State hires military liaison for professional licenses help

The state of Illinois has hired a military liaison to help service members and their families through the process of obtaining professional licenses, officials said.

The position was created under a plan signed into law earlier this year by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is the state agency that oversees licensing for an array of professions including in the medical field, banking and cosmetology.

'œWe want to ensure that military members and their families are provided with licensure resources they need to begin working in their chosen profession or occupation in Illinois,'ť Deborah Hagan, the agency's secretary said in a statement.

Starting in January, the law also speeds up the process for reviewing and determining licensure for military members and their spouse. The process will be expedited within 60 days of the state agency receiving necessary paperwork. Previously, it could take several months.