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INFORMATION FOR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY, AND THEIR SPOUSE/DOMESTIC PARTNER

The Cemetery and Funeral Bureau (Bureau) provides assistance to veterans, active duty military personnel, and their spouses/domestic partners who would like to become licensed in California or are currently licensed and called to active duty.

If you feel you meet the qualifications for any of the programs listed below, submit a completed Military Affidavit form along with any required documentation and your application for licensure/registration.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Bureau's Licensing Unit at (916) 574-7870 or email the Department of Consumer Affairs at military@dca.ca.gov.

The Bureau thanks you for your service!

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.

TEMPORARY LICENSURE FOR SPOUSE/DOMESTIC PARTNER OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL

Effective July 1, 2023, the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau and all other Department of Consumer Affairs licensing boards and bureaus are required to grant temporary licensure to the spouse or domestic partner of an active-duty military member stationed in California if the applicant is currently licensed and holds an active and unrestricted license in another state with the same scope of practice as the profession in California for which they would like to practice. This applicant population also receives expedited processing and initial application and license fee waivers.

To qualify, submit a completed Application for Temporary Licensure along with a copy of your marriage certificate or certified declaration/registration of domestic partnership, documentation that substantiates assignment of duty station in California, and a copy of the current license you hold in another state, district, or territory of the United States. 

For the requirements and additional information, please visit www.dca.ca.gov/military.

(Business and Professions Code section 115.6).

MILITARY EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE

If you served in the Armed Forces of the United States and have education, training, and/or experience which you believe is transferable towards licensure requirements, you can request the Bureau consider your military education, training, and/or experience. (Business and Professions Code sections 35 and 114.5)

To qualify, submit a completed Military Affidavit form along with a written request to the Bureau outlining the education, training, and/or experience you have that meets licensure requirements with specific dates and details.

EXPEDITED LICENSURE FOR HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS

If you served as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States and were honorably discharged, you can request the Bureau expedite your application for initial licensure/registration. (Business and Professions Code section 115.4)

To qualify, submit a completed Military Affidavit form along with proof of honorable discharge from the Armed Forces.

Please note that this does not mean a license/registration must be issued, all licensing requirements must still be met.

EXPEDITED LICENSURE FOR SPOUSE/DOMESTIC PARTNER OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL

If you are the spouse or domestic partner of 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 in another state, district, or territory of the United States, you can request the Bureau expedite your application for initial licensure/registration. (Business and Professions Code section 115.5)

To qualify, submit a completed Military Affidavit form along with a copy of your marriage certificate or certified declaration/registration of domestic partnership, documentation that substantiates assignment of duty station in California, and a copy of the current license you hold in another state, district, or territory of the United States. 

Please note that this does not mean a license/registration must be issued, all licensing requirements must still be met.

RENEWAL FEE WAIVER FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL

If you are a current licensee/registrant and are called to active duty, the Bureau will waive the renewal requirements. Renewal requirements waived for military personnel called to active duty include renewal fees and any other requirements as determined by the Bureau. (Business and Professions Code section 114.3)

"Called to active duty" includes licensees/registrants 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 during which you are on active duty service.

To qualify, submit a completed Military Affidavit form along with documentation that substantiates dates you will be on active duty and a copy of the license(s) you hold and want waived.

Please note that you are prohibited from engaging in any activities requiring a license during the time period this waiver is in effect. You must notify the Bureau of your discharge from active duty within 60 days of receiving the notice of discharge.


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