asset_type: recognition-rule

body: Which US states have passed universal occupational license recognition laws, what conditions they impose (minimum years licensed, good standing, criminal background, exam requirements), which professions are excluded, and whether military spouse provisions are included. Each record is one state's law with its specific conditions. Answers 'does [state] recognize my out-of-state professional license?', 'how long do I need to have been licensed to qualify?', 'are there professions excluded from universal recognition in [state]?', and 'does [state] have a military spouse licensing provision?' — questions where the answer is rapidly changing as states adopt new laws (22+ states as of mid-2026), and where the conditions differ meaningfully between states.

key_field: state

licence: US state statutes, public domain. State statutory text is government work.

title: US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope

type: dataset


body:
**State:** Arizona

**Law citation:** ARS § 32-4302

**Effective date:** 2019-04-10

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** 1

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** disqualifying criminal history as determined by the regulating entity; fingerprint clearance card required

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** license or registration certificate issued pursuant to chapter 24 or 26 of this title; criteria established by an interstate compact

**Military spouse provision:** yes

> The person has been licensed or certified by another state for at least one year. 3. When the person was licensed or certified by another state there were minimum education requirements and, if applicable, work experience and clinical supervision requirements in

Source: <https://www.azleg.gov/ars/32/04302.htm>

good_standing_required: yes

military_spouse_provision: yes

scope: universal

state: Arizona

state_exam_allowed: yes

title: Arizona — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope

type: recognition-rule


body:
**State:** Arkansas

**Law citation:** ACA § 17-1-108

**Effective date:** 2019-07-24

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** none

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** if a criminal background check is required of an applicant for an initial occupational license, then the occupational licensing entity may require the same

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** reciprocity or license by endorsement provisions under numerous specific sections (§§ 17-12-308, 17-26-315, 17-27-308, 17-28-306, 17-31-308, 17-36-304, 17-42-305, 17-43-307, 17-83-305, 17-88-305, 17-89-305, 17-90-302, 17-92-114, 17-92-308, 17-93-414, 17-97-306, 17-99-304, 17-100-304, and 17-103-302)

**Military spouse provision:** no

> Holds an occupational license that is substantially similar to practice in the field of his or her occupation or profession in another state, territory, or district of the United States; (B) Holds his or her occupational license in good standing

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-17-professions-occupations-and-businesses/ar-code-sect-17-1-108/>

military_spouse_provision: no

state: Arkansas

title: Arkansas — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Georgia

**Law citation:** OCGA § 43-1-35

**Effective date:** 2022-07-01

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** none

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** none specified in this section

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** firefighter, healthcare provider, or a law enforcement officer; attorneys

**Military spouse provision:** yes

> a professional licensing board or other board shall issue a license by endorsement to any individual seeking licensure for a profession other than that of a firefighter, healthcare provider, or a law enforcement officer, provided that such individual has: (1) Moved from another state and established residency in this state

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-43-professions-and-businesses/ga-code-sect-43-1-35/>

criminal_background_check: none specified in this section

state: Georgia

title: Georgia — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Iowa

**Law citation:** Iowa Code § 272C.12

**Effective date:** 2020-07-01

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** none

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** criminal history that would prevent the person from holding the license in this state

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** license issued by the department of transportation; criteria established by an interstate compact; license through a national licensing organization

**Military spouse provision:** yes

> an occupational or professional license, certificate, or registration, including a license, certificate, or registration issued by the board of educational examiners, shall be issued without an examination to a person if all of the following conditions are met

Source: <https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2026/272C.12.pdf>

law_citation: Iowa Code § 272C.12

state: Iowa

title: Iowa — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Missouri

**Law citation:** RSMo § 324.009

**Effective date:** 2018-08-28

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** 1

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** criminal record that would disqualify him or her for licensure in Missouri

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** business, professional, or occupational licenses issued or required by political subdivisions; electrical contractor licensed under sections 324.900 to 324.945; interstate compacts

**Military spouse provision:** yes

> who has been licensed for at least one year in such other jurisdiction, may submit an application for a license in Missouri in the same occupation or profession, and at the same practice level, for which

Source: <https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=324.009>

state: Missouri

title: Missouri — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Montana

**Law citation:** MCA § 37-1-304

**Effective date:** 2019-10-01

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** none

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** none specified in this section

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** licensure of schools or facilities regulated by boards and programs

**Military spouse provision:** no

> an applicant for licensure by endorsement must have an active license in good standing from a jurisdiction whose license qualifications, measured at the time of application to this state, are substantially equivalent to the license qualifications of this state.

Source: <https://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0370/chapter_0010/part_0030/section_0040/0370-0010-0030-0040.html>

state: Montana

title: Montana — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Ohio

**Law citation:** ORC § 4796.03

**Effective date:** 2023-12-29

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** 1

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** convicted of, found guilty pursuant to a judicial finding of, or plead guilty to a criminal offense for which a licensing authority may deny an application

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Excluded professions:** interstate licensure compact professions

**Military spouse provision:** yes

> the applicant has held the out-of-state occupational license or government certification for at least one year immediately preceding the date the application is submitted and has been actively engaged in the practice

Source: <https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4796>

state: Ohio

title: Ohio — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Pennsylvania

**Law citation:** 63 Pa.C.S. § 3111

**Effective date:** 2019-07-01

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** 2

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** has not committed any act that constitutes grounds for refusal, suspension or revocation of a license

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Military spouse provision:** no

> shall issue a license, certificate, registration or permit to an applicant to allow practice in this Commonwealth if, upon application to the licensing board or licensing commission, the applicant satisfies all of the following conditions: (1) Holds

Source: <https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=PDF&ttl=63&div=00.&chpt=031.&sctn=011.&subsctn=000.>

state: Pennsylvania

title: Pennsylvania — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Utah

**Law citation:** UCA § 58-1-302

**Effective date:** 2019-05-14

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** 1

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** none specified in this section

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Military spouse provision:** no

> shall issue a license to an applicant who has been licensed in another state, district, or territory of the United States if: (a) the division determines that the license issued in the other state, district, or territory encompasses a similar scope of practice as the license sought in this state; (b) the applicant has at least one year of experience practicing under the license issued in the other state, district, or territory; and (c) the applicant's license is in good standing

Source: <https://codes.findlaw.com/ut/title-58-occupations-and-professions/ut-code-sect-58-1-302/>

state: Utah

title: Utah — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope


body:
**State:** Virginia

**Law citation:** Va. Code § 54.1-118

**Effective date:** 2023-07-01

**Scope:** universal

**Minimum years licensed:** 3

**Good standing required:** yes

**Criminal background check:** none specified

**State-specific exam allowed:** yes

**Military spouse provision:** yes

> DPOR will recognize out-of-state licenses or certifications for professionals who have at least three years of experience in their field, maintain good standing in all states where they are licensed, have passed a competency exam, met training standards for their original state license, and have paid all applicable Virginia fees.

Source: <https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/news/NewsReleases_ULRTakesEffect>

criminal_background_check: none specified

state: Virginia

title: Virginia — US state universal occupational license recognition laws — conditions and scope