Rules of Reciprocation

Application Requirements

• The application process for obtaining a license through the reciprocity rules differ from state to state. In Vermont, for example, you can apply for an education license if you graduated and received a recommendation for a license from another state's state-approved educator preparation program. You can also apply if you already hold a license and can prove that you have been working in your licensed field for a certain number of years before moving to a different state. The rules for other types of license reciprocation are similar, requiring either experience, a recommendation, or a combination of the two.

State Decisions

• State decisions affect all types of reciprocation. For instance, states may require applicants to study and pass certain tests, even if there are reciprocity agreements in place between the two states. Accountants and lawyers need to be aware of the laws and regulations in the state in which they will be working, so at least some additional education is needed, and states make this a conditional part of their reciprocity. Some states, like Arizona, also require an ethics exam for professions like accounting. For more government-related licenses like education, reciprocity is based on statewide agreements, like the Interstate Agreement. Two states, Iowa and Minnesota, are not part of the education Interstate Agreement, making it more difficult for educators to obtain their licenses when moving to or from these states.

Limitations

• There are some misconceptions about reciprocity between states. Reciprocity does not allow professionals to trade in one license for another, it only allows states to agree on common requirements for two different licenses. It does not guarantee any particular state license will be recognized by another state -- a new license is still needed. States also use different procedures to decide on reciprocity, leading to different waiting periods.