Military Service Members, Veterans, and Spouses
Note: Verification of military service for the veteran or the military spouse will require submision of a DD-214.
The Texas Legislature has passed bills to allow military service members, veterans and military spouses extra accommodations for licensure, license renewal, license retention and additional benefits. All of these benefits are outlined below:
Waiver of Application Fee
A military service member or military veteran whose military service, training, or education substantially meets all of the requirements for the professional engineer license in Texas; or a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse who holds a current professional engineer license issued by another jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in Texas is exempt from the $75.00 application fee. Refer to Senate Bill 807 Below
Extension of License Renewal Deadlines
A military service member (defined as a person on active duty) who holds a license is entitled to two years of additional time to complete:
(1) any continuing education requirements; and
(2) any other requirement related to the renewal of the military service member's license.
Refer to Senate Bill 1307 Below
Exemption From Penalty for Failure to Renew
A military service member (defined as a person on active duty) who holds a license is exempt from any increased fee or other penalty imposed for failing to renew the license in a timely manner if the individual establishes to the satisfaction of the board that the individual failed to renew the license in a timely manner because the individual was serving as a military service member.
Refer to Senate Bill 1307 Below
Engineering Examination Postponement
Examination candidates who have been called into active U.S. military duty or who are re-assigned military personnel and will not be available to sit for an examination may request the examination cycle be postponed and any paid examination fees encumbered toward a future examination date. Such candidates shall submit adequate documentation, including copies of orders, and a request to postpone the examination cycle to the board. The candidate shall notify the board of their availability to resume the examination cycle within 60 days of release from active duty or when they are deployed to a location that provides a board approved examination. Refer to Section 133.61 below
Expedited Application for License from a Military Spouse
An application for license from a military spouse shall be processed and reviewed as soon as practicable.
Refer to Section 133.81
CEP Exemption for Active Military Duty
A license holder serving on active duty and deployed outside the United States, its possessions and territories, in or for the military service of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days in a year shall be exempt from obtaining the professional development hours required during that year.
Refer to Section 137.17
Corresponding Bill or Rule Text
Senate Bill 1307
S.B. No. 1307 amended the Definitions as follows
Sec. 55.001. DEFINITIONS:
(1) "Active duty" means current full-time military service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty military service as a member of the Texas military forces, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code, or similar military service of another state.
(2) "Armed forces of the United States" means the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed forces.
(3) "License" means a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or a state agency rule that must be obtained by an individual to engage in a particular business.
(4) "Military service member" means a person who is on active duty.
(5) "Military spouse" means a person who is married to a military service member.
(6) "Military veteran" means a person who has served on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
SECTION 3. Section 55.002, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 55.002. EXEMPTION FROM PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO RENEW LICENSE. A military service member who holds a license is exempt from any increased fee or other penalty imposed for failing to renew the license in a timely manner if the individual establishes to the satisfaction of the board that the individual failed to renew the license in a timely manner because the individual was serving as a military service member.
SECTION 4. Section 55.003, Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 55.003. EXTENSION OF LICENSE RENEWAL DEADLINES FOR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS. A military service member who holds a license is entitled to two years of additional time to complete:
(1) any continuing education requirements; and
(2) any other requirement related to the renewal of the military service member's license.
SECTION 7. Section 55.005(a), Occupations Code is amended as follows:
As soon as practicable after a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse files an application for a license:
The Board will process the application; and issue the license to an applicant who qualifies for the license.
SECTION 8. Section 55.005, Occupations Code, is amended to as follows:
The Board shall credit verified military service, training, or education that is relevant to the occupation toward the engineering experience and educational requirements for the professional engineer license.
SECTION 11. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an application for a Texas professional engineer license or renewal of a Texas professional engineer license filed on or after January 1, 2016. An application for a license or for license renewal filed before January 1, 2016, is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 13. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
Senate Bill 807
Senate Bill No. 807 amended:
SECTION 1. Chapter 55, Occupations Code, adds Section 55.009 summarized as follows:
The Board waives the license application fee for an applicant who is:
(1) a military service member or military veteran whose military service, training, or education substantially meets all of the requirements for the license; or
(2) a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse who holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in Texas.
Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules
Chapter 133: Licensing
SUBCHAPTER G: EXAMINATIONS
Section 133.61 Engineering Examinations Required for a License to Practice as a Professional Engineer
Engineering Examinations Required for a License to Practice as a Professional Engineer Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules
(i) Examination candidates who have been called into active U.S. military duty or who are re-assigned military personnel and will not be available to sit for an examination may request the examination cycle be postponed and any paid examination fees encumbered toward a future examination date. Such candidates shall submit adequate documentation, including copies of orders, and a request to postpone the examination cycle to the board. The candidate shall notify the board of their availability to resume the examination cycle within 60 days of release from active duty or when they are deployed to a location that provides a board approved examination.
Entire Law & Rules Publication
Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules
Chapter 133: Licensing
SUBCHAPTER H: REVIEW PROCESS OF APPLICATIONS AND LICENSE ISSUANCE
Section 133.81 Receipt and Processing of Applications by the Board
(h) Pursuant to ยง55.005, Texas Occupations Code, an application for license from a military spouse shall be processed and reviewed as soon as practicable in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. All other applications will be processed in the order they were received.
Entire Law & Rules Publication
Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules
Chapter 137: Compliance and Professionalism
SUBCHAPTER A: INDIVIDUAL AND ENGINEER COMPLIANCE
Section 137.17 Continuing Education Program
(n) A license holder may be exempt from the professional development educational requirements for one of the following reasons listed in paragraphs (1) - (4) of this subsection:
(2) A license holder serving on active duty and deployed outside the United States, its possessions and territories, in or for the military service of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred twenty (120) consecutive days in a year shall be exempt from obtaining the professional development hours required during that year.