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Occupational Licensure Interstate Compacts

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Key Message

Thirty-five percent of military spouses require an occupational license to work in their chosen profession. Licensure compacts create seamless licensure portability for all members of a profession, including military spouses and service members. By adopting licensure compacts, states can improve military family financial readiness.

Analysis

Among the more than 561,000 active-duty military spouses, those in licensed professions face significant employment barriers due to frequent relocations, averaging every two to three years. The need is clear: States must accelerate the adoption and implementation of licensure compacts to ensure seamless portability, reduce financial strain and support long-term military family stability. Doing so not only benefits spouses but also strengthens service member retention and overall force readiness.

Insights

According to the Office of People Analytics’ 2024 Survey of Active Duty Spouses, 28% of military spouses who experienced a PCS move needed to acquire new licensure/certification at the new location. And of all the military spouses, 35% require a state-issued occupational license to practice their chosen profession.

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