Department of Defense
Interstate Compact Support
The Department of Defense is partnering with The Council of State Governments to fund and support
the development of new interstate compacts for occupational licensure.
FINALIZED COMPACTS READY FOR ENACTMENT
Cosmetology
Dentistry & Dental Hygiene
Teaching
Social Work
Massage Therapy
School Psychologists
Dietitians
Respiratory Therapists
CURRENT COMPACTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
INTERSTATE COMPACT SUPPORT FAQ
How were these professions selected?
In collaboration with DoD, CSG administered a competitive proposal process from eligible applicants including professional associations, associations or federations of state licensing boards, a coalition of state licensing boards, or national credentialing bodies for professions that are licensed in at least 30 states. Each profession was selected based on the merits of their proposal.
What will these interstate compacts achieve?
Occupational licensing interstate compacts allow professionals in licensed occupations to transcend state boundaries by creating uniform standards of practice. These compacts will support professionals in state-licensed occupations including military spouses. The goals of these compacts are as follows:
• Streamline relicensing between member States of the compact for all practitioners in the occupation
• Support spouses of relocating active duty military personnel through provisions recognizing unique requirements of military life
• Create streamlined pathways for interstate practice
• Increase public access to care or services
• Enhance the states’ ability to protect the public’s health and safety
• Encourage the cooperation of compact member states in regulating multistate practice
• Maximize state membership
• Enhance the exchange of licensure, investigative, and disciplinary information by means of compact commission database
These compacts will promote reciprocity and reduce the barriers to license portability, particularly for military spouses who, due to frequent relocation, face higher barriers to entry in state-licensed professions.
How will the compacts be developed?
In the coming months, CSG staff will convene representatives from selected professions, state regulators, subject-matter experts and other industry stakeholders to begin development of the interstate compacts. CSG and regulatory experts will identify obstacles the profession faces and collaboratively develop and recommend solutions that will inform the drafting of model compact legislation.
In Phase I, CSG will:
• Develop and convene compact technical assistance groups to study impacts of potential compacts and
• Develop and convene compact document teams to write occupational licensure compact legislation
• Circulate the occupational licensure compacts for stakeholder review
In Phase II, CSG will:
• Disseminate the model compact legislation created in Phase I by:
• Planning and convening a national legislative briefing
• Developing a legislative resource kit for the compact
Who is CSG working with to develop the compacts?
CSG will convene diverse technical assistance groups composed of all stakeholders in the regulatory process from each profession. Compact development efforts are primarily being led by the following organizations:
- Cosmetology & Barbering: A coalition of 15 state cosmetology boards led by staff from Barbicide
- Dentists & Dental Hygienists: American Dental Association
- Massage Therapy: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards
- Social Work: Association of Social Work Boards
- Teaching: National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
- School Psychologists: National Association of School Psychologists
- Dietitians: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
If you are an interested stakeholder from any of these professions and would like to stay informed on the compact development process and/or submit feedback regarding the draft model compact legislation, email the following addresses to request updates:
Cosmetology: [email protected]
Dentistry and Dental Hygiene: [email protected]
Massage Therapy: [email protected]
Social Work: [email protected]
K-12 Teaching: [email protected]
Will there be opportunities for other professions?
This opportunity represents the first round of assistance CSG is making available to professions for interstate compact development. Interested professions are encouraged to remain in contact with CSG as more opportunities for assistance become available during 2021. See Apply page for full application details.
INTERESTED IN A COMPACT FOR YOUR PROFESSION?
CSG is seeking applicants for interstate compact development from professional associations, associations or federations of state licensing boards, a coalition of state licensing boards, or national credentialing bodies for professions that are licensed in at least 30 states.
Applicants selected for this opportunity will not receive direct funding from CSG, but CSG will fund all elements of the interstate compact development process including:
- Convening a compact technical assistance group
- Convening a compact document team
- Hosting a national legislative briefing for state legislators
- Developing a legislative resource kit