Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act

House Votes

This proposal, called the Veterans Skilled Trades Transition Act, tells the Department of Defense to study how well military-earned credentials carry over to civilian jobs and report back to Congress. The report must look at how many veterans successfully use their military credentials to get state-recognized licenses, which certifications are used most (for example, aircraft mechanics), and what barriers are getting in the way. The goal is to make it easier for veterans to step into good civilian jobs that match their skills.

The report is due within 180 days after the law takes effect and must be done with input from the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Labor. It focuses on state licensing rules and credentials earned through Defense Department programs, and it covers all states, U.S. territories, and D.C..

Key points

• Who is affected: Veterans and servicemembers with military-earned professional credentials; state licensing boards; employers in skilled trades like aircraft maintenance.
• What changes: Requires a federal report to identify how many credentials transfer, which ones are used most, and what roadblocks exist, especially for mechanical and trade skills.
• When: Report due 180 days after the law is enacted.