Politics & Government

Lt. Gov. Murray Announces New Guidelines to Help Military Members Attain Professional Licenses

Military members, veterans and their spouses can now

Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray announced earlier this week new regulations to help make it easier for military members and their families to attain professional licenses.

The announcement is part of “An Act Relative to Veterans’ Access, Livelihood, Opportunity, and Resources” (VALOR Act), signed by Governor Deval Patrick in 2012, which requires departments of state government to establish military friendly practices for licensing.

“As our military servicemen and women sacrifice their lives for our country they also gain tremendous and unique job training skills that should never be overlooked when seeking employment,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, Chair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services. "We look forward to working with all partners to ensure our veterans are made aware of these new resources as they transition home and into our workforce.”

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According to a release by the Murray office, each of the 31 Department of Professional Licensure Boards of Registration will now:

  • Accept relevant education, training and service completed by a license applicant as a member of the armed forces or the military reserves toward the qualifications required for licensure;  
  • Allow for the trade or professional license of a member of the armed forces who is on active duty to remain valid until he or she is released from active duty, and for 90 days thereafter; and
  • Expedite the licensure process for military spouses who are licensed in other states and have left employment there to accompany a spouse relocated to the Commonwealth due to a military transfer.

Murray also announced that the Registry of Motor Vehicles will be adopting the Military Commercial Driver License Skills Test Waiver that allows qualified service members or veterans to apply for a Commercial Driver License without a road test.

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"The test will be waived for veterans with two years of military experience operating vehicles representative of the Class of license applied for, during the 90 days prior to discharge from the service. The implementation of this waiver comes after a successful pilot with the Massachusetts National Guard," the release said.

Massachusetts will be one of 36 other states that have adopted similar plans.

“Easing the Commercial Driver Licensing process for our qualified military personnel and veterans is a tremendous customer service that MassDOT is proud to offer,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Rachel Kaprielian. “Our men and women will have access to greater employment opportunities with this valuable, marketable certification.”

The new regulations would also provides military members engaged in active duty a six-month grace period for license renewal following release from duty.


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