EXPEDITES, FEE WAIVERS AND PATHS TO LICENSURE FOR MILITARY SPOUSES AND PARTNERS

The Board offers several special programs for military spouses and partners, as described below.

Application Expedites and Fee Waivers

In order to qualify for certain applications to be expedited and/or certain fees to be waived, you must meet ALL THREE of the requirements listed below,:

  • You are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States; and
  • Your spouse or partner is assigned to a duty station in California under official active-duty military orders; and
  • You hold a current license or registration in another state or territory of the United States as one of the following:
    • Clinical Social Worker
    • Marriage and Family Therapist
    • Professional Clinical Counselor
    • Educational Psychologist

    To expedite an Exam application or Testing accommodation request, attach the following form to the TOP of your application:

    Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Expedite Request

    To expedite and obtain a fee waiver for an Associate application, Licensure application or Initial License Issuance application, attach the following form to the TOP of your application::

    Military Spouse/Domestic Partner Expedite and Fee Waiver Request

Licensure or Registration in California

The Board offers a temporary 12-month, nonrenewable license or registration in the above professions for individuals who meet certain qualifications.

Since a temporary license or registration is only valid for 12 months and is not renewable, the Board strongly recommends applying instead for a regular renewable license or registration.

How to Apply

Contact the Board at BBS.Military@dca.ca.gov to obtain the necessary forms, as well as guidance on the specifics of the different pathways to licensure for military spouses and partners.

Be sure to answer the following questions in your email so that we can best assist you. Please copy and paste these into your email, and provide the answers next to each question:

  1. Are you are married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, a member of the Armed Forces of the United States?
  2. Is your spouse or partner is assigned to a duty station in California under official active-duty military orders?
  3. What is the exact title of the license or registration you hold in the other state?
  4. In which state are you are licensed or registered?
  5. What date you were first licensed or registered (issue date of your license)?
  6. What is your license or registration’s expiration date?
  7. Are you interested in a regular renewable license or registration in California?
  8. Are you ONLY interested in a temporary (12-month) nonrenewable license or registration?