Changes coming to help military spouses take their professional licenses to

ByLTChristopherKent,JAGC,USN

Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic, Legal Assistance

On 5 January 2023, President Biden signedintolawtheMilitarySpouseLicensing Relief Act (MSLRA), amending federal law to improve the portability of military spouses’ professional licenses issued by states Military moves between states can pose significant challenges for non-military spouses’ careers One specific challenge relates to those careers which require licensing by state authorities Licensing requirements processes fees and continuing education policies vary by jurisdiction and career field, ranging from medical professionals, contractors, estheticians, hair stylists, real estate agents, and teachers. State-to-state licensing reciprocity also varieswidely,eventhoughsomestateshave alreadyenactedlocalrulesmeanttorespect out-of-statecredentialsformilitaryspouses

The MSLRA drastically improves the abilityformilitaryspousestotakeandusetheir occupationallicensesacrossstatelines

Following execution of PCS orders to a

Other States

educationrequirements new state, the MSLRA requires that new statetorecognizeamilitaryspouse’slicense atasimilarscopeofpracticeandinthediscipline to the one held in the previous state providedthatthemilitaryspouse: providesacopyofsuchmilitaryordersto thenewstate’slicensingauthority; remains in good standing with the originalstate’slicensingauthority(andwithany other state authorities that granted similar licenses);and complies with the new state licensing authority’s rules for standards of practice discipline andfulfillmentofanycontinuing

The MSLRA applies to all “covered licenses,”whicharethoselicenses: held in good standing with the issuing authority; that the spouse of a service member has actively used during the two years immediatelyprecedingtherelocationduetoPCS orders;and thatarenotalicensetopracticelaw.

Implementation details and processes at both the federal and state levels have yet to be ironed out but the MSLRA is promising asamajorvictoryformilitaryspouses