Professional Licensing Fee Waiver for Servicemembers, Veterans and Spouses
Florida waives the initial licensure application fee for servicemembers, recently discharged veterans and their spouses who already hold a licence in another jurisdiction.
Verified August 15, 2026
What this benefit is
Florida waives the initial licensure application fee for servicemembers, recently discharged veterans, and their spouses — and waives renewal fees during active duty and for two years after discharge.
It is narrower than its reputation, and the limit is the same on every route.
What it's worth: The initial licensure application fee
- Renewal fees are also waived during active duty and for two years after discharge, and for spouses absent from Florida because of the servicemember's duties.
- Fee amounts differ by profession, so we do not publish a single figure.
- Background check requirements still apply.
Who is entitled to it
- An active duty member with an honorable discharge who was previously licensed in good standing.
- A veteran within two years of separation who held a valid licence.
- A spouse of an active duty member, married during service, or a surviving spouse of one who died on active duty.
- In every case: you must already hold a valid licence in another US state, territory, or a foreign jurisdiction.
Not sure whether that describes you?
Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.
The thing most people get wrong
This is a portability rule, not a first-licence rule
Every route through §455.02 requires a valid professional licence already held somewhere else. A veteran seeking their first Florida licence in a new profession is not covered. That single condition is what most summaries of this benefit leave out.
How to claim it
- 1Confirm you hold a current licence in another jurisdiction — this is the gate on every route.
- 2Apply to the Florida board for your profession and claim the §455.02 waiver.
- 3If you are the veteran, do it within two years of separation.
- File with
- The licensing board within DBPR or the relevant department
- Documents you will need
- dd214 · proof of out of state licence · marriage certificate if spouse
- No renewal needed
Common mistakes that cost people this benefit
- Assuming it covers a first-ever licence. It does not.
- Missing the two-year window after separation.
- Forgetting that background check requirements still apply.
Questions people ask
- Which professions does it cover?
- It operates through §455.02, which applies across the professions regulated under that chapter. Ask the specific board for your profession — each administers the waiver itself.
- What if I am the spouse?
- Spouses of active duty members married during service qualify, as do surviving spouses of members who died on active duty. Renewal fees are also waived for a spouse absent from Florida because of the servicemember's duties.
Sources
- authority · statuteFla. Stat. §455.02
Why only one source type: Each licensing board administers the waiver; there is no single statewide operating page.
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.