What is VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a?

The Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022 (VAEIA), codified at 50 U.S.C. § 4025a, requires states to recognize a military spouse's out-of-state professional license when they relocate due to military orders. The provision took effect December 23, 2024. Coverage applies to most professional licenses (nursing, teaching, counseling, real estate, etc.), but specific scope-of-practice rules vary by state and profession.

What is an interstate licensure compact?

A compact is a multi-state legal agreement where each member state recognizes licenses from every other member state, often through a "compact privilege" or "multistate license." Compacts pre-date VAEIA and offer stronger portability than VAEIA in many cases — if BOTH your old and new state are in the same compact, you may keep practicing without re-licensing. As of 2026, there are 8+ major occupational compacts (Nursing, Counseling, Teaching, PT, EMS, Psychology, Audiology/SLP, OT) plus others.

Which is better — VAEIA or a compact?

Compacts are stronger when both states are members — your license is genuinely recognized, not just temporarily honored. VAEIA is the universal fallback when at least one of your states is not in the relevant compact. If you're moving to a non-compact state, VAEIA still requires the new state to recognize your existing license.

Which compact covers nursing?

The Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) covers RNs and LPN/VNs. As of 2026, 40+ states and territories are members, making it the largest compact. If your home state and new state are both members, your multistate license travels with you automatically.

Are there professions NOT covered by any compact?

Many professions still lack compacts — law (bar admission is state-specific), accounting, real estate, dental, pharmacy in some forms, cosmetology, and others. For these, you rely on either state-by-state reciprocity OR VAEIA 2022 portability. Some are developing compacts; check compacts.csg.org for the current list.

●InvestigationsCongress made VA disability claims free to file. An entire industry charges veterans anyway — and nobody can stop them.→

Military Spouse Tools · License Portability

License Portability — VAEIA + Every Compact

Every interstate licensure compact, who's in it, what it covers. Plus the federal backstop (VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a) that applies even when the compact doesn't. Free state-by-state lookup. No "premium tier" like the bigger sites push.

Data as of May 2026|Source: Official compact commissions + DOJ Servicemembers Initiative|Based on 8 compacts tracked

Published by the Honest MOS Editorial DeskVerified against DoD/.gov sourcesUpdated May 2026Editorial standards

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Will your license transfer?

Your profession

Current (licensing) state

PCS destination state

Two paths to keep your license

Path 1 — Interstate Compact (stronger)

If your profession has a compact AND both states are members, your home-state license is genuinely recognized in the destination state — no re-application, no re-testing. Check the list below for your profession.

Path 2 — VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a (federal backstop)

Effective December 23, 2024. Requires states to recognize a military spouse's out-of-state professional license when relocating due to military orders. Applies whether or not a compact exists. Scope-of-practice rules still follow your destination state's law.

Note: Some states still don't have clean implementation rules a year+ after the effective date. DOJ Servicemembers Initiative has been actively reminding states of the obligation. If a licensing board pushes back, cite the statute and refer them to the DOJ guidance.

All 8 major compacts

New states join all the time. Verify membership on the official compact commission page (linked) before relying on it for an actual move.

Nursing

40 member states · since 2018

Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC)

Allows an RN or LPN/VN with a multistate license to practice in any other compact-member state without re-licensing. Largest compact in the country.

Members: AL · AZ · AR · CO · CT · DE · FL · GA · GU · ID · IN · IA · KS · KY · LA · ME · MD · MS · MO · MT · NE · NH · NJ · NM · NC · ND · OH · OK · PA · SC · SD · TN · TX · UT · VT · VA · WA · WV · WI · WY

Military spouse: Compact license travels with you to any other compact-member state automatically. Outside compact states, fall back on VAEIA 2022 / 50 USC 4025a portability.

Official compact site ↗

Counseling

34 member states · since 2023

Counseling Compact

For licensed professional counselors (LPC, LMHC, LCMHC). Member-state license is recognized in all other member states; military spouses can use home-state license in any compact state.

Members: AL · AR · CO · CT · DE · FL · GA · ID · IN · IA · KS · KY · LA · ME · MD · MS · MO · MT · NE · NH · NJ · NC · ND · OH · OK · RI · SC · TN · UT · VT · VA · WA · WV · WY

Military spouse: Explicit military-spouse provision: practice on home-state license in any Compact state, plus expedited home-license process when moving.

Official compact site ↗

Teaching

12 member states · since 2023

Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact

Newer compact (2023) for K-12 teachers. Allows teacher licenses to transfer between member states without re-testing or re-coursing. War Department helped fund development specifically for military families.

Members: AL · AZ · CO · FL · KS · KY · MO · NE · NV · OH · OK · UT

Military spouse: Compact was designed specifically with military families in mind. Outside member states, fall back on VAEIA 2022 or your destination state's spouse provisions.

Official compact site ↗

Physical Therapy

34 member states · since 2018

Physical Therapy Compact (PT Compact)

For licensed Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants. Compact privilege allows you to practice in any other compact state for as long as your home license is valid.

Members: AZ · AR · CO · DE · FL · GA · IA · KS · KY · LA · ME · MD · MS · MO · MT · NE · NH · NJ · NC · ND · OH · OK · OR · PA · SC · SD · TN · TX · UT · VA · WA · WV · WI · WY

Military spouse: Compact privilege is purchased per state where you want to practice. Military spouses moving to a non-member state can use VAEIA 2022 portability.

Official compact site ↗

EMS / Paramedic

29 member states · since 2017

Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate CompAct (REPLICA)

For EMTs, AEMTs, and Paramedics. Provides "day privilege" recognition between member states for EMS personnel responding to incidents that cross state lines or transferring patients.

Members: AL · AK · CO · DE · GA · ID · IN · KS · KY · LA · MD · MS · NE · NH · NJ · NM · NC · ND · OK · PA · SC · SD · TN · TX · UT · VA · WV · WI · WY

Military spouse: REPLICA covers cross-state response privileges, not full license portability for routine employment. Spouses moving permanently may need state license + VAEIA portability.

Official compact site ↗

Psychology

39 member states · since 2020

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)

For licensed psychologists. Allows telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across member jurisdictions.

Members: AL · AZ · AR · CO · CT · DE · DC · FL · GA · ID · IL · IN · KS · KY · ME · MD · MI · MN · MO · NE · NV · NH · NJ · NM · NC · ND · OH · OK · PA · RI · SC · TN · TX · UT · VA · WA · WV · WI · WY

Military spouse: PSYPACT is robust for psychologist spouses — covers both telehealth and temp in-person across nearly 40 states.

Official compact site ↗

Audiology / SLP

29 member states · since 2022

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC)

For audiologists and speech-language pathologists. Allows compact privilege to practice in member states without separate licensure.

Members: AL · AZ · AR · CO · DE · FL · GA · ID · IN · IA · KS · KY · LA · ME · MD · MS · NE · NH · NC · ND · OH · OK · SC · TN · UT · VA · WA · WV · WY

Military spouse: Compact privilege travels with home license; check the compact site for current member states as new ones join frequently.

Official compact site ↗

Occupational Therapy

30 member states · since 2021

Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact (OT Compact)

For Occupational Therapists and OT Assistants. Privilege-based practice in member states.

Members: AL · AZ · AR · CO · DE · GA · IN · IA · KS · KY · LA · ME · MD · MS · MO · NE · NH · NJ · NC · ND · OH · OK · SC · TN · UT · VA · WA · WV · WI · WY

Military spouse: Compact provides clear portability — military spouses with OT licenses should join the compact for maximum flexibility.

Official compact site ↗