1. a. Notwithstanding any other act or regulation to the contrary, a professional or occupational board designated in section 2 of P.L.1978, c.73 (C. 45:1-15) that issues a professional or occupational license, certificate of registration, or certification for which professional training, education, or experience is required shall give credit toward its requirements for licensure or certification for training, education, and experience received while serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States that is substantially equivalent to the training, education, or experience required for licensure or certification.

b. A professional or occupational board shall issue a license or certification to an applicant who presents evidence to the board that:

(1) the applicant has been honorably discharged from active military service;

(2) the training, education, and experience the applicant received while serving as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, together with any training, education, and experience obtained outside of the Armed Forces, is substantially equivalent to training, education, or experience required for licensure or certification; and

(3) the applicant complies with all other requirements for licensure, including, without limitation, any requirement for examination.

c. For the purpose of determining substantial equivalence of education, a professional or occupational board shall consider education courses directly relevant to the profession or occupation for which a license or certification is sought that are part of the applicant’s military training or service that meet the equivalence standards of the American Council on Education.

d. For the purpose of determining substantial equivalence of experience, a professional or occupational board shall consider whether the experience gained in the military is of a character equivalent to that which would have been gained in the civilian sector doing similar work.

e. A professional or occupational board may require an applicant to provide such documentation of the applicant’s training, education, or experience as deemed necessary by the board to determine substantial equivalency. An applicant seeking credit for military training, experience, or both shall submit to the appropriate professional or occupational board the applicant’s Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) Document, DD Form 2586.

f. To the extent that an applicant’s military training, education, or experience, or a portion thereof, is not deemed substantially equivalent, a professional or occupational board shall credit whatever portion of the military training, education, or experience that is substantially equivalent towards meeting the requirements for the issuance of the license or certificate.

L.2013, c.49, s.1.