Did you or a family member serve in the military and you have questions for another state agency? (2024)

Surviving Spouse of Military Casualty: This exemption is allowed for a surviving spouse of an active military personnel who died in the line of duty.

Disabled Veteran with V.A. Certification Exemption: This exemption is for veterans who have a disability which has been declared by the Veterans Administration to be 100% permanently and totally disabling. The exemption may also be granted where there is a rating of less than 100% disability provided the Veterans Administration finds that the veteran is 100% permanently unemployable.

Military Personnel and Veteran-Owned Small Business Loan Program: The program offers no-interest loans up to $50,000, from 1 to 8 years, for businesses owned by military veterans, Reservists and National Guard personnel, and for small businesses of 50 or fewer employees that employ such persons. For more information visit: http://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/programs-for-businesses/mpvsblp

Noncompetitive Appointments for Disabled Veterans: Veterans with disabilities (rated at, at a minimum, 30%) may be eligible for employment without going through a competitive selection process. The veteran must be minimally qualified for the position; be able to perform the duties of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation; and present documentation issued by an appropriate department of the Federal government certifying the existence and extent of the veteran’s disability as listed below. For Certified Disabled Veteran consideration, complete the free names application process on the Maryland State Online Employment Center.

State Service Credit for Military Service: The State of Maryland offers state service credit for certain military service. In general, the individual is entitled to receive service credit only on the attainment of 10 years of service credit earned through employment as a member of a state system. The employee is not eligible for the credit if they receive credit for service from another retirement system for which retirement benefits have been or will be received by the individual.

Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program ​
Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program
Veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts (VAIC) Scholarship Program

Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialists work one on one with veterans experiencing significant barriers to employment by helping them access career training and/or employment.

Local Veteran Employment Representatives work one on one with employers who are seeking to hire qualified veterans to their workforce.

Expedited Professional and Occupational Licensing facilitates professional licensing for active duty military personnel, veterans, and spouses through the expedited issuance of specified licenses, registrations and certificates. Requires occupational units throughout the State government to give credit to former service members for relevant military training, education and experience in connection with the license. https://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/opvetlic.shtml

Casino Donation Boxes: Maryland casinos have installed donation boxes at various locations inside the casino to allow patrons to donate money MVTF. Donations collected from these boxes are sent directly to the MVTF by each casino.

https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/25ind/html/76veteransr.html

For veterans who currently do not have certification/licensure in Maryland: Without National Registry certification – MIEMSS will take the courses that the veteran had completed while in the military into consideration as long as they fill out a MIEMSS application and provide a course syllabus. After reviewing their syllabus, MIEMSS will make a recommendation of any additional classes that the veteran will need to take and/or challenge for testing to the teaching agency. It is then up to the teaching agency to accept or deny any or all of MIEMSS recommendations. http://www.miemss.org/home/Portals/0/Docs/EducationCert/Military-to-EMS-Transition.pdf?ver=7WAJldXede22X9pL2Kgggw%3d%3d

Education Services: Provides assistance with educational services available such as the SLRP (Student Loan Repayment Program), SRIP (Selective REserve Incentives Program), contact completions, terminations and exception to policy, manage and counsel individuals on their GI Bill benefits as well as their kicker contracts.

Survivor Outreach Services: Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) is an Army-wide program designed to provide dedicated and comprehensive support to survivors of deceased Soldiers.

Transition Assistance Advisor: Assists all service members and family members from all branches and all era’s with the following: education on the disability process and assists with filing VA disability claims, provides benefits information to service members for “Pre & Post” deployments, provides health and life insurance guidance and enrollment assistance, assists with retirement planning and information dissemination, provides employment assistance and direction.

MDOT MVA offers a veteran designation on a driver’s license or identification (ID) card for qualifying veterans. The designation indicates that the holder is eligible for state veteran benefits. There is no cost for the service.

Maryland driver’s licenses remain in effect for active members of the U.S. Foreign Service and their dependents (who reside with the active service member outside of Maryland) while they are absent from Maryland. The holder has 30 days after you return to Maryland or are separated from employment in the military or U.S. Foreign Service to visit an MDOT MVA office to renew your driver’s license.

If an active military member’s driver license is expired for 1 year or more and the member is seeking renewal of the license, the member may be granted a waiver of the vision, knowledge and driving skills test with proper documentation of military service.

Veterans and active duty personnel may be eligible for waivers from the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) testing processes. These procedures are in accordance with regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Applications are eligible for CDL test waivers if on active duty or discharged within the previous 12 months along with meeting certain conditions.

All Medal of Honor recipients may renew driver’s licenses for free.

Vehicle Services:

MDOT MVA offers a wide range of more than 75 specialty license plates to honor active military service, veterans, and Gold Star families. Vehicle registration fees are waived for military in the following circ*mstances:

Veterans who are 100% disabled through a service related injury may obtain free disabled veteran license plates OR

All Medal of Honor recipients may renew vehicle registrations for free.

There are several vehicle registration provisions for active duty military personnel:

Active duty military personnel stationed in Maryland do not have to register their vehicles in Maryland if they are properly registered in their home state. Personnel should obtain a non-resident permit to keep the vehicle registered in their home state for up to one year while using the vehicle in Maryland;

Active duty military personnel establishing residency in Maryland have up to one year to be eligible for a tax credit for any titling tax paid in another state;

When a Maryland resident is on active duty in another state and purchases a used car outside of Maryland, the resident may receive a Temporary Inspection Waiver that is good for two years and may also temporarily register the vehicle by mail. The active duty member must have the vehicle inspected upon returning to Maryland residency;

Maryland residents on active military duty while stationed out-of-state may record the out-of-state address on file with MDOT MVA.

Lifetime Fishing and Hunting Licenses – Complimentary lifetime fishing and hunting license for 100% service connected disabled veterans.

Wounded Warrior and Veteran Outreach Program- provide activities such as hiking, biking, boating, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, team building ropes courses, hunting and camping. https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/armed_forces.aspx

Visit these websites to learn more about other state government agencies and how they serve Maryland residents.