MQA Quarterly Performance Report

MQA Q4 2015 - 2016 14

VALOR

The Department of Health is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their

families. We are proud that over 1.5 million veterans call Florida home, and our continued goal is to recognize and

honor their service to our nation as we make Florida the most veteran-friendly state in the nation.

On April 14, 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill (HB) 941 into law, creating Chapter 2016-230,

Florida Statutes. While the bill modifies many programs and services offered by the Florida Department of Health

(Department), it most significantly impacts the Department’s military veteran and active duty spouse licensure

support services.

The Department offers many military licensure support services, most notably the Veterans’ Application for Licensure

Online Response (VALOR) system. VALOR provides expedited licensure processing to members of the United States

Armed Forces, the United States Reserve Force, or the National Guard seeking licensure in a health care profession.

In order to qualify, the applicant must apply for the license six months before or six months after their honorable

discharge. Additionally, they must hold an active, unencumbered license in a U.S. jurisdiction or serve as a military

health care practitioner in a profession for which licensure in a state or jurisdiction is not required to practice in the

United States Armed Forces. There is no application fee, licensure fee, or unlicensed activity fee for veterans who

qualify for this type of licensure.

This legislation expanded eligibility of the VALOR program to spouses of active duty service members seeking licensure

in most health care professions regulated by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance. In order to qualify, spouses

of active duty service members must hold an active, unencumbered license in a U.S. jurisdiction or serve as a health

care practitioner in a profession for which licensure in a state or jurisdiction is not required to practice. There is no

application fee, licensure fee, or unlicensed activity fee for military spouses who qualify for this type of licensure.

Additionally, this legislation created a new temporary certificate to military health care practitioners who serve

on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, the United States Reserve Forces, or the National Guard or a

person who serves on active duty in the United States Armed Forces and serves in the United States Public Health

Services. This certificate allows for military health care practitioners to practice in a civilian setting under a defined

military platform. In order to qualify, applicants must practice pursuant to a military platform and hold an active,

unencumbered license in a U.S. jurisdiction or serve as a military health care practitioner in a profession for which

licensure in a state or jurisdiction is not required to practice in the United States Armed Forces.

For more information about VALOR and the Department’s other military licensure

programs, please visit