IndianaIndiana colleges could build faster credential paths for military health workers
If enacted, Indiana colleges could build programs to help current and former military health care workers earn civilian credentials faster, with federal program compatibility required.
What it does
State colleges and nonprofit colleges may create pathways to help current and former military health care workers earn civilian credentials faster. Programs must cover listed military specialties and fit the federal SkillBridge Program.
Colleges that take part must review job prospects and earnings for related health care programs, then report program and graduate outcomes and steps taken to support military workers.
Participating colleges must work with federal labor and Indiana veterans' affairs agencies to use recruiters and other resources to promote military health care workers' enrollment in these pathways.
The state licensing agency must work with participating colleges to include these career pathways and bridge programs in its licensing requirements.
Argument forMilitary health care workers could spend less time earning civilian credentials if colleges connect their military training and experience to civilian requirements.
Argument againstWorkers in military specialties outside the listed occupations might not have a pathway through these programs, which must also fit the federal SkillBridge program.
More detail
A college or university may create academic pathways and bridge programs for military health care workers. An institution means a state educational institution or a nonprofit college or university. The workers must have received formal health care training and practical experience during military service. Any program must connect military training and experience to civilian credentials using military-to-civilian job guides for the listed specialties. The program must be fully compatible with the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge Program. The chapter would take effect July 1, 2026.
A participating institution must review its related health care programs and send an annual report to the Legislative Council. The requirement applies to institutions that participate in a program described in the bill. The review must consider graduates' realistic earning potential and employability. The report must include program length, graduation and employment rates for military health care personnel, and the institution's actions to increase their participation and reduce transition barriers. The report is due electronically to the Legislative Council by September 1 each year.
Participating institutions must coordinate with federal labor and state veterans' affairs agencies to promote recruitment and enrollment. The requirement applies to institutions that participate in a program described in the bill and covers military health care personnel seeking these academic and career pathways. The institutions must use health care and military recruiters, along with other dedicated resources, to support recruitment and enrollment. The bill states no separate deadline for this coordination.
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency must work with participating institutions to integrate the pathways and bridge programs into its licensing requirements. This duty concerns academic career pathways and bridge programs for military health care personnel. The chapter would take effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jan 8Coauthored by Representative MorrisLatest
- Jan 8First reading: referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Jan 8Authored by Representative JudyIntroduced
EducationVeterans