Education, Certification and Licensure

What Do I Need to Know About Certification and Licensure?

The best source of information regarding the minimum required Education, Certification and Licensure for an occupational field is found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. To research the average level of Education held by people currently working and operating in your chosen profession, visit ONet Online and select your profession. As a Military Spouse contemplating an educational program in support of a long-term career path, also consider the following questions:

• What is the minimum Education and Licensure required for this profession?
• Is Post Graduate Education or Experience most important for career advancement?
• Does the Education Program require a Residency or Intern component in a given location?
• Can the Education Program be completed by correspondence in event of a Permanent Change of Station?
• Can Academic Credits from this Education Program easily transfer to other Programs if required?
• Does this Educational Institution provide any additional assistance to help military spouses complete a course of study?

What Occupations Have Licensing Requirements?

Occupational Licensing and Certification requirements exist in many professions to ensure that practitioners meet a minimum level of competency and to help ‘protect the public from unqualified providers.’ As these licensing requirements often vary across state lines, a significant administrative and financial burden is placed upon Military Spouses who are 10 times more likely to move across state lines than their civilian counterparts. There are over 50 professions requiring state licensure or credentials and these include:

• Medicine
• Nursing
• Law
• Dentistry
• Teaching
• Childcare
• Accounting
• Veterinary Medicine
• Pharmacy
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Architecture
• Accountants and Auditors
• Speech Pathology
• Real Estate

Licensing and Certification Resources

As a military spouse undertaking a career in one of the professions listed above, you need to be aware of how to research state licensing requirements. Useful websites include:

Military One Source Licensing and Certification Information

Career One Stop Licensing Database by Occupation and State

Counseling Licensure and Certification by State

Nursing Licensure by State

Nursing Licensure Compact Multi-State Licensure Information

Teaching Certification by State

The only program that currently provides financial assistance in transferring licensing requirements is:

MYCAA Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts : Up to $4000 toward certifications, licensure or degree programs for E1-E5, W1-W2 and O1-O2 Military Spouses.

Please share any Licensing and Certification experiences you have had, and any other resources that you have found useful.