Can a Licensed Psychologist transfer a license to Maryland as a military spouse?
Yes. Maryland is a member of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), so a Licensed Psychologist holding a multistate/compact license can practice in MD without re-applying. PSYPACT is robust for psychologist spouses — covers both telehealth and temp in-person across nearly 40 states.
Your psychology licensing board in Maryland
We checked Maryland's licensed psychologist licensing rules and couldn't find a military-spouse provision written specifically for licensed psychologists. That's usually not an oversight on our end: in most of these states the military-spouse licensing law runs through a separate division that doesn't cover this board, so it never reaches the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Maryland Department of Health). It does not leave you stuck — here's the path that still works.
- Start with the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Maryland Department of Health)'s compact/out-of-state route — Maryland is a compact member (above), so a valid out-of-state license should transfer without re-testing.
- Invoke VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a in writing, attaching your sponsor's PCS orders. It legally forces Maryland to recognize your valid out-of-state licensed psychologist license on a military move — no separate state rule required.
- If they can't finalize a permanent license within 30 days, ask for a temporary license — the statute requires the board to issue one so you can keep working.
- Keep your receipts: DoD reimburses up to $1,000 per PCS for relicensing, and MyCAA covers up to $4,000 toward portable credentials.
Call the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists (Maryland Department of Health) to confirm the current military-spouse timeline before you move — and if you find an official MD provision we missed, tell us and we'll source it.
About the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)
For licensed psychologists. Allows telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across member jurisdictions.
Official compact site ↗All Psychology member states
39 jurisdictions. Tap any to check that destination for this profession.