Military spouses who hold professional licenses used to face significant burdens when relocating but more legislative improvements are being proposed to bring clarity and standardized policies. Military spouses already face challenges associated with frequent relocations and a high unemployment rate of around 21 percent. Their ability to maintain their licenses and professions contributes to financial stability, career satisfaction, and overall military retention and readiness. Common licenses held by military spouses include, but are not limited to, real estate, healthcare, education, and trades such as cosmetology.
Spouses have more resources to meet their licensure requirements, which do vary by occupation and state. The U.S. Department of Labor provides a CareerOneStop License Finder and list of occupational license interstate compacts to reduce employment barriers for military spouses. It also includes information about licensing reimbursement costs per military branch.
Recent Legislative Support
Here is a quick rundown of how legislation has expanded support to military spouses. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 was enacted to ensure certain financial and legal protections, which was later updated by the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) in 2003, and continues to be reviewed periodically by Congress.
In 2018, the National Defense Authorization Act specified that spouses could receive reimbursement of license costs incurred by permanent change of station orders.
(Sec. 556) Each military department may reimburse a member of the Armed Forces for licensure and certification costs of the member's spouse arising from relocation to another state.
The Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act of 2021 provided further support by establishing the portability of professional licenses of service members and their spouses when relocating due to military orders. It additionally provided that they would be subject to the respective interstate licensure compact requirements and applicable state law provisions. See the language below.
“SEC. 705A. Portability of professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses.
“(a) In general.—In any case in which a servicemember has a professional license in good standing in a jurisdiction or the spouse of a servicemember has a professional license in good standing in a jurisdiction and such servicemember or spouse relocates his or her residency because of military orders for military service to a location that is not in such jurisdiction, the professional license or certification of such servicemember or spouse shall be considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline applied for in the jurisdiction of such new residency for the duration of such military orders if such servicemember or spouse—
“(1) provides a copy of such military orders to the licensing authority in the jurisdiction in which the new residency is located;
“(2) remains in good standing with the licensing authority that issued the license; and
“(3) submits to the authority of the licensing authority in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of standards of practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing education requirements.
“(b) Interstate licensure compacts.—If a servicemember or spouse of a servicemember is licensed and able to operate in multiple jurisdictions through an interstate licensure compact, with respect to services provided in the jurisdiction of the interstate licensure compact by a licensee covered by such compact, the servicemember or spouse of a servicemember shall be subject to the requirements of the compact or the applicable provisions of law of the applicable State and not this section.”
Then, the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022 amended the SCRA by enabling spouses portable careers via license reciprocity at the federal level. With the exception of law licenses, the SCRA portability provision continues to support the transference of licenses when state licensure compacts do not apply. Another important update of this act was to piggy-back off of the Military Spouses Residence Relief Act from 2009 and add more options for tax residency filing purposes. It was signed into law in 2023.
These laws have changed over time to reflect present day needs for service members and their spouses. By recognizing valid professional licenses issued in other jurisdictions, the problem of military spouse employment can be better addressed.
What is Next?
The Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 provided language to clarify the amended SCRA and provide permanent authority and improvements regarding the portability of professional licenses of service members and their spouses. It was signed into law in 2024.
Now with stronger legislative backing, the federal and state governments will need to continue to operationalize these laws in practical ways that reduce confusion, eliminate delays, and protect career continuity for military spouses. Ongoing collaboration between licensing boards, employers, and military support agencies will be essential to ensure these policies deliver real impact. As more professions are incorporated into interstate compacts and as reimbursement processes become more streamlined, military spouses can look forward to greater stability in their careers. Ultimately, sustaining momentum on licensing reform not only benefits military families financially and professionally, but also strengthens overall force readiness and retention making it a critical investment in the future.
