States can modify licensing requirements and processes that impede military spouses employment following a military move.
Sixty-eight percent of married service members reported their spouse's ability to maintain a career impacts their decision to remain in the military by a large or moderate extent.1
Eighty-five percent of military spouses report they want or need to work.2
The annual percent of the military spouse population that moves across state lines is 14.5 percent - compared to 1.1 percent for civilian spouses.3
As much as 34 percent of military spouses in the labor force are required to be fully licensed. Nineteen percent of employed spouses experience challenges maintaining their licenses.4
Key message
Many occupations require a state license often with state-specific conditions and processes, which can cause lengthy re-employment delays for military spouses moving between states. Because of these delays and the expense involved in relicensure, many spouses decide not to practice in their professions. This is a financial and career-choice issue for military members and their spouses, impacting their desire to stay in the military.
Discussion points
States have enacted legislation using one or more of the following approaches:
- Thirty-five states have supporting endorsement policy or have modified their license by endorsement, which allows a state board or regulator to recognize active credentials from another state to permit options that accommodate gaps in employment for military spouses with active licenses from another state.
- Forty-three states provide temporary licenses to allow a military spouse with a current license to secure employment while completing state requirements that may be substantially different from what was required by the previous licensing state or while awaiting verification of current license, certification or employment history for an endorsement.
- Thirty-four states have expedited procedures for regulatory department or board approval to provide the opportunity for spouses to obtain an endorsed or temporary license, based on acceptance of the information provided in the application. The department director or licensing boards release the license and afterwards validate the documents from states and institutions, having opportunity to take further action if there are discrepancies in the application.
The Department of Defense views these options as having a cumulative effect when applied together to provide military spouses flexibility to overcome the circumstances that limit their professional opportunities. The DoD encourages states to enact changes that will support all three approaches.
1 Defense Manpower Data Center Status of Force Survey of Active Duty Members, April 2008.
2 Defense Manpower Data Center, The 2010 Military Family Life Project Briefing, May 18, 2011.
3 Current Population Survey, 2008 - 2010.
4 Blue Star Families Survey, May 2010.
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Best Practices
For legislative best practices on removing licensure impediments, view Removing Licensure Impediments for Military Spouses Best Practices (PDF).
