A. Every active duty military personnel and their spouse who is licensed or certified in any occupation or profession in another state, upon receiving notice or orders for military transfer or honorable discharge to this state, may in advance of actual transfer or discharge submit a completed application to the appropriate licensing or credentialing agency in this state to request an expedited temporary, reciprocal or comity license or certification for their currently held valid license or certification from another state or territory of the United States so such person may upon entering this state be authorized to continue their licensed or certified occupation or profession without delay.
B. Every administrative body, state agency director or official with authority over any occupational or professional license or certification, and each of the respective examining and licensing boards, agencies and commissions in this state, shall, upon receipt of an active duty military application submitted as authorized in subsection A of this section, and presentation of satisfactory evidence of equivalent education, training and experience on such valid license or certification from another state, accept the valid license or certification and apply all its education, training and experience in the manner most favorable toward satisfying the qualifications for issuance of the requested license or certification in this state, and shall issue the requested Oklahoma license or certification 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.
C. The temporary, reciprocal or comity license or certification issued pursuant to this section shall be valid for the same period as authorized for full license or certification in this state, unless the person is notified by the credentialing authority that there is cause for a denial of the application or that certain documentation required by this state 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 certification 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 certificate requirements in this state.
D. Each credentialing authority in this state shall waive the application fee for active duty military personnel and their spouse and shall further waived the license or certificate fees for the first period of issuance for such temporary, reciprocal or comity license or certificate.
E. 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.
F. Each agency shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section and establish application forms as required.
Added by Laws 2019, c. 257, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.