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MILITARY EXPERIENCE APPROVED
FOR ELECTRICAL LICENSE
Military
May Qualify for Grandfathered
State License Without Testing
7/20/2004
Military
personnel who have gained electrical experience in the service
will be able to apply that training toward meeting the experience
requirements for a state journeyman electrician's license during
the
statutory grandfathering period, the Texas Department of Licensing
and
Regulation (TDLR) announced Monday.
"Since
the military system is not like the civilian system that we
are familiar with, we studied this issue very carefully," said
William
Kuntz, TDLR's executive director. "We determined that electrical
experience gained in the military meets the requirements laid out
in the
law."
House
Bill 1487, which was passed by the 78th Texas Legislature,
creating the Electrical Safety Program, allows journeyman electricians
to obtain a state license during the grandfathering period without
passing an examination if they can prove that they have held a license
for a year or more or if they can meet specific experience requirements.
One of these requirements is that the candidate must demonstrate
he or
she has completed an apprenticeship program consisting of at least
576-hours of job-related education and 8,000 hours - or about four
years
- of experience performing supervised electrical work. The
apprenticeship program must be approved by the Bureau of Apprenticeship
Training (BAT) of the U.S. Department of Labor or other organizations
recognized by the agency.
"We
found that the electrical training military personnel receive is
as demanding as BAT-approved training," Kuntz said. "And
in the
military system, a person is not allowed to supervise an electrician
unless he has proven to be adept in his own electrical skills."
"We
at the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) believe that consideration
of military experience and schooling by TDLR for these uniquely
qualified veterans will greatly enhance their quality of life and
honor
their military service," said James E. Nier, TVC's executive
director.
If
the journeyman candidate cannot demonstrate a full four years of
experience they still can apply for a state apprentice's license.
To
receive news and updates on the Electrical Safety Program, or any
of
the programs TDLR administers, sign up for TDLR's email subscription
service at
http://www.license.state.tx.us/newsletters/TDLRnotificationLists.asp.
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