Licensing Portability for Military Spouses and Veterans
Help families get back to work faster after cross-state moves
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Mutual recognition of professional licenses for military families is the law in most states. It shouldn’t be complicated to implement or take months for license holders to complete - but it is. Our military families deserve better.
Merit is partnering with state governments to build an efficient digital solution that makes it much faster and simpler to transfer a license from one state to another. The solution helps military families stay together and gets spouses back to work faster so they can provide for their families.

How Merit Simplifies Licensing Portability
User-friendly app is a one-stop shop for all license transfers
Fits your licensing boards’ existing systems and processes
Built-in reporting to measure the impact on military families
By the Numbers
14.5%
of military spouses move across state lines every year – compared to 1.1% for civilian spouses*
33%
of military spouses hold a state-issued license for work*
83%
of military spouses report issues with licensing
1 in 3
credentialed military spouses gave up their license after a move**
*Department of Defense data, 2021
** Military Family Advisory Network, 2019
How it Works
States can provide a simple, cost-effective, and secure platform for individuals to look for jobs and monitor progress.
1.
State-issued licenses and credentials earned by military spouses are digitized on the Merit platform.
2.
Using Credential Engine’s Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL), license fields are mapped and made portable across state lines.
3.
Licensees can immediately connect to jobs, trainings, and other qualified opportunities based on their verified digital credentials.
The ASPIRE Coalition
Merit is a proud member of the growing Alliance for States Providing Interoperable Reciprocity (ASPIRE) coalition of elected officials and community leaders who support making it easier for military families to work.






ASPIRE Coalition Launch Event
Learn why leading military family organizations and Merit have created a national coalition advocating for professional licensing reciprocity for military spouses and veterans.
Watch the videoBenefits for States

Help military spouses and veterans get jobs months or weeks faster

Make your existing laws work for military families
Measure the impact on families and communities