State license reciprocity by profession
Whether your professional license follows you across state lines depends entirely on the destination state — not the state where you trained. Pick a profession below to see its full 50-state reciprocity matrix, compiled from state licensing boards.
How license reciprocity actually works
Reciprocity is not a single concept — it's a spectrum of pathways each state defines independently. The right pathway depends on your profession, the destination state's statutes, and whether your training meets that state's standards.
Direct reciprocity (recognized)
The destination state recognizes your existing license or national certification directly, typically with proof of good standing and an administrative fee. National-certification-based credentials (NREMT, DANB, ARRT, NBRC and similar) sometimes work this way when the destination state accepts the national cert. Whether your specific credential qualifies depends on the destination state's current rules — check the row for that state below.
Licensure by endorsement
The most common pathway for trade and health licenses. You apply for a new license in the destination state, submitting proof of your existing license, work experience, and supporting documentation. No re-examination, but real paperwork and real fees. Many states now offer "universal recognition" laws that streamline this further. Specific fees and processing times vary by state and profession — confirm with the destination board.
Exam-required transfers
Some states require you to retake the state-specific exam or complete state-specific coursework even if you're already licensed elsewhere. This is reciprocity in name only — the cost and time investment is closer to starting over. Common in states where the licensing statute predates modern portability frameworks.
Compact agreements
A multi-state compact lets a license issued in one member state work in every other member state without a separate application. Examples include the Nurse Licensure Compact (nursing), the EMS Compact (EMTs and paramedics), and the AICPA "substantial equivalence" framework (CPAs). Membership varies by state — and a state being a "compact state" does not always mean every license type within that profession is portable. Always confirm with the destination state's board.
Not recognized — what to expect
A "no reciprocity" entry means the destination state will not accept your existing license as a basis for licensure, period. You must satisfy that state's full requirements from scratch — coursework, exams, supervised hours, and all. This is most common with state-specific construction trade licenses where each state has its own statutory framework.
Unregulated professions
Several professions on this page are unregulated in many states — meaning no state license is required to practice. Personal trainers, medical coders, and dental assistants (in some states) fall into this category. Your professional certification still matters to employers, but there's no licensing-board pathway to "transfer."
Pick a profession
Each profession has its own 50-state reciprocity matrix. The mix of tier counts below gives you a quick read on portability — green-heavy means easy transfer, red-heavy means each state runs its own process.
Certified Nursing Assistant
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 46 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Dental Assistant
arrow_forwardModerately portable: 20 states offer paperwork-only pathways.
EMT
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 44 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Licensed Practical Nurse
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 47 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Medical Assistant
arrow_forwardUnregulated in 45 states — no license to transfer in most of the US.
Medical Coder
arrow_forwardUnregulated in 43 states — no license to transfer in most of the US.
Paramedic
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 39 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Pharmacy Technician
arrow_forwardFragmented: 31 states require re-exam or have no reciprocity pathway.
Phlebotomist
arrow_forwardUnregulated in 45 states — no license to transfer in most of the US.
Radiology Technologist
arrow_forwardModerately portable: 25 states offer paperwork-only pathways.
Respiratory Therapist
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 42 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Surgical Technologist
arrow_forwardUnregulated in 35 states — no license to transfer in most of the US.
CPA
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 47 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Notary Public
arrow_forwardModerately portable: 23 states offer paperwork-only pathways.
Paralegal
arrow_forwardUnregulated in 31 states — no license to transfer in most of the US.
Personal Trainer
arrow_forwardUnregulated in 27 states — no license to transfer in most of the US.
CDL Truck Driver
arrow_forwardModerately portable: 34 states offer paperwork-only pathways.
Electrician
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 36 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
HVAC Technician
arrow_forwardFragmented: 30 states require re-exam or have no reciprocity pathway.
Plumber
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 35 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Welder
arrow_forwardModerately portable: 22 states offer paperwork-only pathways.
Dental Hygienist
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 43 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Insurance Agent
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 50 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Real Estate Agent
arrow_forwardFragmented: 47 states require re-exam or have no reciprocity pathway.
Barber
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 38 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
Cosmetologist
arrow_forwardModerately portable: 33 states offer paperwork-only pathways.
Massage Therapist
arrow_forwardBroadly portable: 40 states accept transfers via recognition or endorsement.
How we compiled this data
The reciprocity status for each profession×state pair is compiled from the destination state's primary licensing authority — board of professional regulation, department of health, department of commerce, or equivalent. Every cell links through to a full per-state profile that cites the source board URL directly.
Tier classifications (recognized / endorsement / exam required / not recognized) are assigned by parsing each state's reciprocity statute and policy language. Where statutes use terms like "substantially equivalent" or "universal recognition," we map to the closest tier and surface the source language in the per-state detail page.
Important caveat: reciprocity statutes change. State legislatures pass universal recognition bills, compact agreements expand, and boards update rules. Before making a relocation decision, contact the destination state's licensing board directly to confirm current requirements. Use this page as a starting point, not a substitute for primary-source verification.