Moving can be daunting, but for millions of Americans, the biggest relocation challenge might be related to their jobs: getting a professional license in a new state. The obstacles aren’t just paperwork and fees. Licensing requirements often vary from state to state so you might have to take additional courses or get specialized on-the-job experience – even if you’ve been working in the same profession for years. Military spouses face these challenges a lot, probably more than the average civilian does. Many military spouses move their households – and upend their careers – every two to three years, according to the National Military Family Association. In fact, the military community is now in the middle of PCS season – that time of year when certain servicemembers pack up and move with their families to a new permanent change of station.
That’s why the FTC’s Economic Liberty Task Force will host a free public roundtable on July 27 in Washington, DC. It will bring together experts to discuss options for streamlining licensing across state lines, such as agreements between states and the ability to take your license with you easily from state to state. Want to share your experience – positive and negative – with moving and getting licensed in a different state? Submit comments online and include “License Portability” in the subject line.
Watch for updates on Twitter at #EconLibertyFTC. (We’ll also be live tweeting the roundtable at #EconLibertyFTC.)
