In 2018, Alabama passed the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act, requiring most occupational licensure boards* to provide temporary or permanent licenses to military spouses transferring to the State of Alabama. It also requires the boards to waive any initial licensing fees.

Alabama is a member state of the Enhanced Nursing and Emergency Medical Services Licensure Compacts and works in partnership with the Military Spouse JD Network.

In 2021, Alabama passed four additional bills, further increasing career portability for military spouses moving to Alabama: the Physical Therapy Compact, the Psychology Compact, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Compact, and expansion of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. All four additional compacts became effective on June 1, 2021.

During the 2022 Legislative Session, Alabama unanimously joined two additional licensure compacts – the Counseling Compact and the Occupational Therapy Compact. Additionally, the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act was expanded to extend deadlines for various occupational licensure boards, allowing military spouses licensed in other states to practice their trade while stationed in Alabama. It also extended the application of the Act to spouses of employees at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These items became effective on June 1, 2022.

Alabama joined the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact and the Cosmetology Compact in 2023, alongside a continued expansion of license reciprocity in the 2018 Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act to spouses of civil servants for the U.S. Department of Defense.

In 2024, Alabama joined the Dietitian Interstate Compact and the Social Work Interstate Compact.

And, in 2025, Alabama joined the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact and the School Psychology Compact.

Learn more about Alabama’s Legislative efforts to improve military spouse career portability here: Alabama Supports Military Connected Residents.

Read the Legislative Acts related to Alabama’s effort to increase military spouse licensure portability here: Alabama Secretary of State – Legislative Acts.

Click the logos below to learn more about the above compacts and the AL State Bar military spouse exemption. Find POC information for all Alabama licensure boards listed below with links to each board’s website.

*The 2018 law does not apply to license or registration issued by the Securities Commission,the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy, Board of Dental Examiners, State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Alabama Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board, and State Board of Medical Examiners.Follow the steps below to find your industry’s board contact information and begin the process of moving your career to Alabama.