Effective 28 Aug 2018

324.009. Licensure reciprocity — definitions — requirements. — 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

(1) "License", a license, certificate, registration, permit, or accreditation that enables a person to legally practice an occupation or profession in a particular jurisdiction; except that "license" shall not include a certificate of license to teach in public schools under section 168.021;

(2) "Oversight body", any board, department, agency, or office of a jurisdiction that issues licenses; except, for the purposes of this section, oversight body shall not include the state board of registration for the healing arts, the state board of nursing, the board of pharmacy, the state committee of psychologists, the Missouri dental board, the Missouri board for architects, professional engineers, professional land surveyors and professional landscape architects, the state board of optometry, or the Missouri veterinary medical board.

2. Any resident of Missouri who holds a valid current license issued by another state, territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia may submit an application for a license in Missouri in the same occupation or profession for which he or she holds the current license, along with proof of current licensure in the other jurisdiction, to the relevant oversight body in this state.

3. The oversight body in this state shall, within six months of receiving an application described in subsection 2 of this section, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for licensure in this state for the applicant if it determines that the licensing requirements in the jurisdiction that issued the applicant's license are substantially similar to or more stringent than the licensing requirements in Missouri for the same occupation or profession.

4. The oversight body shall not waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for any applicant who is currently under disciplinary action with an oversight body outside the state or who does not hold a valid current license in the other jurisdiction on the date the oversight body receives his or her application under this section.

5. The oversight body shall not waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for any applicant if it determines that waiving the requirements for the applicant may endanger the public health, safety, or welfare.

6. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the oversight body from denying a license to an applicant under this section for any reason described in any section associated with the occupation or profession for which the applicant seeks a license.

7. This section shall not be construed to waive any requirement for an applicant to pay any fees, post any bonds or surety bonds, or submit proof of insurance associated with the license the applicant seeks.

8. This section shall not apply to business, professional, or occupational licenses issued or required by political subdivisions.

9. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to alter the authority granted by, or any requirements promulgated pursuant to, any interjurisdictional or interstate compacts adopted by Missouri statute or any reciprocity agreements with other states in effect on August 28, 2018, and whenever possible this section shall be interpreted so as to imply no conflict between it and any compact, or any reciprocity agreements with other states in effect on August 28, 2018.

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(L. 2018 S.B. 840)