OAR 809-050-0015: Military Portability and Temporary Military Spouse Registration

(1) For purposes of this rule, “Armed Forces of the United States” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps of the United States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed forces. (2) Any individual who holds an active license or registration in good standing to practice geology or engineering geology in another U.S. state or territory and who is either a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Oregon or the spouse of a military member stationed in Oregon is not required to obtain registration from the Board. However, pursuant to federal law, the following conditions apply to military members and military spouses practicing geology or engineering geology in Oregon on the basis of reciprocal registration or licensure. (3) Before practicing in Oregon, the individual must: (a) provide a copy of such military orders to the Board; and (b) hold an active license or registration in good standing, as verified by the licensing authority that issued the registration or license to practice geology or engineering geology; (4) While practicing in Oregon, the individual must: (a) maintain an active license or registration in good standing to practice geology or engineering geology; and (b) submit to the authority of the Board for purposes of standards of practice and discipline. (5) Nothing in this rule prevents an individual who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Oregon or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Oregon from applying for registration under OAR Chapter 809 Divisions 30 or 50. (6) Pursuant to state law, the Board offers temporary military spouse registration to an individual who is a spouse or domestic partner of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Oregon (7) Application for temporary military spouse registration must include the following: (a) Completed and signed application form; (b) Application Fee; (c) Temporary Military Spouse Registration Fee; (d) A copy of a marriage certificate, domestic partnership registration, or other official evidence of legal union and an attestation that said union is valid and in effect; (e) A copy of the spouse or domestic partner’s assignment to an Oregon duty station by official active duty military order; (f) Official verification of the applicant’s current geologist registration or license from another state licensure board to practice geology in that state; and (g) Information required by the Board under (3) – (4) of this rule. (8) The applicant shall provide documentation of education, experience, and examination credentials that show the applicant meets the requirements in OAR 809-050-0050(1) and, if applicable, also OAR 809-050-0050(2). This documentation is required to support review of whether, in the opinion of the Board, Board Administrator or other Board designee, the applicant has demonstrated competency to practice geology in Oregon and met state registration or licensure standards substantially similar to those of the Board. (9) The applicant must hold a geologist registration or license in good standing with the other state. For purposes of this rule, sufficient proof of good standing means the applicant has attested in writing to: (a) Holding a current active unrestricted geologist registration or license from the other state licensure board; (b) Being in compliance with all requirements of the other state licensure board, including, but not limited to, payment of all required fees and compliance with any continuing education requirements; (c) Not being the subject of a pending investigation, action or order by the other state licensure board for a matter related to geologic practice in that state; and (d) Not having an action or order imposed by another state licensure board for violation of laws and rules, including a code of professional conduct, related to geologic practice. (10) A temporary military spouse registration issued under this section is valid until the earliest of the following, at which time the registration expires: (a) Two years after the date of issuance; (b) The date the spouse of the person to whom the temporary military spouse registration was issued completes military service in Oregon; or (c) The date the person’s registration or license from another state used for purposes of qualifying for the temporary military spouse registration expires; or (d) The date of issuance of a final order of the Board that imposes disciplinary action that revokes, suspends, or otherwise restricts the temporary military spouse registration. (11) A temporary military spouse authorization is not renewable. (12) A person issued a temporary military spouse registration must notify the Board within 30 days of: (a) Any change in contact information as defined in OAR 809-020-0025, with updates provided to the Board in the manner described in that rule; (b) Any change in the status of the state license that was used as a basis for obtaining the temporary military spouse registration; (c) Any complaint, investigation, or action by another state against the person holding the temporary military spouse registration; and (d) The date the spouse of the person to whom the temporary military spouse registration was issued completes military service in this state unless this occurs more than two years after issuance of the temporary military spouse registration. (13) A temporary military spouse registrant must comply with all applicable requirements for practicing geology in Oregon including, but not limited to, the code of professional conduct and professional practice requirements in Divisions 20 and 50 of OAR Chapter 809.