DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COMMITTED TO HELPING VETERANS FIND WORK IN FLORIDA

 TALLAHASSEE—May is Military Appreciation Month and the Florida Department of Health works to honor and support veterans, current members of the military and all military families. The department is proud to employ current and former members of the military throughout the state. It also assists veterans in becoming health care professionals through facilitated licensure processing.

 "Our military service members and their families deserve our thanks for their sacrifices that keep us free,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. "As a veteran, I am grateful to Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for making Florida the most military and veteran friendly state in the nation.”

 With more than 1.5 million veterans who live in Florida, the department is committed to making our state the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. Through the Florida Veterans Application Licensure Online Response System (VALOR) the state offers expedited licensure processing for military veterans seeking licensure in a health care profession.

 Cmdr. Dan Bower, a recent beneficiary of the VALOR program said, "I am an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon stationed overseas in the Navy and have been on active duty for the last 26 years. Obtaining a license to practice surgery in the civilian world can be very expensive and time consuming, especially when serving abroad. I heard about the VALOR system from a fellow senior Navy surgeon and applied for a Florida license when I was six months from retirement. I obtained a no hassle, free license in only two days. Licensure can be very stressful, and this process has been an incredible help in my transition to a civilian job. I am extremely grateful and thankful to Dr. Armstrong and the state of Florida for honoring my military service in this way.”

 Fee waiver eligibility is also available for health care practitioner licenses up to 60 months after honorable discharge for both military veterans and their spouses. Learn more about the VALOR system and how to obtain health care licensing by visiting the department's Armed Forces Licensing webpage.

Furthermore, the state of Florida aims to help all veterans looking for careers in civilian employment by giving preference and special consideration to disabled and non-disabled veterans. Veterans looking for jobs should visit Employ Florida's Vets, the state's online jobs portal for employment services. For additional information about the initiative, a toll free phone number is available at 866-352-2345.