A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the authority for members of the Armed Forces to obtain professional credentials.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the authority for members of the Armed Forces to obtain professional credentials. 1. Enhancement of authority for members of the Armed Forces to obtain professional credentials (a) In general Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 2015 professional accreditation certification State-imposed licenses, Federal occupational licenses, and professional certification (b) Limitations Subsection (b) of such section is amended— (1) by inserting (1) The authority (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (2) The authority under subsection (a) may not be used to pay the expenses of a member to obtain professional credentials unless such credentials are recognized and approved by the armed force concerned as necessary to meet— (A) readiness requirements or professional occupational development goals of such armed force; or (B) the self-development requirements of the member. (3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the authority under subsection (a) may not be used to pay the expenses of obtaining professional credentials unless— (A) such credentials are accredited under International Organization for Standardization/International Commission (ISO/IEC) Standard 17024–2012, entitled General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons (B) the entity accrediting such credentials provides documentary evidence to the Secretary of Defense that it complies International Organization for Standardization/International Commission Standard 17011, entitled Conformity assessment—General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies (4) During the three-year period beginning on the date of the authorization of the Credentialing agency by the Department of Defense, the authority under subsection (a) may be used to pay the expenses of obtaining professional credentials from an entity not complying with the Standards referred to in paragraph (3) if the entity certifies in writing to the Secretary of Defense that the entity agrees to seek to obtain certification of compliance with the Standards before the end of such period. . (c) Funds available Such section is further amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking may pay may, using funds described in subsection (c), pay (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) Funds available Payments may be made under the authority under subsection (a) by the Secretary making such payments from amounts available to such Secretary for tuition assistance for members under the jurisdiction of such Secretary. . (d) Covered expenses Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Expenses defined In this section, the term expenses .

Summary: Revises the conditions for payment of expenses to military personnel to obtain professional credentials to include those for federal occupational licenses. Adds as conditions for such payment that the credentials be necessary to meet: (1) readiness requirements or professional occupational development goals of the particular armed force or the member's self-development needs; and (2) certain International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission accreditation standards, with exceptions for a credentialing agency that agrees to seek to obtain compliance certification within three years. Authorizes the payment of the expenses from amounts available for tuition assistance for members under the jurisdiction of the appropriate Secretary. Defines "expenses" as those for classroom instruction, hands-on training (and associated materials), manuals, study guides and materials, textbooks, and processing, test, and related fees.