Active duty military spouses face special challenges due to frequent moves. Employment gaps and career disruptions can occur during these relocations. For those with a professional license – such as teachers and nurses – the lack of a consistent policy throughout the United States can result in employment barriers. Over 30% of active duty military spouses require state issued licenses to implement their careers. Obtaining those new licenses can take time and money. But, positive changes are occurring.
DoD and State Developments
Although occupational licenses are controlled at the state level, the Department of Defense (DoD) has placed an emphasis on working with states to help streamline the process. At the end of 2019, the DoD issued a report entitled, “Military Spouse Licensure: State Best Practices and Strategies for Achieving Reciprocity.”
The report notes that the DoD has worked with all 50 states to help drive “common methods used by licensing boards to expedite the acceptance of a license from another state.” There is more work to be done, however, with a key issue revolving around reciprocity – when one state recognizes a license or certification from another state. That is because states don’t have a standard definition of the term, creating confusion for military spouses.
Progress is Being Made
An example of the DoD helping to relieve the gridlock can be found for health-related licensures. Many states are now addressing the interstate license portability issue by utilizing “compacts” that define the necessary qualifications for practitioner license portability: 34 states have approved a Nurse Licensure Compact; 26 states recognize the Physical Therapy Compact; and 18 states support the Emergency Medical Services Compact. The DoD report notes that “these compacts cover approximately 40 percent of military spouses who need a license to work.”
To help with relicensing and certification costs, the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act allows service branches to reimburse spouses up to $1,000 for PCS or relocations.
Individual State Licensing Information
Need information on how individual states are handling licensing for military spouses? The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has established a website to assist spouses in the understanding of the various state laws for each occupation – veterans.gov/milspouses.
Teacher: The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification.
nasdtec.net/page/interstate
Attorney: The Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN). msjdn.org
Massage Therapist: The American Massage Therapy Association (amtamassage.org/regulation/stateRegulations.html) and Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (fsmtb.org).
Check with your installation’s hiring authority for overseas license transfers.
The U.S. Department of Labor offers a U.S. map showing military spouse interstate license recognition options at veterans.gov/milspouses
Captain Scott Gibney, USN (Ret.) is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a 30-year U.S. Navy veteran. He and his wife, Susan, own Gibney College Solutions LLC (gibneysolutions.com) a company focused on college planning, career development and financial coaching. Scott can be reached at scott@gibneysolutions.com.
