State of Florida-NOT supportive of military spouse's dental career. HELP!!

[blonderdhmph]

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[grmaster1]

I am a dental hygienist (BSDH and MPH) moving to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. My husband will be stationed at Eglin Air Force Base.

I am frustrated by this situation:

Florida is the only state that does not license by credentials. You are required to take the clinical exam over again.

I live in New Mexico. Obviosuly, I do not have the resources to find a patient that is willing to fly to Florida to be a board patient. Additionally, Florida gives the exam once a year (June).

I know that spouses get military preference. What is the liklihood I will get hired at the hospital there? (However, RDH pay is very low in the Air Force too) Does the Air Force work to accomodate military spouses when this happens? I would like to work private practice or for a dental hygiene school.

I have 6 years of college and post grad work. My career is being stripped away. Thanks Florida.

Does anyone have any advice or experience with this?

HELP!!

Yes, Florida is like that for RDHs; now, for dentists only 37 states do licensing by credentials, if that helps any ;-)

You will get military preference as a spouse, and if you decide to work in a federal capacity, i.e., prison, indian health or military, you do not need a state license. However, to teach or work at a DH school or private office you will need to take that exam, so do it when you get there and find your patients then.

Your husband can always try to negotiate for a different duty station, and you're being too dramatic about your "career stripped away."

Now, in the Navy the saying goes, "Neither your spouse nor your children came with your seabag," and I don't know how AF runs their **** (considering their housing and facilities--they do a good job), so you and your husband have to be proactive... Good luck!

 

[xhamburgersamx]

Florida is one of the hardest states to get a license for dentists as well. They are strict on everything.

 

[AFDDS]

Yes, Florida is like that for RDHs; now, for dentists only 37 states do licensing by credentials, if that helps any ;-)

You will get military preference as a spouse, and if you decide to work in a federal capacity, i.e., prison, indian health or military, you do not need a state license. However, to teach or work at a DH school or private office you will need to take that exam, so do it when you get there and find your patients then.

Your husband can always try to negotiate for a different duty station, and you're being too dramatic about your "career stripped away."

Now, in the Navy the saying goes, "Neither your spouse nor your children came with your seabag," and I don't know how AF runs their **** (considering their housing and facilities--they do a good job), so you and your husband have to be proactive... Good luck!

Just some clarification. You only get preference for GS positions. Not for contract positions. Not all RDH jobs in the AF are GS positions. Also, not sure how much preference you actually get.

If you are in the miltary or USPHS, you need a valid, unrestricted license from any of the states. Not true for contract positions. You need a license from the state you are practicing in, unless the contract stipulates otherwise. GS may be the same way, not familiar with GS licensing requirements, but have worked with several contractors.

Like I said in my other post, your husband should have asked for a different location. I know most people that get FL assignments ask for them, I don't think you can lay all the blame on the miltary here. There is still an outside chance he can ask for an assignment to another state. I'd recommend checking their licensing requirements before he makes the request.

Also, the people at the clinic will help if they can. They may have some pt's for you to help you with the board if you still need to take it. If you have questions about assignments or what you need to do, send me a PM and I'll help as much as I can. I can assure you we don't want to create issues for family members, but they do happen. And as cold as it may sound, I have to agree with the above sentiment. Needs of the AF mission come first.

 

[blonderdhmph]

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[AFDDS]

The Air Force has been wonderful. I wouldn't dream of asking requesting for reassignment in another state. The AF mission does come first.

This is an issue of state health policy. My question is: Why isn't there a clause written in Florida legislation that exempts military spouses from retaking the clinical board exam?

Do you know if there has been proposed legislation in the past that exempts military spouses in other states?

Let's take my situation for example:
His reassignment starts in August of this year. However, the clinical board exam is offered June 2011. I will be in the Pensacola area. The clinical exam is not offered there. Its offered in Gainesville, Miami, West Palm Beach area. If I do not get a federal job in that area, then I am missing 10-11 months of work. Not to mention he will be deployed some of that time.

With my background in public health, I believe this is an issue concerning military spouses. Every time a military spouse moves to certain states this is affecting them.

Thank you for your advice! I will PM you. 🙂

I don't know of any attempts to change the laws. My guess is that this affects very few people each year and it hasn't been attempted.

Can you travel to Gainesville in June to take the board? Sounds like your best bet. And remember, getting a GS job doesn't guarantee you won't need a FL license.

How long has your husband been in the AF? Where are you stationed now?

 

[teeth63a]

States' non participation in credentialing and reciprocity laws do to things 1) ensure that providers are up to state standards (quality control) and 2) prevent the market from being saturated with providers.

We all go through this when we move from state to state, so depending on your husband's career in the military this is something that may come up every few years. I've had to take another licensing exam when I moved back to my home state 3 years after graduating.

So you are not alone in this, this isn't the first time it's happened to someone, and it won't be the last. The best to do is adapt, improvise and overcome.

Your options (some mentioned above) - 1) work for the federal, indian service, prison system, possibly a GS position where your NM license will be enough 2) take a pay cut, work as an assistant to get into a private practice or dental chain, find your patients there and take the test in June. Alternatively, you will have an easy time finding a patient in the military system, esp if you pay the airman or soldier. You just need to make some contacts. 3) Find if Florida has "temporary licensing" laws (there are laws like this in my state) where Florida will grant you a "temporary" license if you work in an underserved area in a public clinic.

 

[FlaGuest]

Temporary licensure for military spouses in Florida: http://bit.ly/cyELjd