Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Senator Leticia Van de Putte: One of the complaints that we always heard was that the experience
that our military members have doesn't get translated into civilian speak.
Graphic: In 1999, TDLR extended license renewal timelines for active duty personnel
Representative Dan Flynn: We have a lot of very high skilled employees that are coming
back and we need to be able to address and take advantage of their incredible experience
that they have.
Graphic: In 2004, TDLR led the way for state agencies by extending continuing education
and renewal deadlines for electricians who were serving on active duty
Senator John Carona: the tx dept of licensing and regulation actually began to look at this
idea in 2004.
Representative Charlie Geren: I actually had a constituent that was based in the naval
air station in ft. worth, wondered why he was going to have to go through years of apprenticeship
when he's been an electrician the entire 20 years he's been in the military. The more
I thought about it the less sense it made. I said so why don't we fix that where we can
use their military experience and give them credit for that?
Graphic: In 2005, TDLR expanded the extended continuing education and renewal deadlines
for active duty personnel
Graphic: In 2011, TDLR recognized special considerations for veterans and their spouses,
expediting their licensing
Representative Jos� Men�ndez: We understand that military spouses face challenges because
of either their husband's or their wife's service to our country.
Representative Joe Pickett: And because of being deployed and beeng moved around the
State of Texas realizes the burden that put on spouses so a bill was passed to allow the
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to expedite and in some cases to waive an
exam requirement if they've met all the things necessary to be licensed in Texas.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte: i wanted to publcly thank the efforts of TDLR. Members,
that bill was passed and of course the effective date was September first of 2011, and Mr.
Kuntz and his team had everything in place, didn't lose a step, and I want to thank you,
that was one of the models that has spurred other states...
Graphic: For 2013, TDLR worked with the Legislature to aggressively expand the recognition of
military experience and training for licensing
- crediting apprentices for military experience and training
- crediting applications for military experience, training and education
- licensing qualified military spouses who hold current licenses in other states
Senator John Carona: We've got people coming out of the military with air conditioning
and heating experience and across a whole number of trades. We want to make sure that
when they sit for Texas licensing they can take advantage of that, they get credit and
it makes the process that much easier.
Representative Chris Turner: Our goal was simply to say to service members and veterans
that we recognize the value of the training and education that you've received during
your service to our country, and we don't want you to have to go back and be retrained
and take redundant courses in order to get a license here in Texas.
Senator Leticia Van de Putte: I'm really proud of the way that the department did this because
the legislature passed it and they really were committed to getting this right, acting
very quickly, so that our military spouses and our veterans could take those types of
licensures that were applicable and turn them into Texas licenses so they could get to work
here.
Representative Jos� Men�ndez: I'm proud of what TDLR is doing, I'm proud of what the
Legislature is doing, and I'm proud to have played a small role in promoting a faster
route to get people to work and with their licensing procedures.
Graphic: TDLR helps veterans and their families
- Ease of licensing for military spouses
- Extension of continuing education and late renewal deadlines for active duty personnel
- Waiver of late renewal penalties for active duty personnel
- Occupational exams offered overseas for military personnel
- Recognition of military experience and training that is applicable to a specific license
- TDLR webpage specifically for military personnel and their spouses to highlight services offered
by the agency