You asked how (1) the Department of Consumer Protection handles the renewal of licenses held by national Guard troops that expired while the troops were away on active duty and (2) the Department of Public Health handles this situation for troops with expired Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificates.

STATE LAW EXEMPTING ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL FROM FEES

State law, adopted during the Vietnam War, exempts state residents on active duty with the U. S. armed forces from paying annual or biennial license or registration fees or occupational taxes during the period of active service and for one year following the date of honorable discharge or release from service (CGS § 27-102a).

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

The Department of Consumer Protection, under the authority of this statute, allows service personnel returning from active duty to renew their licenses without any penalty, according to Richard Hurlburt, Director of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. Hurlburt added that the department also waives any continuing education requirement.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) in the Department of Public Health processes renewals for military personnel when they return from service. The person seeking EMT certificate renewal must provide OEMS with a copy of his deployment orders and proof of having completed a refresher course. OEMS requires the individual’s certificate to have been current (not already lapsed) prior to deployment in order to be renewed under this process. So, if the EMT’s certificate expires while he is on active duty, this process applies. The EMT refresher course is 28 hours long and proof of having taken it is met when the student’s name is submitted on the “T-4” course completion form by an EMS instructor for an approved course. OEMS reports that it has been processing a number of these renewals lately.

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