Florida launches new program to help veterans and military spouses transfer professional licenses and keep working after moving

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida has launched a new program designed to help veterans, active-duty service members and military spouses continue working in their professions after moving to the state.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Veterans Florida and Aspire Technologies announced the Veterans Florida Military Families License Portability Program in Tallahassee. The new service is offered at no cost and is intended to make it easier for eligible people to transfer professional licenses they earned in another state.

Moving can create a major career problem for military families. Even when a person has years of education, training and professional experience, a license from another state may not immediately allow them to work in Florida. The new program is designed to reduce that delay and help qualified workers get back to their jobs much sooner.

Participants will receive help throughout Florida’s professional licensing process. The program combines technology with personal assistance, giving applicants support as they work through the requirements for transferring their licenses.

One part of the service uses technology to compare professional licenses from other states with their Florida equivalents. The system can help identify where an applicant’s existing license fits within Florida’s licensing system and can also point out missing information or paperwork.

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Applicants will also have access to one-on-one human support. That assistance is intended to help participants deal with problems that may arise during the application process and make sure paperwork is completed properly.

The goal is to help veterans and military families begin working again in days rather than waiting months.

“Florida is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and we’re making it even easier for veterans and military families to build their lives and careers here,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “If you’ve already earned a professional license, you shouldn’t have to start from scratch because you moved to Florida. We’re cutting the red tape, getting people to work faster, and making sure Florida continues to be the best place in the country for veterans and their families.”

Florida already has laws designed to make professional license transfers easier for military families. Under legislation signed by DeSantis, licensing agencies must issue a license to a qualifying military spouse within seven days after receiving a complete application.

The state also has streamlined options for veterans who hold valid professional licenses from other states. The newly announced program is intended to help Florida put those policies into practice on a larger scale.

The need for faster licensing is significant. Military families can move frequently because of assignments and deployments, forcing spouses to repeatedly deal with professional licensing rules in different states.

Nationally, military spouses can face long waits after moving before they are able to obtain a new professional license. The information provided by Florida officials says roughly one in five military spouses waits 10 months or longer.

For someone trying to maintain a career while also managing the demands of military life, such a delay can have a serious impact on household income and professional progress.

The Florida program is designed to address that problem by bringing together license-matching technology and direct support. Instead of leaving applicants to figure out the process on their own, the service will help them identify the correct Florida license and deal with missing requirements before submitting their applications.

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Aspire Technologies will operate the program. The company has experience with identity verification and with helping veterans and military spouses navigate professional licensing systems.

Veterans Florida also sees the initiative as part of its broader effort to connect veterans and military families with employment opportunities in the state.

“Veterans Florida connects veterans and military families with career opportunities in our state, and this program removes one of the biggest barriers they face when they arrive,” said Joe Marino, Executive Director of Veterans Florida. “A license earned through years of hard work should follow you to Florida, and we make that process even easier.”

Florida officials say the program could also have a wider economic effect. Helping experienced professionals return to work more quickly means military families can continue earning income while businesses can benefit from workers who already have training and professional experience.

The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs said the state’s military community includes more than 1.5 million people when veterans, active-duty personnel and military spouses are counted together.

“Florida is home to more than 1.5 million members of the larger military family, including veterans, uniformed personnel, and military spouses,” said retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James S. Hartsell, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. “These are proud people who will appreciate getting the licenses they have worked hard for. The least we can do is get out of their way and ensure they have their licenses so they can provide for their families and help grow Florida’s economy.”

Aspire Technologies officials said the company is also familiar with the challenges military families face when relocating.

“We are honored to work with the state of Florida and to have the opportunity to serve Florida’s veterans and military families,” said Jonathan Jandorf, Aspire Technologies’ Head of Florida Program Initiatives. “Having served in the military, I have seen up close how important it is to be able to have military families be able to get to work after a deployment. As an employee of Aspire, I am proud to see how we are making out-of-state professional licenses seamless from state to state for these incredible people.”

The new service is available to veterans, active-duty service members and military spouses who qualify for the program. Eligible participants can enroll through the program’s online service.

By focusing on both the paperwork and the licensing requirements, Florida officials say the new initiative is intended to make a difficult part of relocating much simpler. For military families arriving in Florida, the aim is straightforward — spend less time waiting for a license and more time working, supporting their families and building their lives in the state.