certified EMTs.