Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act
The Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act is a short, information-focused bill that directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a congressional report on how military-acquired credentials can be recognized and used in the civilian workforce. The report, due within 180 days of enactment and prepared in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor, would build on the 2018 DoD Credentialing Utilization data to assess how many veterans successfully transfer eligible professional credentials to civilian jobs, which certifications are most commonly used, and what barriers veterans face in obtaining state licenses tied to those credentials. The act defines key terms (such as “eligible professional credential” and “applicable licensing authority”) and frames the inquiry around state licensing processes for veteran transitions into skilled trades. Overall, the bill seeks to inform Congress about the effectiveness of current credentialing programs and identify gaps or obstacles that could be addressed to improve veterans’ transition into civilian careers in skilled trades.
Key Points
- 1Requires the Secretary of Defense, within 180 days of enactment, to submit a report to Congress on transitioning military credentials to the civilian workforce, in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor.
- 2The report must build on the 2018 DoD Credentialing Utilization data and assess:
- 3- The number of veterans who successfully transfer eligible professional credentials to civilian jobs.
- 4- Which certifications are most commonly used for post-military employment (e.g., airplane mechanics).
- 5- Barriers veterans face in transferring military skills to state licensing.
- 6Defines key terms used in the report, including:
- 7- “Applicable licensing authority” (the state licensing body for a given vocation).
- 8- “Eligible professional credential” (credentials obtained with expenses paid under the relevant DoD program, including fields like airplane mechanics).
- 9- “State,” “servicemember,” and “expenses” as used in the statute.
- 10The act does not itself provide funding or create new programs; it directs a comprehensive interagency report to inform potential future policy.