Veterans, service members translating military experience to civilian jobs

Veterans and service members are receiving help in translating their military experience into civilian career opportunities through the Department of State (DOS). 

The DOS continued expanding awareness of its “Occupational Crosswalk” tool veterans and service members by providing a presentation Tuesday to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services.   

“Occupational Crosswalk” launched last February, and Tuesday’s presentation by DOS Deputy Policy Director Andrew LaFratte was the latest in a series of efforts to inform veterans, service members, and their families. The crosswalk is a series of charts for each occupation licensed by the Department that compare licensing requirements with typical duties, training, qualifications, and related credentials associated with military occupations. 

“Gov. Shapiro has made it clear he is strongly committed to improving how government works and to creating economic opportunity for Pennsylvania‘s veterans,” Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said in a statement. “This groundbreaking resource helps military professionals overcome barriers to licensing and employment and more quickly apply their skills in professions that allow them to support themselves and their families.”     

The crosswalk was created under Act 35 of 2022, which does the following: 

• Defines a military applicant as a service member, veteran, or military spouse. 
• Allows a professional or occupational license to be issued even if a military applicant does not meet educational requirements for that license if the applicant has been engaged in active practice for at least two of the previous five years prior to applying and passes all required exams for licensure. 
• Provides expedited license application reviews and discretionary temporary licensure for military applicants. 
• Provides initial licensure fee waivers for military spouses who must relocate because of a service member’s military orders. 
• Allows service members to reactivate an expired professional or occupational license without a penalty if the reactivation coincides with a deployment and is completed within one month of returning from the deployment. 

• Provides service members with continuing education extensions for up to six months following a deployment. 
• Requires consideration of acquired military experience when determining qualification for licensure. 

LaFratte was instrumental in the crosswalk’s creation and was invited to present on the project during a U.S. Department of Defense military-to-civilian research forum in April 2023. He explained how the crosswalk compares qualification details from nearly 300 military occupations to the initial requirements for Department of State licensure for related professions.