Military service members and their spouses who move to Illinois will find it less complicated than just a few years ago to obtain professional licensure in the Land of Lincoln. Whether a service member is transitioning to civilian life or their spouse is transitioning to a new residence, the state of Illinois is poised to smooth the way.
Illinois is committed to ensuring those who serve our county and their spouses will be able to work in the fields for which they have trained and at the same time address critical shortages in the healthcare field.
Since 2019, service members and their partners have been afforded reciprocity for professional licenses obtained in other states or jurisdictions, essentially letting them transfer an existing license that is in good standing. They must still apply for professional licensure in Illinois, however those with licenses from other states will have their applications expedited as long as they meet state requirements.
Illinois law includes provisions designed to help active duty members and their spouses as well as those whose active duty service concluded within the preceding 2 years apply for licensure. State law requires the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to review applications within 30 days of receiving all required documents and fees. Additionally, state law affords service members and their spouses a military liaison to work with applicants and their military installation’s Military and Family Support Center to help them navigate the licensing process and provide for a smooth transition.
How to begin the process of obtaining a license from IDFPR.
Service Members will need to obtain the following information before applying:
- Proof of your assignment to a duty station in Illinois, within six (6) months after the date of application for licensure.
- Proof of your active military status: DD214, Letter of Service signed by Unit Commanding Officer, or Proof of Service document from the Service Member’s electronic personnel portal.
- Proof of good standing if you are licensed in another state, commonwealth, possession, or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or foreign jurisdiction.
*Spouses will need to obtain the following information before applying:
- Proof of your spouse’s active military status: DD214, Letter of Service signed by Unit Commanding Officer, or Proof of Service document from the Service Member’s electronic personnel portal.
- Military Permanent Change of Station Orders with the spouse identified by name; Official Notification of Change of Assignment with your marriage license, a certified DD1172 verifying marital status, or a letter signed by the commanding officer verifying change of assignment and the name of the military spouse.
- Proof of good standing if you are licensed in another state, commonwealth, possession, or territory of the United States, District of Columbia, or foreign jurisdiction.
Next Steps for service members or spouses applying for licensure:
- Review the licensing requirements and application for your profession by visiting the Department’s website.
- If available for your profession, create an online account and submit an online application. For some professions you may need to download a paper application and submit by mail. With all applications you will need to submit all required forms or documents and pay all required fees.
- As part of your application, be sure to check the applicable box to indicate that you are a Military Service Member or Spouse and be sure to provide one of the documents mentioned in Step 1.
- Submit a complete set of fingerprints to the Illinois State Police, if required for your profession.
- As part of your application, you may also be required to submit additional documentation for your license (such as certified transcripts, test results, and/or continuing education certification).
- Pay any fees required for licensure.
For more information about licensing assistance available to service members and their spouses, visit IDFPR’s website.
*Spouses of active service military members can be reimbursed up to $1,000 for obtaining a professional license required when moving to a new state for a military relocation. This includes exam and registration fees. Individuals whose spouses serve in the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are eligible to apply. More about the reimbursement process may be found on the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard websites.
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