The Department may issue a license as a professional music therapist, without administering the required examination, to an applicant licensed under the laws of another state, a U.S. territory, or another country if the requirements for licensure in that state, U.S. territory, or country are, on the date of licensure, substantially equal to the requirements of this Act or to a person who, at the time of the person’s application for licensure, possesses individual qualifications that are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this Act. An applicant under this Section shall pay all of the required fees. An applicant shall have 3 years after the date of application to complete the application process. If the process has not been completed within the 3-year time period, the application shall be denied, the fee shall be forfeited, and the applicant shall be required to reapply and meet the requirements in effect at the time of reapplication.