Montpelier, Vt. — Vermont distinguished itself Wednesday with the signing of H.906, which allows the automatic licensure of servicemembers in particular fields. This bill is unique, as it establishes direct pathways to civilian licensure in certain high-demand fields for those who have obtained certain Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) designations in the armed services.
Governor Phil Scott proposed the initiative as part of his workforce expansion plan, working closely with the Vermont National Guard, Departments of Motor Vehicles and Health, Division of Fire Safety and the Secretary of State’s Office.
“Vermont’s workforce has declined by more than 16,000 since 2009, so it is critical we focus on rebuilding our workforce by helping more Vermonters gain meaningful employment and retain and recruit more working-age people to our state,” said Scott. “Making professional licensing much easier for our veterans and active duty servicemembers provides a smoother and more predicable path from their service job into a comparable good paying civilian job and will be a great recruiting tool for Vermont.”
The Governor’s initiative – which captured bipartisan support in the Legislature with help from House General, Housing and Military Affairs, and Senate Government Operations Committees – recognizes the education, training or service completed by a member of the U.S. Armed Forces as satisfying the appropriate requirements of traditional professional licensure in high-demand sectors. These changes are among the strongest accommodations in the country for the professional licensing of our servicemen and women in these fields.
“We know that our veterans are highly educated through their training in the armed services,” said Brigadier General Mark Lovejoy, director of the joint staff of the Vermont National Guard. “Servicemembers are a huge asset to our Vermont communities, and their extensive training should allow them to transition easily to a civilian career. These policy changes are a win-win for veterans as well as Vermont’s employers, communities and economy.”
Working with the Administration and Legislature, the Vermont National Guard identified the following occupations as those that provide the background and education appropriate and comparable to civilian professions. Programs accepting licensing reciprocity because of this new law, include:
- Licensed Nursing Assistant if he or she has received a designation by the U.S. Armed Forces’ as a 68W Healthcare Specialist, or equivalent, and is certified as a National Registry Emergency Medical Technician;
- Registered Nurse (RN) if he or she has received a designation by the U.S. Armed Forces’ as a 66H Nurse, or equivalent;
- Receipt of a journeyman’s license with a U.S. Armed Forces 12R Electrician or 12N Plumber designation, or equivalent, so long as they complete 8,000 hours and four years of active duty field work;
- Inspection mechanic if he or she has received a U.S. Armed Forces’ designation as a 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic, or equivalent, and has one or more of the following national certifications: ASE Diesel Mechanic, ASE Light Truck Engine Repair, ASE Automobile Service Consultant, Certified Hazardous Material Manager or Associate Safety Professional; and
- Culinary Specialist if he or she has a U.S. Armed Forces’ designation as a 92G Culinary Specialist, or equivalent, and certified as a culinarian by the American Culinary Federation.
The bill, which the Governor signed into law Wednesday, goes into effect on July 1, 2018.
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