| (a) Military service members, military veterans and
military spouses who held a license issued by the Texas State Board
of Plumbing Examiners in the five years preceding their application
date will be issued the same license type as that which was previously
held.
(b) Military service members, military veterans and
military spouses who hold a current license issued by another jurisdiction
that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent
to the requirement for the license in this state will be issued the
same license type as that which is held in the other jurisdiction.
(c) The Board will identify which out-of-state licenses
held by military service members, military veterans and military spouses
have substantially equivalent licensing requirements on a case-by-case
basis by comparing the out-of-state jurisdiction's requirements at
the time the out-of-state license was issued to the Board's current
requirements.
(d) Military service members, military veterans and
military spouses who do not qualify for a license under Subsection
(a) or (b) of this section may request that the Executive Director
review the military service member's, military veteran's or military
spouse's alternative credentials, including training, education and
experience for the purposes of granting prerequisites to obtaining
a license.
(e) The Board shall process an application submitted
by a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse
as soon as practicable. Applicants deemed qualified will be issued
a license and information on the requirements to renew the license
in 12 months.
(f) Licensing and examination fees payable to the Board
are waived for military service members, military veterans and military
souses as provided by Chapter 55 of the Texas Occupations Code. Late
fees incurred while on active duty are waived for military service
members.
(g) Military spouses who do not wish to obtain a Texas
plumbing license may apply, at no cost, for their out-of-state license
to be recognized instead by submitting:
(1) proof of Texas residency, including, but not limited
to, a copy of the permanent change of state order for the military
service member to whom the spouse is married;
(2) a copy of the spouse's military identification
card; and
(3) a copy of the out-of-state license showing that
it is current and in good standing at the same time of their application.
(h) A military spouse's application for out-of-state
recognition will be presumed to show their intent to practice in Texas.
(i) If the Board determines that the jurisdiction where
the military spouse is currently licensed has licensing requirements
that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for a Texas
license as provided for by Subsection (c) of this section, then the
military spouse may engage in plumbing in Texas for a maximum of three
(3) years from the date of recognition without a Texas license.
(j) Military spouses approved to use their out-of-state
license to engage in plumbing in Texas pursuant to Section 55.0041
of the Texas Occupations Code must comply with Chapter 1301 of the
Texas Occupations Code and all other applicable laws and regulations.
(k) Military service members and military veterans
who do not hold a current out-of-state license or who have not held
a Texas license in the five (5) years preceding their application
may have their military experience credited toward license eligibility
and apprenticeship requirements by submitting evidence of:
(1) verified military service (DD Form 214 or equivalent);
(2) training in plumbing or a related field; and
(3) education in plumbing or a related field.
(l) Military service members and military veterans
who do not hold a current out-of-state license or who have not held
a Texas license in the five (5) years preceding their application
must not have a restricted license in another jurisdiction or an unacceptable
criminal history to be eligible to sit for an examination for licensure.
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