Education & Employment

Indiana Occupational Licences for Service Members, Military Spouses and Veterans

Indiana licensing boards must license a service member whose military training is equivalent, and a military spouse or dependent licensed for a year elsewhere, and must give a spouse or dependent of someone assigned to Indiana a provisional licence within 30 days. Local governments waive their initial licence fees for veterans, service members and their spouses.

Also called: IC 25-1-17, IC 36-1-3-11.2, military spouse license, provisional license, military occupational specialty, license fee waiver, expedited license.

For: Veteran or service member, spouse, child.

Where it applies

Written for the jurisdictions listed here.

IndianaState

Service members and veterans. IC 25-1-17-4: notwithstanding any other law, a board "shall issue" a licence to a military service applicant who completed military training, was awarded a military occupational specialty and performed in it at a level substantially equivalent to the board's requirements, or who has held for a year a licence from a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements, with no disqualifying conduct or pending complaint. Military spouses and dependents. IC 25-1-17-5 requires a licence for a spouse or dependent with a substantially equivalent licence held for at least a year, good standing, demonstrated competency and no pending complaint. IC 25-1-17-8 gives the spouse or dependent of a service member assigned to Indiana a provisional licence at the same practice level, without an exam, within thirty days of a sworn affidavit and verification of another state's licence, valid for 365 days. Boards must expedite licences and renewals for spouses and dependents of members stationed in Indiana (IC 25-1-17-11). Federal law on military orders. For a service member or spouse who moves to Indiana because of military orders, 50 U.S.C. 4025a, as rewritten by Public Law 118-159 in December 2024, treats a licence in good standing from another state as valid for its scope of practice once the holder applies with the orders, a marriage certificate for a spouse and a notarized affidavit. It does not require the year of prior licensure or the substantially equivalent test in IC 25-1-17-5, and it is not limited to 365 days like the Indiana provisional licence; a board that cannot act within 30 days may issue a temporary licence with the same rights. Licences held through an interstate compact follow the compact. Veterans and dependents other than a spouse are outside the federal section and rely on the Indiana chapter. Local fees. IC 36-1-3-11.2 requires a county, city or town to waive the fees and taxes for the initial issuance or reinstatement of an occupational or professional licence for a veteran as defined in IC 10-17-15-3 or the spouse of one, and for a member of the armed forces or National Guard on active duty or the spouse of one.

Thresholds

Thresholds for Indiana Occupational Licences for Service Members, Military Spouses and Veterans
Gate	Rule
On military orders, federal law treats the existing licence as valid	50 U.S.C. § 4025a, as amended by Pub. L. 118-159: a service member or spouse who relocates on military orders with a licence in good standing may practise within its scope on application, with a temporary licence if the board needs more than 30 days. Veterans and other dependents rely on IC 25-1-17.

Sources

Legislation

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Public Law 118-159, division A, section 587 Rewrote the federal portability rule for the professional licences of service members and spouses who move on military orders

Catalog reconciledEnactedScope changed

Signed 2024-12-23

Introduced Done, 2023-07-27, step 1 of 6
In committee Done, 2023-07-27, step 2 of 6
Passed one chamber Done, 2024-02-05, step 3 of 6
Passed both chambers Done, 2024-12-18, step 4 of 6
Signed by the President Done, 2024-12-23, step 5 of 6
In effect Done, 2024-12-23, step 6 of 6

Expands benefits Requires a state to treat a service member or spouse on military orders as licensed there on the strength of a licence held elsewhere.

Amended 50 U.S.C. 4025a generally, effective December 23, 2024. A service member or spouse who relocates on military orders and holds a licence in good standing elsewhere has it treated as valid for its scope of practice in the new state on application with the orders, a marriage certificate for a spouse and a notarized affidavit; a board that cannot act within 30 days may issue a temporary licence with the same rights. Licences held under an interstate compact follow the compact. State military spouse licensing entries that describe only the state procedure understate what a family on orders is owed. Veterans are outside the section.

Sponsor

Touches 50 U.S.C. § 4025a

Also touches

Official record

Updated

Last updated 2026-09-30.

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Disclaimer

VetTOC is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense. Information is for reference only and is not an eligibility determination. Verify with VA, the relevant state or territory, or an accredited VSO.