Washington is in 6 of 8 major interstate licensure compacts. Below: every compact that covers WA, 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 → WA 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 → WA 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 → WA details →Covers: Licensed Psychologist (PsyD, PhD)
PSYPACT is robust for psychologist spouses — covers both telehealth and temp in-person across nearly 40 states.
Psychology → WA details →Covers: Audiologist, Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Compact privilege travels with home license; check the compact site for current member states as new ones join frequently.
Audiology / SLP → WA details →Covers: Occupational Therapist (OT), OT Assistant (OTA)
Compact provides clear portability — military spouses with OT licenses should join the compact for maximum flexibility.
Occupational Therapy → WA details →For these professions, your license to WA 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 Washington 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 WA licensing board pushes back, cite the statute and refer them to the DOJ Servicemembers Initiative guidance at justice.gov/servicemembers/professional-license-portability.