§30-1B-2.  Licensure for individuals with military training and experience.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, all boards referred to in this chapter shall issue a license, certification, or registration to a military-trained applicant to allow the applicant to lawfully practice the applicant's occupation in this state if, upon application to a board, the military-trained applicant satisfies the following conditions:

(1) Has been awarded a military occupational specialty and has done all of the following at a level that is substantially equivalent to or exceeds the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration of the board from which the applicant is seeking licensure, certification, or registration in this state:

(A) Completed a military program of training;

(B) Completed testing or equivalent training and experience; and

(C) Performed in the occupational specialty;

(2) Has engaged in the active practice of the occupation for which the person is seeking a license, certification, or permit from the board in this state for at least two of the five years preceding the date of the application under this section; and

(3) Has not committed any act in any jurisdiction that would have constituted grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of a license to practice that occupation in this state at the time the act was committed and has no pending complaints.

(b) No later than 15 days following receipt of an application from a military-trained applicant, the board shall either issue a license, certification, registration, or notify an applicant when the applicant's military training or experience does not satisfy the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration and specify the criteria or requirements that the board determined that the applicant failed to meet and the basis for that determination. If a military-trained applicant has a pending complaint under §30-1B-3(a)(3), the board shall notify the applicant no later than 15 days following the board receiving written notice of the disposition of the pending complaint.

(c) A board shall issue a license, certification, or registration to a military-trained applicant to allow the applicant to lawfully practice the applicant's occupation in this state if the military-trained applicant, upon application to the board, satisfies the following conditions:

(1) Presents official, notarized documentation, such as a U.S. Department of Defense Form 214 (DD-214), or similar substantiation, attesting to the applicant's military occupational specialty certification and experience in an occupational field within the board's purview; and

(2) Passes a proficiency examination offered by the board to military-trained applicants in lieu of satisfying the conditions set forth in subsection (a) of this section; However, if an applicant fails the proficiency examination, then the applicant may be required by the board to satisfy those conditions.

(d) In any case where a proficiency examination is not offered routinely by a board, the board shall design a fair proficiency examination for military-trained applicants to obtain licensure, certification, or registration under this section. If a proficiency examination is offered routinely by a board, that examination shall satisfy the requirements of this section.

(e) All relevant experience of a military service member in the discharge of official duties shall be credited in the calculation of years of practice in an occupation as required under subsection (a) of this section.

(f) A nonresident licensed, certified, or registered under this section shall be entitled to the same rights and subject to the same obligations as required of a resident licensed, certified, or registered by all boards referred to in this chapter.

(g) Nothing in this section may be construed to apply to the practice of law under §30-2-1 et seq. of this code, the practice of medicine under article § 30-3-1 et. seq. of this code, or the practice of osteopathic medicine under article § 30-14-1 et seq. of this code.

(h) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a military-trained applicant from proceeding under the existing licensure, certification, or registration requirements established by a board referred to in this chapter.

(i) A board may not charge a military-trained applicant an initial application fee for a license, certification, registration, or temporary practice permit issued pursuant to this section: Provided, That nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit a board from charging its ordinary fee for a renewal application or prohibit a third party from charging actual costs for a service such as a background check.