Montana is in 3 of 8 major interstate licensure compacts. Below: every compact that covers MT, plus the professions that fall outside the compact system (where VAEIA 2022 is your fallback).
Covers: Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/VN)
Compact license travels with you to any other compact-member state automatically. Outside compact states, fall back on VAEIA 2022 / 50 USC 4025a portability.
Nursing → MT details →Covers: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Explicit military-spouse provision: practice on home-state license in any Compact state, plus expedited home-license process when moving.
Counseling → MT details →Covers: Physical Therapist (PT), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
Compact privilege is purchased per state where you want to practice. Military spouses moving to a non-member state can use VAEIA 2022 portability.
Physical Therapy → MT details →For these professions, your license to MT relies on VAEIA 2022 portability or a state-by-state reciprocity application. Check with the licensing board on arrival.
VAEIA 2022 / 50 U.S.C. § 4025a requires Montana to recognize your out-of-state professional license when you relocate due to military orders. Effective December 23, 2024. Applies even when no compact exists for your profession.
If a MT licensing board pushes back, cite the statute and refer them to the DOJ Servicemembers Initiative guidance at justice.gov/servicemembers/professional-license-portability.