MVLS: How Military OneSource Helps Military Spouses Get Licenses Faster

Navigating professional license transfers across state lines is complex — every profession has different requirements, every state has different rules, and the licensing boards themselves can be hard to reach. For military spouses, the Military Spouse License Office (MVLS) through Military OneSource exists specifically to help.

Here's what MVLS is and how to use it effectively.

What MVLS Is

The Military Spouse License Office (commonly called MVLS — Military Spouse JD Network-linked licensing assistance or My License Office, depending on the context) is a free government service available through Military OneSource at militaryonesource.mil.

The service provides military spouses with:

• One-on-one consultation with a licensing specialist
• Research into specific state licensing requirements for your profession
• Guidance on applying for expedited or reciprocal licensing in your gaining state
• Help understanding military spouse provisions in state law
• Advocacy assistance if a state board isn't honoring military spouse accommodations

MVLS covers licensed professions broadly — from nursing and teaching to real estate, law, therapy, cosmetology, dental hygiene, engineering, and more.

How to Access MVLS

By phone: Call Military OneSource at 1-800-342-9647 and ask to speak with a licensing specialist. Available 24/7/365.

Online: Visit militaryonesource.mil and search for "license" or navigate to the Military Spouse Employment section. The online portal allows you to submit a licensing question for follow-up.

At your installation: Many Family Readiness Centers and Airman & Family Readiness Centers have staff who can connect you with MVLS services or provide in-person licensing guidance.

What to Have Ready When You Call

The more information you can provide, the faster the specialist can help you:

• Your profession and current license type (e.g., "Licensed Professional Counselor, Virginia")
• Your current state and the state you're moving to
• Copy of your military orders (or at least the duty station you're moving to)
• Proof of your relationship to the service member (marriage certificate)
• Your current license number and expiration date
• Any previous states where you've been licensed

What MVLS Can and Can't Do

Can do:

• Research state-specific licensing requirements for your profession
• Identify whether your gaining state has military spouse expedited licensing provisions
• Draft a request letter to a state board on your behalf (in some cases)
• Follow up with state boards on delayed applications
• Connect you with additional resources (VFW spouse programs, specific licensing compacts)

Cannot do:

• Force a state board to approve your license
• Guarantee a specific outcome
• Substitute for an attorney if your case involves denied licensure, disciplinary history, or other legal complexity
• Process your application directly (applications still go through the state board)

How to Use MVLS Most Effectively

Contact MVLS before you PCS, not after. The earlier you contact them, the more options you have. Some license transfer processes take 60–90 days. Beginning 3–4 months before your PCS date gives you the best chance of being licensed and employed quickly after arrival.

Ask specifically about military spouse provisions. State laws change regularly. MVLS researchers track current state-specific accommodations. Ask explicitly: "Does [state] have military spouse expedited licensing for [my profession]?"

Get everything in writing. If MVLS tells you what a state board requires, ask them to email you that guidance. Having documentation of what you were told can be useful if the board gives you conflicting information.

Use MVLS for advocacy if you're stuck. If a state board is slow to respond or is not honoring military spouse provisions, MVLS has relationships and escalation paths that individual applicants don't have.

Other Resources MVLS Can Connect You To

• Military Spouse JD Network: For attorneys specifically
• SECO (Spouse Education and Career Opportunities): Career counseling and education support
• AUSA, MOAA, and VSO spouse programs: Some veteran service organizations have spouse licensing advocates

For state-specific licensing requirements by profession, see MTT's State License Navigator.

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Sources: militaryonesource.mil, Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-407), DoD Military Spouse Employment Partnership