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Bill

A 976

Allows for issuance of two-year temporary courtesy license for nonresident military spouses in certain professions.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Aura Dunn and 4 co-sponsors

The bill allows nonresident military spouses to receive temporary courtesy licenses in NJ, enabling practice with CE, background checks, and possible renewals.

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee
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Bill Summary · A 976

Summary of Bill A976 (Session 222, New Jersey)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill amends existing law to create a pathway for nonresident military spouses to obtain temporary courtesy licenses in certain professions or occupations while residing in New Jersey due to their spouse’s military assignment.
  • The overarching goal is to facilitate employment for military spouses who are temporarily stationed in New Jersey without requiring full licensure that may be burdensome given frequent relocations.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions updated:
    • Clarifies terms such as “Another jurisdiction,” “Board,” and “Nonresident military spouse.”
  • Licensure approach:
    • Each professional or occupational licensing board in New Jersey must, on application, issue a license to a nonresident military spouse so they may lawfully practice in the state.
    • Two pathways for licensure: 1) Endorsement/reciprocity under existing law. 2) A temporary courtesy license under the new subsection.
  • Temporary courtesy license requirements (subsection d):
    • Eligibility criteria for a temporary courtesy license, including: 1) Current license in another jurisdiction with equivalent licensure requirements. 2) Active practice in another jurisdiction for at least two of the five years preceding application (with military service counted toward experience). 3) No acts that would justify denial, suspension, or revocation of a license elsewhere. 4) No current disciplinary actions or unresolved complaints in other jurisdictions. 5) Authorization and payment for a criminal history background check if required by the board. 6) Payment of applicable license fees. 7) Satisfaction of continuing education requirements in the other jurisdiction, with possible additional board-mandated CE hours. 8) If applicable, completion of a New Jersey jurisprudence exam or other NJ-specific examinations. 9) Compliance with any other board-determined requirements to effectuate the measure.
  • Rights and obligations (subsection e):
    • Temporary courtesy license holders enjoy the same rights and obligations as New Jersey resident licensees, with one caveat:
    • If the license in the other jurisdiction is revoked or suspended for criminal, competency, or harmful behavior, the same action automatically applies to the New Jersey temporary license.
  • Additional training (subsection f):
    • Boards may require additional training, testing, mentoring, monitoring, or education for applicants who have not practiced in the last two years.
  • License duration and extensions (subsection g):
    • Standard temporary courtesy licenses are valid for one year.
    • Can be extended for an additional year at the board’s discretion.
    • However, certain boards (six listed) grant temporary licenses valid for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension: 1) Board for Applied Behavior Analysts 2) Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners (including Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee) 3) Board of Nursing 4) Occupational Therapy Advisory Council 5) Board of Psychological Examiners 6) Board of Social Work Examiners
  • Administrative rules (subsection h):
    • Boards must adopt rules under the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the section.
    • Boards may also issue regulations immediately (upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law) for up to six months to implement the section, after which formal rulemaking applies.

Who is affected

  • Nonresident military spouses seeking licensure in New Jersey for licensed professions/occupations governed by New Jersey boards.
  • Licensed professionals in the state who may interact with temporary courtesy licensees (e.g., employers, credentialing bodies).
  • Licensing boards in New Jersey that regulate professional or occupational licensure.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: Immediate.
  • Process flow:
    • A nonresident military spouse applies to the appropriate NJ licensing board for a temporary courtesy license (or licensure by endorsement/reciprocity).
    • The board evaluates eligibility under the criteria listed (equivalency of licensure, practice experience, disciplinary history, background check, fees, CE, NJ-specific requirements).
    • If approved, the license is granted as a temporary courtesy license with a defined duration (one year standard; two-year option for certain boards).
    • The license is revocable if the holder’s license in another jurisdiction is revoked/suspended for specified reasons.
    • Boards may require additional training if the applicant has not practiced recently.
    • Rules to implement these provisions can be enacted quickly (up to six months in practice) and then refined under standard rulemaking processes.

Notable details

  • Two-year temporary licenses are available only through the specified six boards listed in subsection g.
  • Military service experience counts toward the required practice years for eligibility.
  • The bill emphasizes background checks and ongoing CE compliance as conditions for maintaining the temporary license.

This summary captures the bill’s core intent to streamline temporary licensure for nonresident military spouses while ensuring credentialing integrity and public protection.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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