Virginia Code 54.1-205: Universal license recognition
A. The regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation shall, upon application by an individual, recognize licenses or certificates issued by another state as fulfillment of qualifications for licensure or government certification in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-205
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes any of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-245
- United States: includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States Virgin Islands. See Virginia Code 1-255
1. The individual holds a current and valid professional or occupational license or government certification in another state in a profession or occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board in the Commonwealth;
2. The individual has held the professional or occupational license or government certification in the other state for at least three years;
3. The board in the other state or state of original licensure required the individual to pass an examination and to meet certain standards related to education, training, or experience;
4. There are no pending investigations or unresolved complaints against the individual, and the board in the other state holds the individual in good standing;
5. The individual does not have a disqualifying criminal record as determined by the board in the Commonwealth in accordance with § 54.1-204;
6. No board in another state has imposed discipline on the licensee, except for discipline involving only a financial penalty and no harm to the health or economic well-being of the public; and
7. The individual pays all applicable fees.
B. The regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation shall, upon application by an individual, recognize work experience in another state as fulfillment of qualifications for licensure or government certification in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met:
1. The individual worked in another state that does not use a professional or occupational license or government certification to regulate a profession or occupation, but the Commonwealth uses a professional or occupational license or government certification to regulate a profession or occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board;
2. The individual has worked in the profession or occupation for at least three years;
3. The individual passes any examination required by the board of applicants for licensure or certification; and
4. The individual satisfies the conditions outlined in subdivisions A 5, 6, and 7.
C. The regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation may require an individual seeking a professional or occupational licensure or government certification pursuant to this section to pass a jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state laws and administrative rules that regulate such profession or occupation if such an examination is required of other applicants for the same license or certification.
D. For purposes of this section, “other state” or “another state” means any state, territory, possession, or jurisdiction of the United States.
E. This section shall not apply to any professional services, as defined in § 2.2-4301.