Mo. Rev. Stat. § 324.009 — MO Code / Chapter 324 / Section 324.009
324.009 Licensure reciprocity — definitions — requirements — inapplicability, when.
Status: in_force

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

(1) "License" , a license, certificate, registration, permit, accreditation, or military occupational speciality that enables a person to legally practice an occupation or profession in a particular jurisdiction;

(2) "Military" , the Armed Forces of the United States including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force, National Guard and any other military branch that is designated by Congress as part of the Armed Forces of the United States, and all reserve components and auxiliaries. Such term also includes the military reserves and militia of any United States territory or state;

(3) "Missouri law enforcement officer" , any person employed by or otherwise serving in a position for the state or a local governmental entity in the state of Missouri as a police officer, peace officer certified under chapter 590 , auxiliary police officer, sheriff, sheriff's deputy, member of the patrol as that term is defined in section 43.010 , or in some like position involving the enforcement of the law and protection of the public interest at the risk of that person's life and who is a permanent resident of the state of Missouri or who is domiciled in the state of Missouri;

(4) "Nonresident military or law enforcement spouse" :

(a) A nonresident spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to the state of Missouri, or who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to an adjacent state and is or will be domiciled in the state of Missouri, or has moved to the state of Missouri on a permanent change-of-station basis; or

(b) A nonresident spouse of a person residing outside the state of Missouri who has accepted an offer of employment from and with the state or a local governmental entity in the state of Missouri and who will become a Missouri law enforcement officer upon the commencement of such employment;

(5) "Oversight body" , any board, department, agency, or office of a jurisdiction that issues licenses;

(6) "Resident military or law enforcement spouse" , a spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has been transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to the state of Missouri or an adjacent state and who is a permanent resident of the state of Missouri, who is domiciled in the state of Missouri, or who has Missouri as his or her home of record, or a spouse of a Missouri law enforcement officer.

2. Any person who holds a valid current license issued by another state, a branch or unit of the military, a territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, and who has been licensed for at least one year in such other jurisdiction, may submit an application for a license in Missouri in the same occupation or profession, and at the same practice level, for which he or she holds the current license, along with proof of current licensure and proof of licensure for at least one year in the other jurisdiction, to the relevant oversight body in this state.

3. The oversight body in this state shall:

(1) 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 there were minimum education requirements and, if applicable, work experience and clinical supervision requirements in effect and the other state verifies that the person met those requirements in order to be licensed or certified in that state. An oversight body that administers an examination on laws of this state as part of its licensing application requirement may require an applicant to take and pass an examination specific to the laws of this state; or

(2) Within thirty days of receiving an application described in subsection 2 of this section from a nonresident military or law enforcement spouse or a resident military or law enforcement spouse, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for licensure in this state for the applicant and issue such applicant a license under this section if such applicant otherwise meets the requirements of this section.

4. (1) The oversight body shall not waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements for any applicant who has had his or her license revoked by an oversight body outside the state; who is currently under investigation, who has a complaint pending, or who is currently under disciplinary action, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, with an oversight body outside the state; who does not hold a license in good standing with an oversight body outside the state; who has a criminal record that would disqualify him or her for licensure in Missouri; 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.

(2) If another jurisdiction has taken disciplinary action against an applicant, the oversight body shall determine if the cause for the action was corrected and the matter resolved. If the matter has not been resolved by that jurisdiction, the oversight body may deny a license until the matter is resolved.

5. 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.

6. Any person who is licensed under the provisions of this section shall be subject to the applicable oversight body's jurisdiction and all rules and regulations pertaining to the practice of the licensed occupation or profession in this state.

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 impede an oversight body's authority to require an applicant to submit fingerprints as part of the application process.

10. 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, 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.

11. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a license issued under this section shall be valid only in this state and shall not make a licensee eligible to be part of an interstate compact. An applicant who is licensed in another state pursuant to an interstate compact shall not be eligible for licensure by an oversight body under the provisions of this section.

12. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any occupation set forth in subsection 6 of section 290.257 , or any electrical contractor licensed under sections 324.900 to 324.945 .

(L. 2018 S.B. 840, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1511 & 1452, A.L. 2020 H.B. 2046, A.L. 2021 H.B. 273 merged with H.B. 476, A.L. 2025 H.B. 225 merged with S.B. 81 merged with S.B. 150)