SECTION 158:1-3-10. Acceptance of Military education, training, and experience toward qualification for licensure or endorsement examination

(a)   Licensure or endorsement - military service. The Board shall, upon satisfactory evidence of substantially equivalent education, training and experience by an applicant for licensure, registration, or endorsement, accept the education, training and experience completed by the applicant as a member of the Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States, National Guard of any jurisdiction, the Military Reserves of any jurisdiction, or the Naval Militias of any jurisdiction, and apply it in the manner most favorable toward satisfying the applicant's qualifications for examination and license or endorsement issuance.

(1)   An applicant applying under this paragraph must complete and submit the following:

(A)   Appropriate application(s).

(B)   Satisfactory evidence of education, training and experience obtained by the applicant as a member of the military Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States.

(C)   License, registration, or endorsement certification(s) from jurisdiction(s) in which the applicant has held or currently holds a license, registration, or endorsement, if applicable.

(D)   Criminal history background application, finger print card and fee, if applicable.

(E)   Successful completion of the appropriate examination.

(2)   An Oklahoma license or registration will be issued within thirty (30) days if applicant is licensed or registered and in good standing in another state upon receipt of completed application and presentation of satisfactory proof of equivalency.

(b)   Military spouse applicant - equivalency. The Board shall issue the individual an equivalent license, registration, or endorsement in an equivalent category if the requirements for licensure, registration, or endorsement of the other state are substantially equivalent to those required by this state, and the applicant:

(1)   is actively licensed or holds active registration or endorsement in another state;

(2)   is the spouse of an active-duty member of the Armed Forces or Reserves of the United States;

(3)   has a spouse subject to a military transfer to this state; and

(4)   left employment in another state to accompany their spouse to this state.

(c)   May be required to meet additional requirements. If, in the opinion of the related trade committee, there is a question as to the competence of the previously licensed, registered, or endorsed applicant, the individual may be required to meet additional educational courses and/or successfully complete the required examination.

(d)   Meeting licensure requirements. Nothing in the Military Service Occupation, Education and Credentialing Act shall be construed to require the issuance of any license or registration to an applicant who does not otherwise meet the stated eligibility standards, criteria, qualifications or requirements for licensure or registration, nor shall the provisions be construed to automatically allow issuance of any license or registration without the required examination, without proper consideration by the licensing and examination board, or without proper versification that the applicant is not subject to pending criminal charges or disciplinary actions, has not been convicted of any offense prohibiting licensure or registration, and has no other impairment which would prohibit licensure or registration in this state.

(e)   Active duty and spouse of active duty application. Every active duty military personnel and their spouse who is licensed or registered in another state, upon receiving notice or orders for military transfer or honorable discharge to Oklahoma may in advance of actual transfer or discharge submit a completed application to the Construction Industries Board requesting a license or registration based on their currently held valid license or registration from another state or territory of the United States so such person may upon entering Oklahoma be authorized to continue their licensed or registered occupation without delay.

(1)   Upon receipt of an active duty military application submitted as outlined above and presentation of satisfactory evidence of equivalent education, training and experience on such valid license or registration from another state, the Construction Industries Board can accept the valid license or registration and apply all its education, training and experience in the manner most favorable toward satisfying the qualifications for issuance of the requested license or registration in Oklahoma, and shall issue the requested Oklahoma license or registration within thirty (30) days provided the license or certification from the other state is found to be in good standing and reasonably equivalent to the requirements of this state.

(2)   A license or registration issued pursuant to 59 O.S. § 4100.8 shall be valid for the same period as authorized for full license or registration in this state, unless the person is notified that there is cause for a denial of the application or that certain documentation required by Oklahoma is lacking or unavailable. In such case, a temporary credential shall be issued to allow the person time to obtain the necessary requirement while continuing to be employed in his or her occupation or profession in this state. Any active duty military applicant receiving a notice of denial of full licensure or registration shall have the right to appeal the denial determination as provided in the Administrative Procedures Act or to obtain and submit the documentation required to complete full license or registration requirements in this state.

(3)   Each credentialing authority in this state shall waive the application fee for active duty military personnel and their current spouse and shall further waive the license or certificate fees for the first period of issuance for such temporary, reciprocal or comity license or certificate.

(4)   Any active duty military personnel who pursuant to any federal or military law, rule or regulation is not required to be licensed or credentialed while employed and performing their occupation or profession only on the premises of an assigned military base shall not be required to be licensed or credentialed in this state pursuant to the same law, rule or regulation.

[Source: Added at 31 Ok Reg 892, eff 9-12-14; Amended at 32 Ok Reg 432, eff 12-17-14 (emergency); Amended at 32 Ok Reg 1612, eff 9-11-15; Amended at 37 Ok Reg 1046, eff 10-1-20]