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qualication for a trade, occupation, or profession if they are ordered into state active duty or into active duty
and his or her period of training, study, apprenticeship, or practical experience is interrupted or the start thereof
is delayed, he or she is entitled to licensure or qualication under the laws covering his or her licensure or
qualication at the time of entrance into active duty (F.S. 250.483);
• Designates March 25 of each year as “Medal of Honor Day,” and provides for a character development program
that incorporates the values of the Congressional Medal of Honor (F.S. 683.147and 1002.37);
• And requires the Division of State Fire Marshal to waive certain expenses associated with attending the Florida
State Fire College (F.S. 633.444).
41. Professional Licensure
Provides that professional licenses issued to any member of the Florida National Guard or the United States
Armed Forces Reserves shall not expire while the member is serving on federal active duty and are exempted
from all license renewal requirements for the duration of active duty and a period of six months after discharge.
Also requires the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and its boards to adopt rules to
exempt military spouses for license renewal provisions when absent from the state due to his/her spouse’s
military duty
(F.S. 455.02). Additionally, authorizes a spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of
the United States to be issued a temporary license to practice a profession in Florida. The applicant’s spouse
must be on active duty and assigned to a duty station in Florida. The applicant 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. The temporary license is valid for six months.
Requires the department to waive the initial licensing fee, the initial application fee, and the initial unlicensed
activity fee for military veterans who apply for a license within 24 months of honorable discharge.
(F.S. 455.213)
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) waives rst-time licensing application fees
for veterans, their spouses, or a business entity in which the veteran or spouse has a majority ownership
stake. Other fees may apply. https://www.fdacs.gov or 800-435-7352
42. Occupational Opportunity Act
This law requires the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to issue a fee-waived
professional renewable license for boards and programs listed under Florida Statute 20.165 for members
of the Armed Forces who served on active duty, spouses of members of the Armed Forces, and surviving
spouses of members of the Armed Forces providing they have proof they hold a valid license for the
profession issued by any other state. This law also permits the renewal of such licenses, provided the
standard conditions of renewal under the applicable practice act are completed. The law also extends the
period of time that active duty members with licenses remain in good standing after discharge from active
duty from six months to two years and allows spouses and surviving spouses of active duty members to
remain in good standing when they are absent from the state due to their spouse’s Armed Forces duties.
This law applies to the following boards:
(F.S. 455.213)
• Board of Architecture and Interior Design
• Board of Auctioneers
• Barbers’ Board
• Building Code Administrators and
Inspectors Board
• Construction Industry Licensing Board
• Board of Cosmetology
• Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board
• Board of Employee Leasing Companies
• Board of Landscape Architecture
• Board of Pilot Commissioners
• Board of Professional Geologists
• Board of Veterinary Medicine
• Home inspection services licensing
program
• Mold-related services licensing program
• Florida Board of Professional Engineers
• Board of Accountancy
• Florida Real Estate Commission
• Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board