Bill > SB1014

This bill aims to modify hiring practices for state agencies in Virginia by prohibiting them from requiring a bachelor's degree as a mandatory condition for employment. Specifically, the bill stipulates that no state agency can make a baccalaureate (four-year college) degree a prerequisite for hiring an applicant to a state position. However, the bill includes an important exception: if the specific knowledge, skills, or abilities needed for a particular job can only reasonably be acquired through completing a bachelor's degree program, as determined by the appointing authority, then the degree requirement can still be maintained. This legislation is designed to increase employment opportunities by allowing candidates with significant direct work experience or alternative educational backgrounds to be considered for state jobs, potentially expanding the talent pool and providing more flexible hiring practices. The bill recognizes that practical experience and skills can be equally valuable as formal academic credentials in many professional roles.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1014