More and more states are making it easier for military spouses to find employment, and North Carolina is the latest to jump on the trend. The Tar Heel State recently passed a law that allows spouses to transfer licensing from other states as long as the former state has equal or higher standards, Stars and Stripes reports.
The law will apply to people who have certification in jobs such as teaching and will help remove an obstacle that often makes it difficult for military spouses to find jobs. North Carolina is the ninth state this year to pass such legislation.
"This bill helps streamline the procedures, so military spouses in North Carolina can get the certification they need to work," the state's governor, Bev Perdue, said in a statement. "We owe it to them, to provide this kind of support."
The law falls in line with the mission of Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative, which aims to have all 50 states pass similar laws by 2014. It is especially important for military families. As of May, the unemployment rate among spouses was 28 percent.