{"id":78460,"date":"2023-01-05T21:09:16","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T21:09:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/01\/05\/are-spouses-problems-with-license-portability-about-to-be-solved\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:42:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:42:33","slug":"are-spouses-problems-with-license-portability-about-to-be-solved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/spouse\/2023\/01\/05\/are-spouses-problems-with-license-portability-about-to-be-solved\/","title":{"rendered":"Are spouses\u2019 problems with license portability about to be solved?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Groundbreaking legislation that would make it easier for military spouses to transfer their professional licenses when they make a military move is on President Joe Biden\u2019s desk, waiting to be signed into law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act, licensing reciprocity between states would apply to all professions except the practice of law, which it specifically excludes. It would potentially remove the difficulties in dealing with some state licensing authorities. Defense officials calculate there are more than 132,000 active duty spouses in occupations that require licensing, representing about 39% of military spouses in the workforce, according to a December 2019 report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For decades, military spouses have faced hassles in transferring their professional licenses<\/a> when they move. It\u2019s often expensive and time-consuming, causing large hits to the family income. The primary responsibility for these occupational licenses lies with states, and standards can vary widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the midst of one of the most challenging times of our military in terms of recruitment and retention, what this bill does is allow military spouses to cross-deck their professional licenses \u2014 if they\u2019re a realtor, a nurse, a teacher, a beautician, a cosmetologist, whatever their profession is \u2014 across state lines,\u201d said Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., who introduced the bill in the House<\/a>, and unsuccessfully tried to get the provision passed in 2021. The provision, which would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, is included in the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022, and would go into effect when the bill is signed into law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense-State Liaison Office has worked for more than a decade on initiatives to make it easier for spouses to transfer professional licenses, but the Defense Department can only encourage states to take part; it has no control over them. Military officials have also helped develop interstate compacts<\/a> for specific occupational licenses, working with professional organizations in those fields, but again it\u2019s up to states to accept the terms and join these compacts. Some states have made significant strides, but the issue is complicated by the fact that states vary on the occupations that require licenses, with some having hundreds.<\/p>\n\n\n\t