MISSION: To protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. VISION: To be the healthiest state in the nation. VALUES: INNOVATION We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely. COLLABORATION We use teamwork to achieve common goals and solve problems. ACCOUNTABILITY We perform with integrity and respect. RESPONSIVENESS We achieve our mission by serving our customers and engaging our partners. EXCELLENCE We promote quality outcomes through learning and continuous performance improvement. PAGE | 03 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT
PAGE | 04 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 05 Introduction 06 Data Tables 06 Table 1: Education and Training Background of Military Licensees 09 Table 2: Record of Health Care Licensees Held by Military Practitioners Across States 11 Table 3: Military Licensure Applications Received 14 Contact Us
PAGE | 05 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT INTRODUCTION About Us The Office of Veteran Licensure Services (OVLS) was established as a program area in the Florida Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) by the passage of House Bill 139 following the 2023 legislative session. OVLS exists to support veterans, active-duty service members, and their spouses by offering military fee waivers and expedited licensure processes. In partnership with Veterans Florida, OVLS also facilitates a referral program to aid veterans and their spouses with accessing training, education, and employment opportunities within Florida’s health care sector. These efforts aim to alleviate the financial burdens and simplify transactions for military families facing relocation. Reporting Requirements Under section 456.0242(e), Florida Statutes, OVLS prepares a report annually by November 11 to categorize each individual applying for health care licensure in Florida through a military licensure pathway as an active-duty member, veteran, or spouse. The following data tables are required pursuant to statute and include the educational and training background of each individual seeking licensure, each health care license an individual holds in another state–irrespective of the current status of such license, and the number of licensure applications received.
ACUPUNCTURE • Acupuncturist- Fee Waiver- 4 Master’s; Total- 4 ATHLETIC TRAINING • Athletic Trainer- VALOR- 1 Bachelor’s; VALOR Spouse- 1 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 Certification, 2 Master’s; Total- 5 CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE • Chiropractic Physician- Active-Duty Spouse- 1 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 1 Bachelor’s, 18 Doctorate; Total- 20 CLINICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL • Clinical Laboratory Personnel- VALOR- 2 Diploma, 4 Associate, 4 Bachelor’s, 2 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 1 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 10 Unknown, 4 Certification, 2 Diploma, 20 Associate, 38 Bachelor’s, 13 Master’s, 2 Doctorate; Total- 102 • Clinical Laboratory Trainee- Fee Waiver- 1 Bachelor’s; Total- 1 CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK • Clinical Social Worker Intern- ActiveDuty Spouse- 5 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 Bachelor’s, 112 Master’s; Total- 118 • Licensed Clinical Social Worker- VALOR- 7 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 7 Master’s; ActiveDuty Spouse- 1 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 • Unknown, 66 Master’s; Total- 82 DENTISTRY • Dental- VALOR- 20 Doctorate; VALOR Spouse- 1 Doctorate; Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 1 Unknown, 13 Doctorate; Total- 37 • Dental-Health Access- Fee Waiver- 3 Doctorate; Total- 3 • Dental Hygienist- VALOR- 3 Associate; VALOR Spouse- 2 Unknown, 4 Associate, 2 Bachelor’s; Active-Duty Spouse- 1 Unknown, 1 Associate; Fee Waiver- 1 Certification, 30 Associate, 4 Bachelor’s, 3 Doctorate; Total- 51 • Dental Radiographer- VALOR Spouse- 2 Unknown, 1 Certification; Active-Duty Spouse- 3 Unknown; Fee Waiver- 12 Unknown; Total- 18 DIETETICS AND NUTRITION • Dietetics/Nutritionist- Active-Duty Spouse- 5 Bachelor’s, 3 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 Unknown, 20 Bachelor’s, 22 Master’s, 1 Doctorate; Total- 48 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES • Emergency Medical Technician- VALOR- 12 Certification, 1 Associate, 2 Bachelor’s; Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Certification; Fee Waiver- 443 Certification, 1 Bachelor’s, 1 Master’s; Total- 462 The following table records the educational and training background of each individual seeking licensure pursuant to section 456.024(e)(2), Florida Statutes. During FY 2023-24, a significant number of military practitioners sought licensure through the VALOR, VALOR Spouse, ActiveDuty Spouse, and Fee Waiver pathways, with no applications submitted via the military temporary platform. Among the 4,301 total applicants, certifications were the most common qualification (25.71%), followed closely by master’s degrees (21.90%) and associate’s degrees (20.95%). Bachelor’s degrees (17.69%) and doctorates (11.02%) were also prevalent, showcasing the diverse educational backgrounds of the applicant pool. Each specific pathway, however, revealed unique patterns. The majority of VALOR applicants were highly educated, with 27.15% holding doctorates and 25.83% master’s degrees. Certifications followed at 15.89%, while 13.25% of applicants held either an associate or bachelor’s degree, reflecting an equal distribution between the two. PAGE | 06 TABLE 1: Education and Training Background of Military Licensees 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT
• Paramedic- VALOR- 3 Certification, 2 Associate, 1 Bachelor’s, 1 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 214 Certification; Total- 221 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist- VALOR- 1 Doctorate; VALOR Spouse- 1 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 Unknown, 7 Master’s; Total- 10 • Marriage and Family Therapist Intern- Fee Waiver- 1 Unknown, 19 Master’s, 1 Doctorate; Total- 21 MASSAGE THERAPY • Massage Therapist- VALOR- 1 Unkown; VALOR Spouse- 1 Unknown; Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Certification; Fee Waiver- 99 Certification; Total- 103 MEDICINE • Anesthesiologist Assistant- Fee Waiver- 2 Bachelor’s, 4 Master’s; Total- 6 • Limited License Medical Doctor- Fee Waiver- 1 Doctorate; Total- 1 • Medical Doctor- VALOR- 9 Doctorate; VALOR Spouse- 4 Doctorate; Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 141 Doctorate; Total- 156 • Medical Doctor Public Physician- ActiveDuty Spouse- 16 Doctorate; Total- 1 • Physician Assistant- VALOR- 1 Bachelor’s, 11 Master’s, 2 Doctorate; VALOR Spouse- 6 Master’s, 1 Doctorate; Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 2 Certification, 10 Bachelor’s, 70 Master’s, 2 Doctorate; Total- 107 • Registration for Resident/HSE Physician- Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Doctorate; 1 Bachelor’s, 11 Doctorate; Total- 14 MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING • Licensed Mental Health Counselor- VALOR- 7 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 1 Bachelor’s, 2 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 4 Unknown, 93 • Master’s; Total- 107 • Mental Health Counselor Intern- ActiveDuty Spouse- 9 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 8 Unknown, 1 Bachelor’s, 124 Master’s, 4 Doctorate; Total- 146 MIDWIFERY • Midwifery- VALOR- 1 Bachelor’s; Total- 1 NURSING • Advanced Practice Registered Nurse- VALOR- 1 Associate, 1 Bachelor’s, 7 Master’s, 1 Doctorate; VALOR Spouse- 5 Master’s, 4 Doctorate; Active-Duty Spouse- 33 Master’s, 8 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 16 Associate, 133 Bachelor’s, 209 Master’s, 29 Doctorate; Total- 447 • Certified Nursing Assistant- VALOR- 1 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 1 Certification; Total- 2 • Licensed Practical Nurse- VALOR- 1 Unknown, 5 Certification, 1 Diploma, 1 Associate; VALOR Spouse- 1 Certification, 1 Master’s, Active-Duty Spouse- 10 Certification, 2 Diploma; Fee Waiver- 3 Unknown, 130 Certification, 15 Diploma, 9 Associate, 3 Bachelor’s; Total- 182 • Registered Nurse- VALOR- 1 Associate, 7 Bachelor’s, 1 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 10 Associate, 14 Bachelor’s, 1 Master’s; ActiveDuty Spouse- 1 Diploma, 26 Associate, 42 Bachelor’s, 2 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 Certification, 21 Diploma, 588 Associate, 432 Bachelor’s, 19 Master’s; Total- 1,166 NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATION • Nursing Home Administrator- VALOR Spouse- 1 Certification, 1 Master’s, 1 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 3 Bachelor’s, 5 Master’s; Total- 11 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY • Occupational Therapy Assistant- VALOR Spouse- 1 Associate; Active-Duty Spouse- 2 Associate; Fee Waiver- 1 Certification, 13 Associate; Total- 17 PAGE | 07 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT TABLE 1, CONTINUED
• Occupational Therapist- Active-Duty Spouse-1 Associate, 3 Master’s, 1 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 1 Associate, 1 Bachelor’s, 11 Master’s, 2 Doctorate; Total- 20 OPTICIANRY • Optician- Fee Waiver- 4 Diploma; Total- 4 OPTOMETRY • Optometrist- VALOR- 1 Unknown, 1 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 2 Unknown, 1 Master’s, 5 Doctorate; Total- 10 OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE • Osteopathic Physician- VALOR- 5 Doctorate; Active-Duty Spouse- 5 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 39 Doctorate; Total- 49 PHARMACY • Consultant Pharmacist- Fee Waiver- 4 Doctorate; Total- 4 • Nulclear Pharmacist- VALOR Spouse- 1 Doctorate; Total- 1 • Pharmacist- VALOR- 2 Doctorate; ActiveDuty Spouse- 1 Bachelor’s; Fee Waiver- 3 Unknown, 4 Bachelor’s, 31 Doctorate; Total- 48 • Registered Pharmacy Technician- VALOR- 2 Certification, 2 Associate, 1 Bachelor’s; VALOR Spouse- 2 Certification; Active-Duty Spouse- 7 Certification; Fee Waiver- 137 Certification; Total- 151 PHYSICAL THERAPY • Physical Therapist Assistant- Fee Waiver- 37; Total- 37 • Physical Therapist- Active-Duty Spouse- 1 Master’s, 6 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 1 Associate, 4 Bachelor’s, 5 Master’s, 1 Postgrad, 25 Doctorate; Total- 43 PODIATRIC MEDICINE • Certified Podiatric X-Ray Assistant- Fee Waiver- 4 Unknown; Total- 4 • Podiatric Physician- VALOR- 1 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 1 Docotrate; Total- 2 PSYCHOLOGY • Limited License Psychologist- Fee Waiver- 1 Doctorate; Total- 1 • Provisional Psychologist- Active-Duty Spouse- 1 Doctorate; Fee Waiver- 1 Doctorate; Total- 2 RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY • Radiologist Assistant- Fee Waiver- 1 Certification; Total- 1 • Radiologic Technology- VALOR- 1 Unknown, 3 Associate; VALOR Spouse- 1 Unknown, 1 Associate, 2 Bachelor’s; Fee Waiver- 20 Certification, 116 Associate, 7 Bachelor’s, 1 Master’s; Total- 152 RESPIRATORY CARE • Registered Respiratory Therapist- VALOR- 2 Associate, 1 Bachelor’s, 1 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 1 Associate; Total- 5 • Certified Respiratory Therapist- Fee Waiver- 2 Associate; Total- 2 SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY • Audiologist- Fee Waiver- 3 Doctorate; Total- 3 • Speech-Language Pathology Assistant- Active-Duty Spouse- 1 Unknown, 1 Bachelor’s; Fee Waiver- 2 Unknown, 1 Certification, 9 Bachelor’s, 1 Doctorate; Total- 15 • Speech-Language Pathologist- VALOR- 1 Master’s; VALOR Spouse- 2 Master’s; ActiveDuty Spouse- 2 Master’s; Fee Waiver- 1 Unknown, 18 Master’s; Total- 24 • Provisional Speech-Language Pathologist- Active-Duty Spouse- 1 Unknown, 3 Master’s; 6 Master’s; Total- 10 TOTAL- 4301 PAGE | 08 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT TABLE 1, CONTINUED
PAGE | 09 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT The following table includes each health care license an individual holds in another U.S. state or territory, irrespective of the current status of such license, pursuant to section 456.024(e)(3), Florida Statutes. Table 2: Record of Health Care Licenses Held by Military Practitioners Across States STATE VALOR VALOR SPOUSE SPOUSE FEE WAIVER TEMPORARY TOTAL # TOTAL % Alabama 1 4 13 82 0 100 2.16% Alaska 2 1 4 22 0 29 0.63% Arizona 2 3 12 93 0 110 2.38% Arkansas 1 0 3 33 0 37 0.80% California 13 9 35 219 0 276 5.96% Colorado 5 0 6 126 0 137 2.96% Connecticut 1 3 3 36 0 43 0.93% Delaware 0 1 0 16 0 17 0.37% District Of Columbia 0 2 5 33 0 40 0.86% Florida 6 4 42 615 0 667 14.42% Georgia 8 7 9 191 0 215 4.65% Guam 0 0 1 4 0 5 0.11% Hawaii 1 3 2 33 0 39 0.84% Idaho 0 1 1 27 0 29 0.63% Illinois 2 5 4 71 0 82 1.77% Indiana 3 2 3 79 0 87 1.88% Iowa 0 0 0 23 0 23 0.50% Kansas 2 1 7 41 0 51 1.10% Kentucky 1 2 1 54 0 58 1.25% Louisiana 2 1 7 40 0 50 1.08% Maine 2 0 5 22 0 29 0.63% Maryland 2 1 8 79 0 90 1.95% Massachusetts 2 2 3 75 0 82 1.77% Michigan 1 2 4 62 0 69 1.49% Military A* 0 0 0 5 0 5 0.11% Military E* 0 0 0 2 0 2 0.04% Military P* 0 0 0 2 0 2 0.04% Minnesota 0 0 4 51 0 55 1.19% Mississippi 2 1 4 43 0 50 1.08% Missouri 4 3 6 86 0 99 2.14% Montana 0 2 2 26 0 30 0.65% North Marianas* 0 0 0 3 0 3 0.06% Nebraska 1 0 4 25 0 30 0.65% TABLE 1, CONTINUED
PAGE | 10 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT TABLE 2, CONTINUED STATE VALOR VALOR SPOUSE SPOUSE FEE WAIVER TEMPORARY TOTAL # TOTAL % Nevada 2 3 3 49 0 57 1.23% New Hampshire 0 1 0 14 0 15 0.32% New Jersey 1 2 5 58 0 66 1.43% New Mexico 1 1 15 30 0 47 1.02% New York 7 3 6 154 0 170 3.67% North Carolina 3 5 23 135 0 166 3.59% North Dakota 0 1 1 22 0 24 0.52% Ohio 5 3 7 131 0 146 3.16% Oklahoma 1 1 4 45 0 51 1.10% Oregon 1 0 1 28 0 30 0.65% Pennsylvania 5 2 4 120 0 131 2.83% Puerto Rico 0 1 0 6 0 7 0.15% Rhode Island 0 0 4 19 0 23 0.50% South Carolina 4 2 7 98 0 111 2.40% South Dakota 1 0 2 14 0 17 0.37% Tennessee 2 5 9 99 0 115 2.49% Texas 20 10 27 281 0 338 7.30% Utah 0 0 5 19 0 24 0.52% Vermont 2 0 0 2 0 4 0.09% Virgin Islands 0 0 0 5 0 5 0.11% Virginia 4 15 24 207 0 250 5.40% Washington 3 2 13 90 0 108 2.33% West Virginia 0 0 1 22 0 23 0.50% Wisconsin 1 2 2 38 0 43 0.93% Wyoming 0 0 1 14 0 15 0.32% Total 127 119 362 4,019 0 4,627 100% *NOTES: • Military A – Refers to the U.S. Armed Forces of Africa. • Military E – Refers to the U.S. Armed Forces of Europe. • Military P – Refers to the U.S. Armed Forces Pacific. • This table includes applicants for fee waiver, which includes examination applicants who do not require licensure in another U.S. state or territory.
PAGE | 11 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT The following table includes the number of licensure applications received pursuant to section 456.024(e)(4), Florida Statutes. In FY 2023-24, MQA received 5,288 applications from military health care practitioners, the majority of which (82.05%) were fee waiver and VALOR applicants (12.69%). TABLE 3: Military Licensure Applications Received PROFESSION VALOR SPOUSE FEE WAIVER TEMPORARY TOTAL ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncturist 0 0 4 0 4 ATHLETIC TRAINING Athletic Trainer 4 0 3 0 7 CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE Certified Chiropractic Physician Assistant 1 0 0 0 1 Chiropractic Physician 2 1 19 0 22 CLINICAL LABORATORY PERSONNEL Clinical Laboratory Personnel 43 0 93 0 136 Clinical Laboratory Trainee 0 0 1 0 1 CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK Clinical Social Worker Intern 0 7 112 0 119 Licensed Clinical Social Worker 34 1 113 0 148 Provisional Clinical Social Worker 0 0 1 0 1 DENTISTRY Dental 53 2 14 0 69 Dental Hygienist 21 2 39 0 62 Dental Radiographer 6 3 14 0 23 Dental-Health Access Dental 3 0 3 0 6 DIETETICS AND NUTRITION Dietetics/Nutritionist 7 4 45 0 56 ELECTROLYSIS Electrologist 2 1 17 0 20 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES Emergency Medical Technician 34 2 452 0 488 Paramedic 15 0 217 0 232 HEARING AID SPECIALISTS Hearing Aid Specialist Trainee 0 0 4 0 4 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY Marriage and Family Therapist Intern 0 3 21 0 24 Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 3 0 20 0 23 Provisional Marriage and Family Therapist 0 0 2 0 2 MASSAGE THERAPY Massage Therapist 5 2 104 0 111
PROFESSION VALOR SPOUSE FEE WAIVER TEMPORARY TOTAL MEDICAL PHYSICIST Medical Health Physicist 0 0 1 0 1 Medical Nuclear Radio Physicist 0 0 1 0 1 MEDICINE Anesthesiologist Assistant 0 0 6 0 6 Limited License Medical Doctor 0 0 1 0 1 Medical Doctor - Temporary Area of Critical Need 1 0 0 0 1 Medical Doctor 42 3 147 3 195 Medical Doctor Public Health 0 4 0 0 4 Medical Doctor Public Physician 0 20 0 0 20 Physician Assistant 38 2 86 1 127 Registration for Resident/HSE Physician 0 3 26 0 29 MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING Licensed Mental Health Counselor 28 1 134 0 163 Mental Health Counselor Intern 0 20 138 0 158 Provisional Mental Health Counselor 0 0 2 0 2 MIDWIFERY Midwifery 2 0 1 0 3 NURSING Advanced Practice Registered Nurse 32 43 397 0 472 Certified Nursing Assistant 14 16 106 0 136 Licensed Practical Nurse 30 13 172 0 215 Registered Nurse 97 71 1,116 0 1,284 NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATORS Nursing Home Administrator 3 0 10 0 13 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Occupational Therapy Assistant 5 2 15 0 22 Occupational Therapist 9 5 14 0 28 OPTICIANRY Apprentice Optician 0 0 4 0 4 Optician 2 0 4 0 6 OPTOMETRY Optometrist 4 1 8 0 13 Optometric Faculty Certificate 0 0 1 0 1 OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Osteopathic Physician 18 5 43 0 66 PHARMACY Consultant Pharmacist 0 0 8 0 8 Pharmacist 17 1 40 0 58 PAGE | 12 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT TABLE 3, CONTINUED
PAGE | 13 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT TABLE 3, CONTINUED PROFESSION VALOR SPOUSE FEE WAIVER TEMPORARY TOTAL Pharmacist Intern 0 0 7 0 7 Nuclear Pharmacist 1 0 0 0 1 Registered Pharmacy Technician 16 11 142 0 169 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE Physical Therapist 15 7 40 1 63 Physical Therapist Assistant 6 0 39 0 45 PODIATRIC MEDICINE Certified Podiatric X-Ray Assistant 0 0 4 0 4 Podiatric Physician 1 0 1 0 2 PSYCHOLOGY Limited License Psychologist 0 0 1 0 1 Provisional Psychologist 0 1 1 0 2 Psychologist 7 0 22 0 29 RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY Diagnostic Radiological Physician 0 0 1 0 1 Radiologist Assistant 1 0 1 0 2 Radiologic Technology 16 2 180 0 198 RESPIRATORY CARE Certified Respiratory Therapist 5 1 11 0 17 Registered Respiratory Therapist 20 4 53 0 77 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY School Psychologist 1 0 3 0 4 SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY Audiologist 0 0 3 0 3 Audiology Assistant 0 0 5 0 5 Speech-Language Pathology Assistant 0 3 13 0 16 Speech-Language Pathologist 7 2 25 0 34 Provisional Speech-Language Pathologist 0 4 7 0 11 Therapeutic Radiological Physician 0 0 1 0 1 TOTAL 671 273 4,339 5 5,288
We encourage those seeking more information about health care licensing for veterans, active-duty service members, and their spouses to visit the website, FLHealthSource.gov/OVLS, as a one stop shop that provides additional resources including answers to frequently asked questions and application requirements. Questions about an applicant’s military license status, the military licensure pathways, or OVLS? Chat with MQA’s Virtual Agent, ELI. Questions? Contact Us FLHealthSource.gov/OVLS OVLS@flhealth.gov 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-11, Tallahassee, FL 32399 VIEW OUR PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS PAGE | 14 2024 OVLS DATA REPORT
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