Members may be reimbursed up to $1,000 for qualifying relicensing costs and business costs (up to $2,000 combined) of their spouse for orders issued on or after 22 Dec 2023, when all of the following qualifying conditions are met:

     1. The spouse obtains a licensure, certification, permit, and/or a business license at the Service member’s first duty station.

     2. The member is reassigned, either as a PCS or permanent change of assignment from a permanent duty station (PDS) in one licensing jurisdiction to a PDS in another.
     
     3. The PCS movement of the dependents is authorized.

     4. The spouse was employed in a profession requiring certification at a PDS in a previous licensing jurisdiction during the marriage to the Service member while on member was active duty.  Back-to-back employment is not required.  For qualified business cost reimbursement, the spouse must have operated a business in the previous duty station in order to be eligible for reimbursement.
     
     5.  The spouse is required to obtain re-certification for the same profession at the PDS in the new jurisdiction.
     
     6.  The completion of the relicense or certification was successful.
     
     7.  Reimbursement payments for licensure or certification are subject to the current Federal and State (as applicable) income tax withholding rates.

     8. Service member transfers to the Selected Reserve (SELRES), if the Service member is authorized a final move from the last duty station to the new jurisdiction or geographic area.

     9. Service member is medically retired and placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL). 

     10. The term ‘qualified business costs’ means costs, including moving services for equipment, equipment removal, new equipment purchases, information technology expenses, and inspection fees, incurred by the spouse of a member if the spouse owned a business during the member’s previous duty assignment and the costs result from a movement in connection with the member’s change in duty location.

     11. Service member transfers to the Selected Reserve (SELRES), if the Service member is authorized a final move from the last duty station to the new jurisdiction or geographic area.

     12. Service member is medically retired and placed on the Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL).

     13.  This authority expires 31 December 2029.

Complete eligibility information and application procedures can be found in MPM 1754-040.  

The 2023 SMCRA requires all States to recognize the professional licenses (except legal practice) of spouses who relocate to another State on military orders.  As this law is new, each State may have different procedures or requirements.