§30-1B-3. Licensure  for military spouses.

(a)  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 spouse to allow the spouse of an active duty military member who is a resident of this state who is assigned to state, or federal active duty in this state to lawfully practice the spouse's occupation in this state if, upon application to a board, the spouse satisfies the following conditions:

(1) Holds a current license, certification, or registration from another jurisdiction, and that jurisdiction's requirements for licensure, certification, or registration are substantially equivalent to or exceed the requirements for licensure, certification, or registration of the board for which the applicant is seeking licensure, certification, or registration in this state;

(2) Can demonstrate competency in the occupation through methods as determined by the board, such as having completed continuing education units or having had recent experience for at least two of the five years preceding the date of the application under this section;

(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

(4) Is in good standing; has not been disciplined by the agency that had jurisdiction to issue the license, certification, or permit; and has no pending complaints.

(b) No later than 15 days following receipt of an application from a spouse the board shall either issue a license, certification, registration, or notify an applicant when the applicant's 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 an applicant who is a military spouse has a pending complaint under §30-1B-(a)(4), 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) All relevant experience of a military spouse, including full-time and part-time experience, regardless of whether in a paid or volunteer capacity, shall be credited in the calculation of years of practice in an occupation as required under subsection (a) of this section.

(d) A nonresident licensed, certified, or registered under this section is 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.

(e) Nothing in this section may be construed to apply to the practice of law under article §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.

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

(g) A board may not charge a military spouse 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.