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Military Spouse Employment and Economic Opportunities

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Key Message

Military spouses continue to report occupational licensure as a barrier to employment as they move across state lines. Approving occupational licensure compacts, improving application processes and implementing the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act are steps states can take to help military spouses maintain professional and financial stability.

Analysis

Occupational licensure compacts provide consistent rules for licensed practitioners to work in other states. The military provisions added to most of these compacts assist military spouses by establishing a home state for them to hold a license and granting them the privilege to practice in all other compact-member states.

Insights

On Jan. 5, 2023, President Joe Biden signed into law the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022 (H.R. 7939). Section 19 contains the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act, which intends to provide for licensure portability among all 50 states for all service members and military spouse licensed professionals, except the practice of law.

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State Policymakers

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