DCA offers support to military members —both veterans and active duty and their spouses—in various ways.
Look for the military resources button on any of DCA’s websites (or visit www.dca.ca.gov/about_us/military.shtml) to get a direct link to the Military Member Resources page to see what is offered; here’s what you’ll find:
Renewal Fee Waiver for Active-Duty Personnel
Boards and bureaus under DCA must waive renewal requirements for military personnel when they are called to active duty, including renewal fees, continuing education requirements, and any other requirements as determined by the program.
To qualify for a waiver, the licensee or registrant must have a current and valid license when called to active duty and provide written documentation that substantiates that call.
“Called to active duty” includes licensees 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 waived for the time period the individual is serving in the temporary assignment at the remote location, and the licensee must notify his or her licensing entity of receipt of a notice of discharge date within 60 days of receiving the notice. However, all private practice is prohibited under the waiver. A licensee may not return to private practice until after they have complied with renewal requirements required by the program under which they are licensed. Any licensee or registrant who continues to practice the profession for which he or she is licensed or registered for, either part-time or full-time, must maintain an active license in good standing, even while serving in the military.
Expedited licensing application process
Each DCA licensing program is required to expedite the licensure or registration process for an applicant who served as an active-duty member of the U. S. armed forces and was honorably discharged. The applicant must supply evidence that they were an active-duty member who was honorably discharged.
In addition, each DCA licensing program is required to expedite the licensure process for spouses and domestic partners of those on active duty in the armed forces. These applicants must supply evidence that they are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active-duty member of the armed forces who is assigned to a duty station in California under official orders. They must also hold a current license or registration in another state, district, or territory of the United States in the same profession or vocation as the one they are seeking licensure in.
While these requirements don’t guarantee licensure, they do fast-track the process and can help get people into jobs quicker.
For questions or more information, contact your licensing board or bureau, or email military@dca.ca.gov. Include the license type (such as registered nurse, security guard, dental assistant, etc.) and your license number (if applicable) to assist staff with your inquiry. If you are asking on behalf of a relative, please include the relative’s license type and license number (if applicable).
Veterans Come First Program
The Veterans Come First Program within the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services can help you leverage your transferable military experience and training to meet all or part of the Bureau’s licensing qualifications. More than 15,000 licenses were processed for veterans in fiscal year 2019-20, and more than 64,000 since the program’s inception in 2012. The program offers a direct phone line, email account, and P.O. box along with staff support and priority through the licensing process for the following roles:
- Security guards.
- Proprietary security officers.
- Private patrol operators (and qualified managers).
- Private investigators.
- Alarm company (qualified managers and employees).
- Repossessor (qualified managers and employees).
- Locksmith operators.
- Training facilities and firearm and baton instructors.
In addition, the California Department of Veterans Affairs offers reimbursement for most of the licensing and certification tests (not licensing fees) administered by California. You will need your DD214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) and military transcripts to get started. Visit http://www.bsis.ca.gov/consumers/faqs for more information.
Military License Committee
Finally, in early 2019, DCA established a Military License Committee to help the Department improve its licensure of military members and their families, analyze DCA’s efforts assisting military members and spouses, increase awareness of DCA benefits, improve assistance to military members, and establish an ongoing process to maintain consistency across all DCA programs.
For military contact information specific to each DCA entity, visit www.dca.ca.gov/about_us/military_boards_bureaus.shtml.
