The Career Challenge of Frequent Moves
Military spouses face a unique career challenge: relocating every two to three years often means restarting employment at a new location, losing seniority, and navigating different state licensing requirements. The unemployment rate for military spouses remains significantly higher than the national average, and underemployment — working below your skill level — is even more common.
The good news is that a growing number of programs, policies, and career strategies exist to help military spouses maintain career momentum through a PCS. Understanding your options before you move is the best way to minimize disruption. Start planning early using our PCS checklist to stay on track.
SECO: Free Career Support
The Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program offers free one-on-one career counseling, education advising, and employment readiness resources. SECO career coaches can help you build a resume, identify portable career fields, explore education paths, and connect with military-friendly employers. You can reach SECO through Military OneSource at no cost regardless of your service branch. SECO also manages the MySECO online portal, which includes job boards, webinars, and networking events designed specifically for military spouses.
Professional License Portability
If you work in a licensed profession — teaching, nursing, real estate, cosmetology, social work, or others — state-to-state license transfers have historically been a major obstacle. Recent legislation has improved this. Many states now offer temporary practice permits, expedited applications, or license-by-endorsement for military spouses. The Interstate Licensure Compacts for nursing and teaching also streamline multi-state practice. Before your PCS, contact the licensing board at your new state to understand their requirements and timelines. Budget for any application fees in your PCS entitlements planning.
MyCAA Education Benefits
My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) provides up to $4,000 in tuition assistance for military spouses pursuing portable certifications, licenses, or associate degrees. Eligible spouses include those married to active-duty service members in pay grades E-1 through E-5, W-1 through W-2, and O-1 through O-2. MyCAA funds can be used at accredited colleges and technical schools and cover tuition, fees, and credentialing exams. This benefit is especially valuable for entering high-demand portable fields like IT, medical coding, project management, or bookkeeping.
Remote Work and Federal Hiring Preference
Remote work has become a game-changer for military spouses. Careers in software development, writing, virtual assistance, marketing, accounting, and customer service can follow you from duty station to duty station. When evaluating job opportunities before a PCS, prioritize positions that are fully remote or that have offices at multiple military-adjacent locations.
Military spouses also receive noncompetitive hiring authority for federal jobs under Executive Order 13473. This allows federal agencies to hire you without the full competitive posting process, significantly shortening the federal hiring timeline. Explore bases with strong on-installation and nearby employment options through our military base directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MyCAA scholarship and who qualifies?
My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) provides up to $4,000 in financial assistance for military spouses pursuing licenses, certifications, or associate degrees in portable career fields. Spouses of active-duty service members in pay grades E-1 through E-5, W-1 through W-2, and O-1 through O-2 are eligible.
Do I need a new professional license when we PCS to a new state?
It depends on your profession and the state. Many states have enacted military spouse licensure portability laws allowing temporary practice or expedited licensing. Check your state licensing board and use SECO resources to determine if your license transfers or requires a new application.
What is SECO and how can it help military spouses find employment?
The Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program, run by the Department of Defense, provides free career counseling, education guidance, and employment readiness tools for military spouses. Services include resume workshops, career coaching, and connections to military-friendly employers.
Do military spouses get hiring preference for federal government jobs?
Yes. Executive Order 13473 grants noncompetitive appointment eligibility to military spouses, allowing federal agencies to hire them without going through the full competitive process. This applies to spouses of active-duty members who PCS, spouses of 100% disabled service members, and un-remarried widows/widowers of service members killed on duty.
Plan Your Next PCS with Confidence
Use our tools to estimate BAH at your new location and stay organized through every step of your move.