1. (a) Definitions.

   1. (1) "Military service member" means a person who is currently serving in the armed forces of the United States, in a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard, or in the state military service of any state.
   2. (2) "Military spouse" means a person who is married to a military service member who is currently on active duty.
   3. (3) "Military Veteran" means a person who has served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States, or in an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces.
2. (b) Military Service Members and Military Veterans. The Board shall give credit to an applicant who is a Military service member or Military veteran for any verified military service, training, or education toward the licensing requirements, other than an examination requirement, including, but not limited to, education, training, certification, or a course in basic life support. The Board may not give credit if the applicant holds a restricted license issued by another jurisdiction or has an unacceptable criminal history according to Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 53 (relating to Consequences of Criminal Conviction) or §101.8 of this title (relating to Persons with Criminal Backgrounds).

3. (c) Military Spouses.

   1. (1) The Board shall process an application from a Military spouse as soon as practicable after receiving such application.
   2. (2) The Board shall issue a license to a qualified Military spouse applicant who holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the licensing requirements in this state. The initial license has the term established by §101.5 of this title (relating to Staggered Dental Registrations), or a term of 12 months from the date the license is issued, whichever term is longer.
   3. (3) The Board shall notify in writing or by electronic means an individual granted a license under paragraph (2) of this subsection of the requirements for renewal.
   4. (4) The Board may allow a Military spouse who within the five years preceding the application date held the license in this state that expired while the applicant lived outside of this state for at least six months, to demonstrate competency by alternative methods in order to meet the requirements for obtaining a dental license issued by the Board. For purposes of this section, the standard method of demonstrating competency is the specific examination, education, and/or experience required to obtain a dental license.

   5. (5) In lieu of the standard method(s) of demonstrating competency for a dental license and based on the applicant's circumstances, the alternative methods for demonstrating competency may include any combination of the following as determined by the Board:

      1. (A) education;
      2. (B) continuing education;
      3. (C) examinations (written and/or practical);
      4. (D) letters of good standing;
      5. (E) letters of recommendation;
      6. (F) work experience; or
      7. (G) other methods required by the Executive Director.
4. (d) All applicants shall submit an application and proof of any relevant requirements on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board.
5. (e) All applicants shall submit the applicable required fee(s).
6. (f) All applicants shall submit fingerprints for the retrieval of criminal history record information.
7. (g) A licensee is exempt from any penalty imposed by the Board for failing to renew the license in a timely manner if the individual establishes to the satisfaction of the Board that the individual failed to renew the license in a timely manner because the individual was on active duty in the United States armed forces serving outside the state of Texas.

8. (h) A licensee who is a member of the state military forces or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and is ordered to active duty by proper authority is entitled to an additional amount of time, equal to the total number of years or parts of years that the person serves on active duty, to complete:

   1. (1) any continuing education requirements; and
   2. (2) any other requirement related to the renewal of the person's license.

Source Note:The provisions of this §101.6 adopted to be effective December 10, 2013, 38 TexReg 8828.