FAQ – Licensure of Military Members and Spouses
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Military
- What is the requirement to expedite my application for being a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces?
You are required to submit a DD214 form showing that you were honorably discharged from military.
- Can my application for Vocational Nursing/Psychiatric Technician be expedited if I am an active duty member of the Armed Forces and enrolled in the United States Department of Defense SkillBridge program?
Yes, your initial application for licensure will be expedited if you supply satifactory evidence to the Board that you are an active duty member of the Armed Forces and enrolled in the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge Program.
- What is the requirement to expedite my application for being a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces?
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Military Spouses
- If you are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under official active duty military orders and you are licensed as a Practical/Vocational Nurse in another U.S. State or Territory, you qualify for expedited licensure and a waiver of the application and initial license fees.
To qualify, you must submit the following documents to the Board:
- Satisfactory evidence of being married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union, with an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under active duty military orders.
- A copy of the military orders showing your spouse's or domestic partner's active military duty in California.
- If you are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under official active duty military orders and you are licensed as a Practical/Vocational Nurse in another U.S. State or Territory, you qualify for expedited licensure and a waiver of the application and initial license fees.
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Active Military
- I am a Licensee who has been called to active duty, is there a specific requirement to qualify for renewal?
If you possess a current and valid California license and are called to active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or California National Guard, your continuing education and renewal fee requirements will be waived. To receive this waiver, you must submit written documentation to the Board verifying your active duty status, such as Deployment Orders, Official Mobilization Orders, Active Duty Operational Support Orders, State Active Duty Orders, or Title 10 Orders.
You will not be able to practice in nonmilitary settings under the Military Waiver.
*Important Notice: You must notify the Board within 60 days of receiving your notice of discharge. To resume practice after being discharged from active duty, you must complete all renewal requirements within six months of your discharge date.
You may submit a military waiver request and upload your supporting documentation directly through your BreEZe account.
- I am a Licensee who has been called to active duty, is there a specific requirement to qualify for renewal?
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Professional License Portability and State Registration for Servicemembers and their Spouses
The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) authorizes service members or their spouses who currently hold a valid license in good standing in another state, district, or territory to practice in California within the same profession or vocation, if they relocate to California because of military orders. For individuals who desire to practice in California under the terms of the SCRA, please visit: https://www.dca.ca.gov/military/federal.shtml.
