It’s likely that employment will change when a move occurs, especially for military spouses. The information below will provide you with employment assistance information and resources available.
The employment atmosphere in the River Region is steady and growing. Reasonable commuting areas include Prattville, Elmore, Wetumpka, and Millbrook. Montgomery is the capital of Alabama with the majority of state government jobs (9,500 employees) located in this area. The Federal Government is the largest employer in the area due to Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base (12,700 employees). Baptist Health Systems employs over 4,000 employees and the Montgomery Public Schools employ 4,000 employees as well. There is a variety of employment opportunities on the installation and in the local community. For individual employment assistance for job opportunities on the installation and local community contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center Employment Assistance Program at (334) 953-2353
Military Spouse Occupational License Portability
The State of Alabama and the Department of Defense have collaborated to develop laws, policies, and resources that reduce the burden of relicensing when military spouses relocate from another state. The results of these efforts are summarized below, with more options being adopted regularly.
Interstate Compacts
Compacts are agreements between two or more states of the United States that are approved by those states’ respective legislatures. When applied to occupational licenses, interstate compacts provide full reciprocity between states. Alabama is party to the following occupational license compacts:
The Alabama Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act of 2018
This law requires the majority of state occupational licensure boards to provide temporary or permanent licenses to military spouses transferring to Alabama. It also requires the boards to waive any initial licensing fees. The Alabama Military Stability Foundation provides additional information at this site.
Stand-Alone Professions
The Alabama Legislature has also passed legislation that affords licensing accommodations for military spouses in certain fields, including:
Military Spouse Teacher Certification
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) provides expedited application review to active duty military personnel and their spouses who hold valid professional educator certificates issued by other states, territories, or Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Alabama Superintendents may request temporary licenses on behalf of their employees for up to four years. ALSDE provides certificates of reciprocity to recognize out of state valid professional educator certificates and an easy online platform to access the expedited process, apply for certification, and access several options for achieving certification at this site.
Additional Information
Heroes Welcome
https://www.heroeswelcome.alabama.gov/
Many #MilSpouses work in occupations that require specific licenses or credentials. If the military is moving your family to the State of Alabama, the Heroes Welcome Initiative gives you the proper contact information for your applicable licensure and/or credentialing agency. To ensure you are set up for success, review the https://www.heroeswelcome.alabama.gov/licensure_boards/ to identify rapid pathways into the workforce in Alabama.