Practise While You Finish Qualifying — a 180-Day Temporary Licence, Processed in 30 Days
RSA 310:16 requires the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to issue a TEMPORARY LICENCE OF NOT LESS THAN 180 DAYS — extendable once by another 180 — to an armed forces member holding a current unencumbered out-of-state licence, so work can continue while completing New Hampshire's requirements. Processing is within 30 DAYS of application, or 14 days where a criminal background check is required. Separately, OPLC rules must credit commensurate military education, training and service toward licensure. The combination is what matters: the income continues while the paperwork catches up.
Verified August 27, 2026
What this benefit is
RSA 310:16 requires the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to issue a TEMPORARY LICENCE OF NOT LESS THAN 180 DAYS — extendable once by another 180 — to an armed forces member holding a current unencumbered out-of-state licence, so work can continue while completing New Hampshire's requirements. Processing is within 30 DAYS of application, or 14 days where a criminal background check is required. Separately, OPLC rules must credit commensurate military education, training and service toward licensure. The combination is what matters: the income continues while the paperwork catches up.
What it's worth: A temporary licence of at least 180 days while you complete New Hampshire's requirements
- A TEMPORARY LICENCE OF NOT LESS THAN 180 DAYS, with ONE 180-DAY EXTENSION available.
- PROCESSING WITHIN 30 DAYS of application, or 14 DAYS where a criminal background check is required.
- Available to armed forces members holding a CURRENT UNENCUMBERED OUT-OF-STATE LICENCE.
- Expedited endorsement is available for those relocating.
- SEPARATELY, OPLC rules must credit COMMENSURATE MILITARY EDUCATION, TRAINING OR SERVICE toward licensure requirements — that route does not need an existing licence.
- The value is the income you do not lose while qualifying, which cannot be stated as one figure.
Who is entitled to it
- You serve or served in the U.S. armed forces.
- You hold a licence in another jurisdiction.
- New Hampshire licensure.
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.
How to claim it
Deadline: 180 days, extendable once by 180- 1Apply to OPLC before you move if you can. The 180 days runs from issue, and starting early means arriving able to work.
- 2Send evidence that your out-of-state licence is CURRENT and UNENCUMBERED — both words matter.
- 3Diary the 30-day processing deadline (14 days with a background check) and chase if it passes.
- 4Ask for the military training credit at the same time, so the permanent licence is closer by the time the temporary one expires.
- 5Ask for the one 180-day extension before the first period runs out, not after.
- Form
- Application to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
- File with
- New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
- Documents you will need
- dd214
- No renewal
- Once granted it does not need renewing.
Sources
- authority · statuteRSA 310:16 — licensure of military members and spouses
- operating · published policyNew Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.