If your job requires a state-issued license, your move can be either trivial or career-disrupting. Plan months ahead.
Nursing — the Compact is your friend
The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) lets RNs and LPNs in member states practice across all member states without re-licensing. As of 2024, 41 states are members. Notable non-members: California, New York, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Oregon, Minnesota, Connecticut, Vermont, and Pennsylvania (though PA's enactment is pending).
If you're moving to a non-Compact state, plan for a 2–8 week re-licensure process: NCLEX is one-time-only, but each state runs its own background check.
Teaching — reciprocity is real but messy
Most states have some form of reciprocity for teaching credentials, but the practical experience varies. Common pattern: you get a 1- or 2-year emergency credential while completing state-specific requirements (US history exam, jurisprudence test, etc.).
States with the smoothest reciprocity: Texas, Florida, Arizona, Indiana. States with stricter requirements: California (CTC), New York (NYSED).
Law — bar reciprocity is rare
Only some states grant admission on motion (without re-taking the bar) for experienced attorneys. The big states — California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Maryland — generally do not. You re-take the bar.
The Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) is now used by 41 states; if you took the UBE in a participating state, you can transfer your score within a few years to another UBE state.
Real estate
Real estate licensing is state-by-state with widely varying reciprocity. Check the destination state's commission website. Most states require you to pass at least the state-law portion of their exam.
Cosmetology, contracting, plumbing
Trades often require re-licensure. Some states honor experience-based equivalency. Always check the destination state's licensing board directly — third-party sources are frequently out of date.