Florida Veteran Health Heroes

13 2019 Florida Veteran Health Heroes LICENSURE RENEWAL PROVISIONS You may be able to keep your license in good standing and be exempted from certain license renewal provisions if you meet the following criteria: • You are an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States • You hold a Florida health care practitioner license in good standing with your profession’s administrative board or the Department at the time of your enlistment • You are entitled to practice or engage in your profession prior to joining the Armed Forces If you meet these criteria, your license will be kept in good standing without your having to register, pay renewal fees, or perform any other license maintenance act. This provision remains in effect through the duration of your active duty service, and for six months after discharge, provided you are not actively engaged in your licensed profession in the private sector for profit. Spouses of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who hold a Florida health care practitioner license in good standing may also be exempted from license renewal provisions, but only in cases of absence from the state because of their spouses’ active duty assignment. TO OUR MILITARY AND VETERAN COMMUNITY The Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) seeks to create a veteran-friendly regulatory environment to encourage military service members to choose Florida for their health care practice after active duty. A fee waiver program began in fiscal year 2013-2014 to ease most of the financial burden of applying for licensure, and partici- pation has steadily grown. During the 2018-2019 fiscal year, 332 military veterans and their spouses were licensed through VALOR thereby increasing our total to 1,277, exceeding our strategic goal of 1,255 licensed military veterans by December 2020. VALOR expedites the licensure pro- cess and is designed to issue licens- es for all qualified initial applicants within one day. MQA is committed to helping ease the transition of mil- itary health professionals into civilian life and seeks to encourage them to practice in Florida by making the li- censure process one that reflects our gratitude for their service. 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 FY 2014-2015 FY 2016-2017 FY 2018-2019 FY 2017-2018 FY 2015-2016