For military spouse Atiya Nathan, a mental health therapist, it took five months to obtain a professional license from the state of Mississippi after the Navy transferred her husband there.
Even though Nathan was already licensed in their previous home, Virginia, she had to start the process over in her new state. She started to panic as the clock ticked.
鈥淚t's so isolating, because you're thinking like, 鈥業 have to get this license,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 cannot work to my full capacity unless I get this license.鈥�
She filled out forms, took exams, paid fees, and called the Mississippi licensing board, sometimes twice a day.
鈥淢ississippi has different requirements than Virginia has, so it's not a level playing field,鈥� Nathan said.
Her story is common among military families. It's part of the reason that unemployment among military spouses is higher than the rest of the public.
Nathan eventually got her Mississippi license and started her own counseling practice. But she can treat patients only in the two states where she鈥檚 licensed as a clinical social worker: Virginia and Mississippi. She expects the military will order her family to move again in 2023, which has her thinking about how 鈥� and where 鈥� she鈥檒l have to pivot her career next.
鈥淚 do have a private practice that I can take anywhere with me,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I also want to have the opportunity to actually set up shop somewhere because everyone doesn't want virtual therapy, nor do I think it's the best modality for everyone.鈥�
The list of professions that can require a state license is long 鈥� real estate agents, interior designers and even hypnotists. For military spouses who frequently pick up and move on short notice, transferring a professional license can mean several months without income while the new state processes the application.
Some states, like Connecticut, have passed laws to expedite that process.
鈥淛ust like your family is required to be portable in the military, we want your professional life to be portable,鈥� said Connecticut Director of Military Affairs Bob Ross. Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut is home to more than 6500 active-duty and reserve military personnel.
A Connecticut law that takes effect this month offers military spouses with out-of-state professional licenses a shortcut to getting licensed. The law will affect dozens of professions across health care, the building trades, and other industries.
鈥淚f they have been working in that profession in another state, and they have a license from another state and they're in good standing, this law directs the commissioners that do licensing to accept their license and let them get back to work,鈥� Ross said, noting a background check is also required, and some applicants might still have to take a 鈥渂asic鈥� test.
At the bill signing ceremony in August, Gov. Ned Lamont said he hoped the law would make life easier for military families who get stationed in Connecticut.
鈥淚t is cumbersome as heck,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got 50 different states, 50 different licensing mechanisms.鈥�
Ross said Connecticut is also exploring whether it can enter into reciprocal agreements with other states.
鈥淥ne of the things that's embedded at the end of that law is setting up working groups to investigate interstate compacts, where we can get into an agreement with another state that says, 鈥業f you recognize our licenses, we鈥檒l recognize your licenses,鈥欌�� Ross said.
Several states have created compacts for certain professions, but those typically cover only a specific list of participating states.
Congress is considering a federal law designed to further streamline licensing for service members and spouses. The proposal - part of the annual defense spending package - would require families to provide their new state with a copy of their military transfer orders to expedite the license.
Navy spouse Atiya Nathan says a nationwide policy for seamless license transfers would help the most.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always trying to think about how to reinvent your career in ways that civilians don鈥檛 have to,鈥� Nathan said about being married to a service member. 鈥淚 feel like we're punished for supporting our spouse.鈥�
She said she often feels like she鈥檚 in the shadows. 鈥淭hank you for your service, but you can鈥檛 make money here," she said. "Thank you for your service, but you can鈥檛 pay your bills.鈥�
This story was produced by the American Homefront Project, a public media collaboration that reports on American military life and veterans.Funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
