The Servicemembers’ Civil Relief Act, a federal law, allows a member of the uniformed services or a servicemember’s spouse to file for recognition of a professional license from another state to practice that profession in Texas while stationed in Texas. Recognition requires proof that the individual is currently licensed in good standing in another state and has current orders assigning the servicemember to Texas. The recognition, once approved, is only the ability to practice while in Texas on assignment, but it is not a Texas license.
The law includes the following definitions:
Servicemember - A member of the uniformed services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service). Service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard must be in a Title 10 status. For National Guard members, service must be for a period of more than 30 consecutive days under Title 32 § 502(f), for purposes of responding to a national emergency declared by the President and supported by Federal funds. For commissioned officers in the Public Health Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, service must be considered active service.
Servicemember spouse - A person who is married to a servicemember who is currently on active duty in Texas (as defined below).
To apply for the Servicemember and Spouse Professional License Recognition, please complete the appropriate Servicemember & Spouse Portability of License Attestation below and submit it along with the required additional documentation and fee.
Servicemember and Spouse Professional License Practice Authorization Attestation - Physician
Additional documentation needed:
- If spouse of servicemember, a copy of the dependent identification card or proof of marriage;
- A copy of the servicemember’s current orders assigning the servicemember to an installation in Texas; and
- A copy of the NPDB/HIPDB self-query results report (if applicable)
Upon receipt of your request, accompanied by the required documentation and fee, the Licensure Department will evaluate the documentation and provide written confirmation of approval or an explanation as to why the request is being denied.
Please allow at least 14 business days for initial processing of all servicemember and spouse professional license recognition requests. We can only make your determination for qualification after all required information is received.
For recognition requests already approved, please see List of Servicemember & Spouse Professional License Recognition