Veterans, military service members, transitioning service members and military spouses of the armed forces of the United
States, including the National Guard, may be eligible for exam point credits and/or expedited application processes. The information on this page is applicable to individuals who may qualify for these
services.
Before proceeding, determine if you meet the requirements in one or more of the following categories:
Category 1
A veteran who has been honorably discharged from active duty service in the armed forces of the United States or on active duty in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard, during wartime or during any conflict when military personnel were committed by the President of the
United States;
Category 2
Active or reserve member of the United States Armed Forces (including the National Guard);
Category 3
Transitioning service member of the military who is on active duty status, or on separation leave, who is within 24 months of retiring or 12 months of separation;
Category 4
The spouse of persons who qualify in category 2 and/or category 3.
The remainder of this information is relevant to individuals who fall under one or more of the categories noted above. If you do not fall under any of the aforementioned categories, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER, as you will not qualify for any of the services reserved for veterans, military service members, transitioning service members and military spouses of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard.
If you have established that you meet the requirements in one or more of the categories above, you are encouraged to review the information below to determine which services may be applicable to the processing of your application.
When you complete your application, you will see the following statement: Please check this box if you are a military spouse or
transitioning service member of the United States Armed Forces (including the National Guard) as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-1-34. To initiate processing based on a Category 2 through 4 status, you must check the box beside this statement.
Any veteran (CATEGORY 1) applicant taking an examination required by any professional licensing board, except the Georgia Board of Nursing, shall receive point credits on the examination score as follows if he or she has submitted proof of being an honorably discharged veteran:
Five (5) points = For veterans who served for a period of one year or more, of which at least 90 days were served during wartime or during any conflict when military personnel were committed by the President of the United States.
Five (5) points = For disabled veterans whose disability was for an injury or illness incurred in the line of duty and such disability is officially rated at less than 10 percent at the time of taking the examination.
Ten (10) points = For disabled veterans whose disability was for an injury or illness incurred in the line of duty and such disability is officially rated at 10 percent or above at the time of taking the examination.
Please note that the person grading the examination shall add such points to the applicant’s final examination grade. If an examination given by a professional licensing board is required in parts or by subjects; and the applicant is required to make a
minimum grade on each of the parts or subjects, the points to which the applicant is entitled shall be added to the grade made on each part or subject before the average of his or her grade on all of the parts or subjects is determined. When the grade achieved by the veteran applicant is equal to or exceeds the grade required to pass the examination, that applicant shall be
entitled to be certified as having passed the examination.
If you meet the requirements in CATEGORIES 2 through 4 noted above, you may qualify for expedited processing of your application. Depending on the license type for which you are applying, expedited processing may include the issuance of
temporary licenses, licenses by endorsement, expedited licenses, or a combination thereof as stated in the rules for that specific licensing board. To identify which process is applicable to your license type, you are encouraged to review the relevant rules on the website for the appropriate professional licensing board.
Regardless of whether or not your licensing board issues temporary licenses, licenses by endorsement, expedited licenses, or a combination thereof such issuance of the license may require the applicant to be:
Holding a license from another state for which the training, experience, and testing substantially meet or exceed the requirements under this state to obtain a license; and,
Obtaining a specialty, certification, training, or experience in the military while a service member which substantially meets or exceeds the requirements to obtain a license in this state.
When you complete your application, you will see the following statement: Please check this box if you are a military spouse or
transitioning service member of the United States Armed Forces (including the National Guard) as defined in O.C.G.A. § 43-1-34. To initiate processing based on a Category 2 through 4 status, you must check the box beside this statement.
In most cases, complete applications will be processed within seven (7) to (10) business days; however, applications which affirm arrests, criminal convictions or charges, sanctions/actions taken by any state licensing board, any academic disciplinary action, denials of licensure or having been a recipient of treatment for chemical dependence or substance or alcohol abuse will require Board review. As a result, processing time for those applications will be extended. Once the application is complete, it will be
prepared for presentation to the respective licensing board at the next scheduled meeting.
Applicants are required to provide official verification of licensure from each state/country/territory in which they hold or have ever held a professional license for the profession for which they are applying.
If your license to practice a profession in this state expires while you are serving on active duty outside of the state, you shall be permitted to practice such profession in accordance with such expired license and shall not be charged with a violation of this title related to practicing a profession with an expired license for a period of six months from the date of his or her discharge from active duty or reassignment to a location within the state.
Any such service member shall be entitled to renew such expired license without penalty within six months after the date of his or her discharge from active duty or reassignment to a location within the state. The service member must present to the applicable professional licensing board either a copy of the official military orders or a written verification signed by the service member's
commanding officer to waive any charges.
Proof of your military status may be accomplished by providing a copy of one or more of the following documents (NOTE: If you are a military spouse, you are to provide one of the documents listed below AND a copy of your official marriage certificate):
DD Form 214
DD Form 215
DD Form 256
NGB Form 22 or NBG Form 22-a
Current, unexpired military ID card, VA Issued ID Card for Health Care, Veterans ID Card
Other active, official military order forms from the personnel or human resources division for your respective branch of service.
Have you been honorably discharged from active military duty within the last 180 days? If so, the Professional Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors, Residential Contractors Division and the Construction Industry Licensing Boards, Divisions of Conditioned Air, Electrical, Plumbing and Utility Contractors has created applications for examination designed specifically for
returning service men and women.
The application will require your Forms DD 214, DD 2586 and NGB Form 22 and Form 1059 if applicable, letters from your training managers and a letter of recommendation from your Commander or designated representative, as well as the financial
requirements of the Board.
If you meet the requirements, the Board will arrange expedited testing and scoring to get you into the workforce as quickly and efficiently as possible. You can find the application and instructions below.
Examination Residential Light Commercial for Recently Discharged Veterans Conditioned Air Application for Recently Discharged Veterans
Journeyman Plumbers Application for Recently Discharged Veterans Electrical Examination Application for Recently Discharged Veterans Utility Foreman Application for Recently Discharged Veterans