Title 22, Foreign Relations and IntercourseRelease 119-110

§4089 Portability of Professional Licenses

Title 22 › CHAPTER 52 — FOREIGN SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER IX — TRAVEL, LEAVE, AND OTHER BENEFITS › § 4089

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows a Foreign Service member or their spouse to keep using a U.S. professional license when they move because of an assignment, even if the new place is outside the original licensing board’s area. The license must be used at a similar level and in the same field for the length of the assignment. To do this, the person must give the new licensing board a copy of the assignment notice, stay in good standing with the board that issued the license and with any other boards that issued similar licenses, and follow the new board’s rules for practice, discipline, and continuing education. If the person already works under an interstate licensure compact, the compact or the state’s laws apply instead of this rule. Covered license means a professional license that is in good standing, was actively used in the two years before the move, and is not a license to practice law.

Full Legal Text

Title 22, §4089

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

In any case in which a member of the Foreign Service or the spouse of a member of the Foreign Service has a covered United States license and such member of the Foreign Service or spouse relocates his or her residency because of an assignment or detail to a location that is not in the jurisdiction of the licensing authority that issued the covered license, such covered license shall be considered valid at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline applied for in the jurisdiction of such new residency for the duration of such an assignment or detail if such member of the Foreign Service or spouse—

(1)provides a copy of the member’s notification of assignment to the licensing authority in the jurisdiction in which the new residency is located;

(2)remains in good standing with—

(A)the licensing authority that issued the covered license; and

(B)every other licensing authority that has issued to the member of the Foreign Service or spouse a license valid at a similar scope of practice and in the discipline applied in the jurisdiction of such licensing authority; and

(3)submits to the authority of the licensing authority in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of standards of practice, discipline, and fulfillment of any continuing education requirements.

(b)Interstate licensure compacts

If a member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the Foreign Service is licensed and able to operate in multiple jurisdictions through an interstate licensure compact, with respect to services provided in the jurisdiction of the interstate licensure compact by a licensee covered by such compact, the member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the Foreign Service shall be subject to the requirements of the compact or the applicable provisions of law of the applicable State and not this section.

(c)Covered license defined

In this section, the term “covered license” means a professional license or certificate—

(1)that is in good standing with the licensing authority that issued such professional license or certificate;

(2)that the member of the Foreign Service or spouse of a member of the Foreign Service has actively used during the two years immediately preceding the relocation described in subsection (a); and

(3)that is not a license to practice law.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

22 U.S.C. § 4089

Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110