Military on Active Duty

Under House Bill 615, which went into effect July 1, 2017, the Department now has the ability to waive the initial licensing fee for any individual that is currently serving, or has formerly served, as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a spouse or surviving spouse of such member that was married to the member during a period of active duty who applies to the Department for a state professional license.

This is a partial fee waiver, please see the Fee Matrix for the remaining fees due for the type of application that you are submitting.

Application Requirements

Military Personnel/Veterans: Applicants that are currently serving as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a copy of his/her military orders. Applicants that formerly served as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a DD-214 or NGB-22.

Military Spouses: Applicants that are spouses of a current or former active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a copy of your spouse’s military orders if your spouse is currently serving or a copy of your spouse’s DD-214 or NGB-22 if your spouse formerly served. Applicants must also submit a copy of your marriage certificate to the military service member.

Surviving Spouses of Military Personnel: Applicants that are surviving spouses of a former active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a copy of your marriage certificate to the military service member and a copy of your spouse’s DD-1300.

How to Apply: Complete the Military Member/Veteran/Spouse Fee Waiver and Military Service Verification Form and submit the request along with your application for licensure.

Mail your completed application, documentation and application for licensure to:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2203

The Department now offers professional licensure to any individual that is currently serving, or has formerly served and received an honorable discharge, as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a spouse or surviving spouse of such member; and currently holds a valid license for the corresponding profession in another state, the District of Columbia, any United States territory or possession, or a foreign jurisdiction. Applicants meeting these requirements will not be required to pass a Florida examination.

Application Requirements

Military Personnel/Veterans: Applicants that are currently serving as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a copy of his/her military orders.  Applicants that formerly served as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a DD-214 or NGB-22 as proof of honorable discharge.

Military Spouses: Applicants that are spouses of a current for former active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a copy of your spouse’s military orders if your spouse is currently serving or a copy of your spouse’s DD-214 or NGB-22 if your spouse formerly served.  Applicants must also submit a copy of your marriage certificate to the military service member.

Surviving Spouses of Military Personnel: Applicants that are surviving spouses of a former active duty member of the United States Armed Forces must submit a copy of your marriage certificate to the military service member and a copy of your spouse’s DD-1300.

Certificate of Licensure: Applicants must hold a valid license for the profession in another state, the District of Columbia, any United States territory or possession, or a foreign jurisdiction. Applicants are required to submit a copy of the certificate of licensure and a copy of the statutes and/or rules that define the scope of work for the current license.

Fingerprints: An applicant must have a background check as part of the licensing process. To learn more about fingerprinting, please visit our Fingerprint FAQs.

Fingerprint Privacy Act

Insurance/Bonding Requirements: If applicable, applicants must comply with all insurance and/or bonding requirements as required by the Florida laws and rules governing the license sought.

Fee: Fees are waived for all professions with the exception of the federally required $80.00 national registry fee for Certified General Appraiser and Certified Residential Appraiser applicants.  This $80 fee should be made payable to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and included with your application.

Please note that once a license is issued, the license holder will be responsible for meeting the renewal requirements including any applicable fees.

Registered Trainee Appraiser must submit evidence of completion of 100 hours of approved qualifying education courses in subjects related to real estate appraisal within 5 years of the date the application is received by the Department. See Rule 61J1-10.002, FAC. The 100 hours includes completion of the 15-hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice course within 2 years of the date the application is received by the Department.

Application: Complete the application by clicking on the “Apply For/Update Licenses” link above, selecting the applicable profession for the license sought and then clicking on the “Initial Military-Veteran Application for Professional Licensure” link.

Questions

If you have questions or need assistance in completing this application, please call the Customer Contact Center at 850-487-1395 or use our convenient contact form to submit any comments and/or questions you may have.  In order to better serve you, please include as much information as possible about the nature of your request.

Section 455.02, Florida Statutes, now provides new options and benefits to military service members and their spouse or surviving spouse for the renewal of their professional licenses. This statute applies to the following professions regulated by DBPR:

• Architects and Interior Designers
• Asbestos Consultants, Athlete Agents
• Auctioneers, Barbers, Building Code Administrators and Inspectors
• Certified Public Accountants
• Community Association Managers
• Construction Industry
• Cosmetology Professionals
• Electrical Contractors
• Employee Leasing Companies
• Geologists
• Home Inspectors
• Landscape Architecture
• Mold Assessors and Remediators
• Real Estate Professionals
• Veterinarians

Types of military statuses:

Licenses that are in good standing may qualify for the following exemptions for the duration of the service member’s active duty and up to two years following the end their active duty:

• Military service member:
  • Not practicing their profession or vocation in the private sector for profit is exempt from all renewal requirements.
  • Practicing their profession or vocation in the private sector for profit is exempt from renewal fees but must meet all other conditions of renewal including continuing education.
• Spouse and surviving spouse:
  • Not residing in Florida due to their spouse’s military duties and not practicing their profession or vocation in the private sector for profit is exempt from all renewal requirements.
  • Residing in Florida due to their spouse’s military duties is exempt from renewal fees but must meet all other conditions of renewal including continuing education.

To be set to a military status:

The licensee must submit a signed statement to:

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783

On your signed statement you must indicate what status you are requesting and list all DBPR regulated licenses that you currently hold:

• Non practicing military service member
• Practicing service member
• Non practicing spouse displaced from Florida
  • Military deployment order showing relocation outside of Florida is required
• Practicing spouse residing in Florida
  • Military deployment order showing relocation inside of Florida is required

No additional forms are required at that time.

To return from a military status:

Once your license is placed into a military status it will remain in this status until you request to have it removed or until two years after the end of the member’s active duty.  You must notify the department once the member’s active duty ends.  Upon return to civilian life, a DD-214 form may be obtained from your commander or reserve unit office and submitted to DBPR at the address above. In some instances, a letter from the commanding officer or unit reserve officer may be used as a substitute.  Spouses and surviving spouses must submit a copy of their marriage certificate to the military member along with a copy of their spouse’s DD-214 or DD-1300 form.

For more information on these provisions, please call DBPR’s Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 or use our convenient contact form to submit any comments and/or questions you may have. In order to better serve you, please include as much information as possible about the nature of your request.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through its testing vendor Pearson VUE, now offers certain Florida professional licensure exams at various domestic and international military sites. Active duty personnel, including the spouses of active duty personnel, federal contractors, and civilians working on base, are able to schedule exams at these locations.

For a list of available examinations at military sites, please click here.

For scheduling and site information, please click here.

Veterans, please read this Veterans’ Affairs notice for potential reimbursement for examination cost.