CHAPTER 33
MILITARY SERVICE AND VETERAN RECIPROCITY
657—33.1(272C) Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
“Military service” means honorably serving on federal active duty, state active duty, or national guard duty, as defined in Iowa Code section 29A.1; in the military services of other states, as provided in 10 U.S.C. Section 101(c); or in the organized reserves of the United States, as provided in 10 U.S.C. Section 10101.
“Military service applicant” means an individual requesting credit toward licensure or registration requirements for education, training, or service obtained or completed in military service.
“Veteran” means an individual who meets the definition of “veteran” in Iowa Code section 35.1(2).
[ARC 1789C, IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15; ARC 4582C, IAB 7/31/19, effective 9/4/19; ARC 5750C, IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21]
657—33.2(272C) Military education, training, and service credit. A military service applicant may apply for credit for verified military education, training, or service toward any experiential or educational requirement for pharmacist licensure, pharmacist-intern registration, or technician registration by submitting a military service credit application form to the board office. The board shall make available an application for military service credit.
	33.2(1) Military service credit application. A military service credit application may be submitted with an application for licensure, examination, or registration or may be submitted prior to the submission of an application for licensure, examination, or registration. No fee is required with submission of a military service credit application.
	33.2(2) Credit identified. The applicant shall identify the experiential or educational licensure or registration requirement to which the credit would be applied if granted. Credit shall not be applied to an examination requirement.
	33.2(3) Submission of verification documentation. The applicant shall provide documents, military transcripts, a certified affidavit, or forms that verify completion of the relevant military education, training, or service, which may include, when applicable, the applicant’s Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) (DD Form 2586).
	33.2(4) Credit determination. Upon receipt of a completed military service credit application, the board shall promptly determine whether the verified military education, training, or service will satisfy all or any part of the identified experiential or educational qualifications for licensure or registration.
	33.2(5) Granting of credit. The board shall grant credit requested in the application in whole or in part if the board determines that the verified military education, training, or service satisfies all or part of the experiential or educational qualifications for licensure or registration.
	33.2(6) Notification of credit determination. The board shall inform the military service applicant in writing of the credit, if any, given toward an experiential or educational qualification for licensure or registration or explain why no credit was granted. The applicant may request reconsideration of the board’s determination upon submission of additional documentation or information.
	33.2(7) Consideration of applications. The board shall grant or deny the military service credit application prior to ruling on the application for licensure, examination, or registration. The applicant shall not be required to submit any fees in connection with the license or registration application until the board issues a determination on the military service credit application. If the board does not grant the military service credit application, the applicant may withdraw any license or registration application and application fee, if submitted, or the applicant may request that the application be placed in pending status. The withdrawal of a license or registration application and fee shall not preclude subsequent applications supported by additional documentation or information.
[ARC 1789C, IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15; ARC 5750C, IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21]
657—33.3(272C) Veteran licensure or registration. A veteran with an unrestricted pharmacist license in another jurisdiction may apply for pharmacist licensure in Iowa by license transfer pursuant to rule 657—2.9(147,155A) and this chapter. A veteran must pass any required examinations to be eligible for pharmacist licensure by license transfer. A veteran may submit an application for pharmacist-intern registration pursuant to 657—Chapter 4 and this chapter. A veteran may submit an application for technician registration pursuant to 657—Chapter 3 and this chapter. A veteran may submit an application for pharmacy support person registration pursuant to 657—Chapter 5 and this chapter.
	33.3(1) Priority application status. A fully completed application for licensure or registration submitted by a veteran or spouse under this chapter shall be given priority status and shall be expedited.
	33.3(2) Application requirements. Such an application shall contain all of the information required of all applicants for licensure or registration who hold unrestricted licenses or registrations in other jurisdictions and who are applying for licensure or registration, including, but not limited to, completion of all required forms, payment of applicable fees, disclosure of criminal or disciplinary history, and, if applicable, a criminal history background check. In addition, the applicant shall provide such documentation as is reasonably needed to verify the applicant’s status as a veteran under Iowa Code section 35.1(2).
	33.3(3) Equivalency determination. Upon receipt of a fully completed application for licensure or registration, the board shall promptly determine if the requirements for licensure or registration of the jurisdiction where the veteran is licensed or registered are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure or registration in Iowa. The board may consider the following factors in determining substantial equivalence: scope of practice, education and coursework, degree requirements, and postgraduate experiences.
	33.3(4) Licensure or registration approval. The board shall promptly grant a license or registration, as appropriate, to the veteran if the applicant is licensed or registered in another jurisdiction whose licensure or registration requirements are substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa, unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure or registration based on other grounds, for example, the applicant’s disciplinary or criminal background.
	33.3(5) Notification of additional requirements and provisional licensure or registration. If the board determines that the veteran is licensed or registered in another jurisdiction whose licensure or registration requirements are not substantially equivalent to those required in Iowa, the board shall promptly inform the applicant of the additional experience, education, or examinations required for licensure or registration in Iowa. Unless the applicant is ineligible for licensure or registration based on other grounds, such as disciplinary or criminal background, the following shall apply:
	a. 	If the applicant has not passed the required examination(s) for licensure or registration, the applicant may request that the application be placed in pending status. The board may issue a provisional 90-day license in order for a pharmacist who has applied for license transfer pursuant to rule 657—2.9(147,155A) to take and pass the multistate pharmacy jurisprudence examination (MPJE), Iowa Edition.
	b. 	If additional experience or education is required in order for the applicant’s qualifications to be considered substantially equivalent, the applicant may request that the board issue a provisional license or registration for a specified period of time upon such conditions as the board deems reasonably necessary to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public unless the board determines that the deficiency is of a character that the public health, welfare, or safety will be adversely affected if a provisional license or registration is granted.
	c. 	If a request for a provisional license or registration is denied, the board shall issue an order fully explaining the decision and shall inform the applicant of the steps the applicant may take in order to receive a provisional license or registration.
	d. 	If a provisional license or registration is issued, the application for full licensure or registration shall be placed in pending status until the necessary experience or education has been successfully completed or the provisional license or registration expires, whichever occurs first. The board may extend a provisional license or registration on a case-by-case basis for good cause.
[ARC 1789C, IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15; ARC 4582C, IAB 7/31/19, effective 9/4/19; ARC 5750C, IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21]
657—33.4(272C) Request for contested case. A military service applicant or a veteran who is aggrieved by the board’s decision to deny all or part of the military service credit application, a request for a license transfer, a request for a registration, or a request for provisional license or registration, or is aggrieved by the terms under which a provisional license or registration will be granted, may request a contested case (administrative hearing) and may participate in a contested case by telephone. A request for a contested case shall be made within 30 days of issuance of the board’s decision pursuant to 657—subrule 35.30(1). There shall be no fees or costs assessed against the military service applicant or veteran in connection with a contested case conducted pursuant to this chapter.
[ARC 1789C, IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15; ARC 4582C, IAB 7/31/19, effective 9/4/19; ARC 5750C, IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 272C.4(11) and 272C.4(12).
[Filed ARC 1789C (Notice ARC 1641C, IAB 10/1/14), IAB 12/10/14, effective 1/14/15]
[Filed ARC 4582C (Notice ARC 4483C, IAB 6/5/19), IAB 7/31/19, effective 9/4/19]
[Filed ARC 5750C (Notice ARC 5454C, IAB 2/24/21), IAB 7/14/21, effective 8/18/21]