Texas Judicial

Branch

Judicial Branch Certification Commission

Military Applicants 

Certification of Military Spouses, Military Service Members, and Military Veterans

Definitions per section 55.001 of Chapter 55 Occupations Code:

  • Military service member: a person who is on active duty.
    • Active Duty: current full-time military service in the armed forces of the United States or active-duty military service as a member of the Texas military forces
  • Military spouse: a person who is married to a military service member.
  • Military veteran: a person who has served on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
  • License: a license, certificate, registration, permit, or other form of authorization required by law or a state agency rule that must be obtained by an individual to engage in a particular business.

The Commission may issue an initial certification to an applicant who is a military service member, spouse of a military service member, or a military veteran that:

  1. holds a current court interpreter certification, registration, or license issued by another jurisdiction that is similar in scope to the practice for a court reporter, professional guardian, court interpreter, or process server, or
  2. within the 5 years preceding the date of application, held a certification, registration or license in Texas as a court reporter, court interpreter, professional guardian, or process server.

Applicants who do not meet one of the above two requirements, are not eligible for the military applicant fee waiver and must pay all required fees.

Applicants who meet one of the above two requirements, must upload the following documentation to their application:

  1. Documentation of being a military service member, or veteran, (such as military ID); or
  2. Documentation of being a military spouse, (such as military ID, or other official documentation confirming you as being a military spouse); and
  3. Proof of holding a current certification, license, or registration in a similar scope of practice issued by another jurisdiction that's currently in good standing (such as a letter of good standing from your licensing authority). The documentation must verify the language you are certified, licensed, or registered to practice for court interpreters, or the method you're certified to practice for court reporters; or
  4. Proof of being certified, licensed, or registered in the profession for which they're applying (i.e., court reporter, professional guardian, court interpreter, or process server) in Texas within the 5 years preceding the date of their application.

Applicants with questions regarding this process must contact the licensing specialist of the department they are applying with. Below is a list of the department addresses.

Please be advised that inquiries sent to the wrong department will be rerouted to the correct one for assistance from that department's licensing specialist.