Utah Breaks Down Occupational Licensing Barriers for Veterans
ALEC believes that effective state policy for veterans and military members should be purposefully crafted to address the unique challenges they face.
On March 17, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed SB 90 into law, less than a week after the bill passed the Utah Senate and House of Representatives unanimously. The bill, championed by Sen. Heidi Balderree, addresses a significant challenge many servicemembers face when transitioning from the military.
While many servicemembers gain training and experience in jobs that closely resemble civilian occupations, state occupational licensing boards do not always recognize these qualifications. Instead, they require servicemembers to start their civilian careers from scratch by setting extensive, specific conditions for obtaining a license. This red tape puts qualified veterans at a disadvantage in the job market and creates significant barriers to employment.
States have developed several solutions to this problem. One is to require an expedited review of a veteran’s application for licensure, often permitting licensing boards to waive fees and redundant requirements. Another method is to grant veterans temporary licenses, allowing them to begin their civilian career while they work towards completing any missing state-specific requirements for a standard license. A third approach, commonly referred to as military crosswalk, is to instruct licensing boards to accept equivalent military training, education, and experience as satisfying state occupational license requirements.
Utah’s SB 90 adopts the last approach to the problem. The new law requires the Division of Professional Licensing to “give credit to the veteran or servicemember for relevant skills, experience, credentials, training, or education obtained while in the armed forces” when a veteran applies for an occupational license in Utah. Though not every military job will have a direct civilian counterpart, the law minimizes this issue by requiring the Division of Professional Licensing to consult with the Department of Veterans and Military Affairs to cooperatively determine and publish clear guidelines. Utah’s SB 90 provides a straightforward path for veterans to transition to the civilian workforce after leaving the military while allowing the state to benefit from the substantial professional experience veterans bring to the table.
ALEC believes that effective state policy for veterans and military members should be purposefully crafted to address the unique challenges they face, eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers, and reflect the respect, honor, and fairness owed to those who served. Utah’s SB 90 aligns with these principles and creates a solution that acknowledges the valuable experience servicemembers obtain during their service.
ALEC congratulates Sen. Balderree, Gov. Cox, and the members of the Utah Legislature for taking this important step towards providing a clearer and fairer occupational licensure framework for America’s veterans and servicemembers.