Military Members, Veterans Get Fast Lane to Job Licensing

ST. PAUL (AP) - Current and former military members living in Minnesota now have a faster path to occupational licensing in several career fields.

As part of a bill signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton last weekend, the Legislature created fast lanes for temporary licenses that will enable military members, recently retired veterans and their spouses to get to work while completing requirements for standard licensure.

The temporary licenses apply to would-be optometrists, podiatrists, dietitians, therapists and counselors, barbers, cosmetologists and nail technicians.

Applicants would still have to go through criminal background checks where required and pay a fee for the temporary license.

Advocates of the change say it will help military members and veterans get into chosen career fields quicker, especially those whose service has prompted family relocations.