Texas requires a license to practice dozens of occupations, from air-conditioning repair to hair styling to dog breeding to polygraph examining.
It's understandable that you want certification showing someone is properly trained before repairing your electrical problem, replacing your boiler or fixing your broken elevator.But Texas also has an interest in helping members of the military find civilian jobs quickly once they've completed their service.The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation already has some rules to help active-duty personnel. For instance, they get more time to renew a license or complete required continuing education in their field, and spouses can get licensed more quickly.Starting this month, military experience can count toward on-the-job training for an air conditioning and refrigeration contractor's license, according to the agency. (www.tdlr.state.tx.us/military.htm)HB 45, pre-filed by state Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, for the 2013 legislative session that begins Jan. 8, would go further.It would require the state to expedite an application by a service member or recent veteran who has been licensed by the military based on training similar to what a civilian would undergo. The license would last a year, and renewal would follow regular state requirements to practice in that field.It sounds like a common-sense provision. Taxpayers already have paid to train service members, and they've gotten experience in their profession. Expediting the process puts them to work sooner, and the year gives them time to comply with whatever additional job requirements the state has for others in any given field.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
