Transferring Military Spouse Professional Licenses

• On Sept. 9, 2020, the War Department entered into a cooperative agreement with The Council of State Governments to assist in developing interstate occupational licensure compact legislation to address issues impacting military spouses who were also professionals in state-licensed occupations.
• Compacts are contracts between states. To become operational, each compact must reach a minimum number of member states. Most occupational licensure compacts developed under the cooperative agreement between the DOW and The CSG require seven states to become operational. The exception is the teaching compact, which requires 10 states.
• Once a compact reaches the required number of states, the member states come together and set up a commission. The commission establishes bylaws and processes to implement the compact. While timelines vary, this process can take between 12 to 24 months.
• A compact commission is the interstate administrative body created once the required number of states adopt compact legislation. The commission is responsible for implementing the compact’s provisions for interstate practice of the profession. Each member state is represented on the compact commission.

Compacts developed through the cooperative agreement between the War Department and The Council of State Governments:

• Athletic trainers: Licensed athletic trainers may be able to practice in other states through the Athletic Trainer Compact, which allows eligible practitioners to obtain a privilege to practice in participating states rather than applying for a new license each time they move.
• Cosmetology: (includes hair stylists, barbers, nail technicians): The cosmetology compact was developed through a cooperative agreement with the DOW.
• Dentistry/dental hygiene: All states require a license. Check out the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact for more information about the development of a new interstate compact. View the What’s Next? resource for the timeline to implementation, and see the map of participating states.
• Dietitian: Most states require licensing or certification. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has developed the Dietitian Licensure Compact, which launched in 2023 and is available for adoption. It is a privilege-to-practice compact. Once the compact activates, practitioners must meet the requirements and apply.
• Esthetics: The Esthetics Licensure Compact supports license portability by allowing participating states to recognize esthetics licenses issued by other compact member states. This compact is still being adopted by states, so availability depends on where you are licensed and where you are moving.
• Massage therapy: Many states require some type of credential. Visit the Interstate Massage Compact webpage for more information. The massage therapy compact, which launched in 2023, is working toward becoming operational and making compact licenses available.
• Respiratory therapy: The Respiratory Care Interstate Compact allows licensed respiratory therapists to practice in other participating states through a compact privilege, reducing the need for multiple state licenses.
• School psychology: The National Association of School Psychologists has developed a new interstate compact. For more information about this compact, visit The Interstate Compact for School Psychologists webpage.
• Social work: All states require some type of license or registration, but requirements vary. Nationally recognized agencies offer credentials that may transfer between states. See the Association of Social Work Boards for more information. Learn more about the compact by visiting Social Work Licensure Compact.
• Teaching: Licensing requirements for teachers vary by state, but some states will issue a provisional license if you have a license from another state. Several interstate agreements are in effect:

The Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact provides a seamless licensure exchange for certified teachers. It has been adopted in more than 12 states and is pending in others.

The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification administers an agreement that helps teachers transfer their credentials within member states. Visit its Interstate Agreement page for details.

DoWEA schools’ overseas human resources offices accept teaching licenses from any state or territory as long as the teaching categories are marked on the license.

Additional compacts that support licensure portability for service members and families:

• Advanced practice registered nurses: Although state licensing requirements vary, national certification is offered by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Several states have adopted an occupational licensure compact for nurse practitioners. Learn more at the APRN Compact website.
• Audiology and speech-language pathology: Military spouses can use a privilege-to-practice with the ASLP-IC compact when transferring between compact states. Visit the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact for more information. The ASLP-IC has been enacted in more than 30 states.
• Counseling: Licensed professional counselors may be eligible to obtain a privilege-to-practice through the Counseling Compact, which began accepting applications in late 2024. The compact is available in many states.
• Emergency medical services: All states require some type of license or certification. Check with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians for national certifications. The U.S. Emergency Medical Services Compact is available in more than 20 states. Find out more information by visiting the EMS Compact.
• Medicine: An interstate licensure compact is available for physicians (both “doctor of osteopathic medicine” and “doctor of medicine”). This compact includes more than 35 states, and other states are introducing legislation to adopt it. For more information about participating states, visit Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
• Nursing: This is the oldest and longest standing compact. All states require licensing for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Most states participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows nurses to practice with a multistate license. See the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
• Occupational therapy: All states require licensing. The compact is available in many states. Visit the American Occupational Therapy Association and OT Compact for more information.
• Physical therapy: All states require licensing. Some expedite licensing for military spouses moving into their states. Visit the American Physical Therapy Association website for more information. The Physical Therapy Compact issues a privilege-to-practice license and is available in more than 30 states.
• Physician assistant: All states require a license, but rules vary. See the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. The PA Compact is being introduced in legislatures across the nation, and you can learn more by visiting PA Compact, which has reached the required number of member states.
• Psychology: All states require a license to practice. PSYPACT allows psychologists to practice telehealth across states and within a state for 30 days.
• Podiatry: The Interstate Podiatric Medical Licensure Compact provides an expedited pathway for licensed podiatrists to obtain licensure in multiple participating states while maintaining state oversight. Adoption and availability depend on state participation.

• Child care worker: Many employers prefer to hire workers who have earned a nationally recognized designation. See the National Child Care Association.
• Medical transcriptionist: Most states don’t require licensing or certification. Visit the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity for information about voluntary credentials.
• Paralegal: Credentials are not required in most states, although a nationally recognized certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants may offer an advantage when looking for a new job.

In some occupations, your state-issued license — no matter where it’s from — is valid for government and contracting jobs. Learn more about transferring certifications overseas.

Visit the Defense-State Liaison Office’s website, Military State Policy Source, to see the full scope of the DOW’s licensing efforts and stay up to date. DSLO partners with state policymakers and leaders to help reduce or eliminate licensing barriers for military spouses as they move with the military.

Identify occupations with good job portability and search for open positions with hundreds of employers committed to hiring military spouses through the SpouseWorks job board.