Military spouse licensing: a case study of registered nurses near military bases

Abstract

Military families experience frequent moves, which poses significant challenges for career options for military spouses. One of the most common professions for military spouses is a registered nurse, which has state-level licensing requirements that add additional hurdles to continuing employment after a move. A series of reforms in the 2010s for military spouses in licensed professions allows nurses to obtain a license in a state where their service member spouse is stationed, as long as their license from their previous state is current and in good standing. This policy is crucial for military families and can provide job stability for registered nurses. We find suggestive evidence that the full recognition of military spouse licenses increases the probability of employment mobility by around 12%, while more restrictive reforms have the opposite effect. Our finding highlights the importance of policies supporting military personnel’s families and has implications for healthcare workforce planning and recruitment efforts.