Marine Corps Boosts Spouse Professional Relicensing Reimbursement
Professional licensing expenses can be a financial burden to Marine families with each permanent change of station (PCS) move. The Marine Corps aims to ease this cost and assist spouses in this transition by updating policy for reimbursement of licensure expenses resulting from a PCS move, increasing the allowable amount for reimbursement to $1,000.
In a notable development for military families, the expansion of the Spouse Relicensing Reimbursement Program now allows military spouses to recover up to $1,000 in business related costs incurred due to relocations. In practical terms, this means that military spouses who must move their businesses or adjust their operations due to a new assignment can receive up to $1,000 to offset costs.
As of June 2024, the Marine Corps has reimbursed $195,217 to 490 Marine families through the Spouse Relicensing Reimbursement Program.
What do you need to know?
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Reimbursements are for licensing costs incurred by spouses arising from PCSing to another state.
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Reimbursements of up to $500 are available for PCS orders effective 12 December 2017 to 19 December 2019 or up to $1,000 for orders effective 20 December 2019 or later.
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Reimbursements will continue for orders effective through 31 December 2024.
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Reimbursements are one per PCS move.
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Licensure renewal must be for the same profession a spouse engaged in while at a previous duty station.
What is a qualifying expense?
When moving to a new state, spouses accompanying their Marine may need to update a license or certification according to the new state’s requirements. This provision will help alleviate the financial load of recertification or licensing, and Marines and their spouses can take advantage of this program with each qualifying move. Qualifying costs for this program must be:
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Imposed by the Marine’s new duty station state for a spouse to secure a license or certification to continue working in the same profession from the state of the previous duty station.
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Incurred or paid by the member or spouse to secure the license or certification from the state of the new duty station after the date PCS orders are issued.
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Imposed by a Marine’s new duty station to recover business related costs for business licenses, permits, and other fees necessary to establish or continue their business in a new location.
How does it work?
Spouses who wish to take advantage of this provision may begin the process by bringing the following documentation to their local on-base Personnel Administration Office:
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A copy of PCS orders.
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A copy of previous certification/license.
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A copy of new recertification/relicensing document.
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Receipt showing recertification/relicensing fees.
Additional details of the reimbursement policy can be found in MARADMIN 091/20 or by contacting your local Family Member Employment Assistance Program (FMEAP) office.
For guidance on state laws regarding professional licensing, visit www.veterans.gov/milspouses.