Applicants/Registrant

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.

Information for Military Personnel and Their Spouses/Domestic Partners

EXPEDITED LICENSURE FOR HONORABLY DISCHARGED MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

Beginning July 1, 2016, each DCA licensing program is required to expedite the licensure/registration process for an applicant that served as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged.

For an applicant's license/registration to be expedited, the applicant must:

• Supply evidence that they were an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who was honorably discharged.

Please note that this does not mean a license/registration must be issued, but simply requires the process to be accelerated. (Business and Professions Code section 115.4)

If you have questions or need further information please contact us at speechandhearing@dca.ca.gov.

RENEWAL FEE WAIVER FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL

Beginning January 1, 2013, boards and bureaus under the Department of Consumer Affairs must waive renewal requirements for military personnel when they are called to active duty. Renewal requirements waived for military personnel called to active duty include renewal fees, continuing education requirements, and any other requirements as determined by the program.

To qualify for a waiver, the licensee/registrant must:

• Possess a current and valid license when called to active duty; and
• Provide written documentation that substantiates the licensee's/registrant's call to active duty.

"Called to active duty" includes licensees in all branches of the military who, on a temporary basis, travel to remote locations to engage in activity relating to a war, national emergency, or other military operation.

Renewal requirements are only waived for the period of time the licensee/registrant is serving in the temporary assignment at the remote location, and the licensee/registrant must notify his or her licensing board or bureau of receipt of a notice of discharge date within 60 days of receiving such a notice.

All private practice is prohibited under the waiver. A licensee may not return to private practice until after they have complied with renewal requirements required by the program(s) under which they are licensed/registered. (Business and Professions Code section 114.3)

If you have questions or need further information please contact us at speechandhearing@dca.ca.gov.

EXPEDITED LICENSURE AND FEE WAIVER FOR SPOUSES OR DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL

Pursuant to AB 107 (Chapter 693, Statutes of 2021, Salas), beginning on July 1, 2023 the Board must issue a 12-month temporary license to any applicant who 1) holds a current, active and unrestricted license in another state, 2) is married to or in a domestic partnership with an active duty member of the military, and 3) where that active duty military member is currently stationed in California. The temporary license is nonrenewable and expires 12 months after issuance, upon issuance of a permanent license, or upon denial of an application for permanent licensure. The Board has 30 days after receipt of all necessary documentation and clearance of the applicants Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation background check to issue the temporary license. NOTE: the individual�s license from another state cannot have been disciplined by a licensing entity in another jurisdiction and cannot be the subject of an unresolved complaint, review procedure, or disciplinary proceeding conducted by a licensing entity in another jurisdiction.

Temporary licenses will be issued electronically and displayed on the DCA Search website at https://search.dca.ca.gov/.

The applications for these temporary licenses can be accessed at the links below:

Speech-Language Pathology Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary Licenses for Individuals Licensed in Another State

• Speech-Language Pathology RPE Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package
• Speech-Language Pathologist Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package
• Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package
• Speech-Language Pathology Aide Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package

Audiology Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary Licenses for Individuals Licensed in Another State

• Audiology RPE Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package
• Audiologist Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package
• Audiology Aide Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package

Hearing Aid Dispensing Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary Licenses for Individuals Licensed in Another State

• Hearing Aid Dispenser Trainee Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package
• Hearing Aid Dispenser Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Temporary License Application Package

EXPEDITED LICENSURE FOR SPOUSES OR DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL

Beginning January 1, 2013, each DCA licensing program is required to expedite the licensure/registration process for spouses and domestic partners of those on active duty in the Armed Forces.

For an applicant's license/registration to be expedited, the applicant must:

• Supply evidence that they are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is assigned to a duty station in California under official orders, and;
• Hold a current license/registration in another state, district or territory of the United States in the profession or vocation for which the applicant is seeking a license/registration.

Please note that this does not mean a license/registration must be issued, but simply requires the process to be accelerated for spouses and domestic partners of active duty military personnel. (Business and Professions Code section 115.5)

If you have questions or need further information please contact us at speechandhearing@dca.ca.gov.

INFORMATION FOR REFUGEES, ASYLEES, AND HOLDERS OF SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS

Starting January 1, 2021, individuals in the following categories who apply for licensure by the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board may seek an expedited licensure process.

• Refugees pursuant to section 1157 of title 8 of the United States Code;
• Those granted asylum by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to section 1158 of title 8 of the United States Code; or,
• Individuals with a special immigrant visa that have been granted a status pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, Public Law 109-163, or section 602(b) of title VI of division F of Public Law 111-8.

In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide documentation of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package. Please note that this does not mean a license must be issued, but simply that the process will be expedited.

Click here for information and documentation examples.