OCR Text |
Show HILLTOP TIMES 8 'TIMES June 23, 2011 Military spouses get help with professional licensing requirements BY LISA DANIEL American Forces Press Service A RLINGTON, Va. — A Defense Department organization is making it easier for military spouses to maintain professional licenses as they move from state to state. State Liaison and Educational Opportunity, an office of military community and family policy in Arlington, Va., announced June 13 that 16 states have adopted laws, or are close to doing so, to make it easier for military spouses to work in their career fields. "It gets them to work faster, and that's been our objective," said Marcus Beauregard, the chief of the state liaison office and a retired Air Force officer. States require licenses for practitioners in virtually every medical occupation, as well as for teaching, social work, cosmetology and other fields, and the standards vary from state to state, Beauregard said. DoD's state liaison office was created in 2004 to work with states to address military family issues, and the licensing problem has been among the top concerns of families, he said. Of working military spouses, 33 percent work in fields that require licenses, mostly nursing and teaching, Beauregard said. The state liaison office created a forum on its Facebook page for spouses to discuss the licensing problems. More than 100 spouses wrote in, describing licensing challenges ranging from the expense of having to license with a new state every two to three years, to lengthy processes of certification that include much paperwork, training, waiting periods and internships. Many spouses said they found that by the time they could get through the process, it would be time to relocate again. "I gave up education as a profession because of all that was involved in obtaining licensure with each move," a spouse wrote. "It was a difficult decision." The state liaison office formed partnerships with state agencies and professional associations to educate state lawmakers about the unique challenges to military families. "We're not looking to make the military community have a preferred status in states," Beauregard said. "We're looking at those things that impede people because of their military life. In all cases, we're just looking to level the playing field." The office promoted two strategies for mitigating the licensing challenges. The first is for states to permit licenses by endorsement of the previous state license. The second option allows a temporary license to expedite the spouse's employment options. States that have enacted laws for endorsement of licenses, or those waiting for a governor's signature, are Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, North Carolina, New York and Texas. States that allow temporary licenses are Alaska, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee. Utah allows nonresident military spouses to use out-of-state licenses, and Virginia allows military spouses who leave the state to re-use the license upon their return, Beauregard said. The state liaison office's efforts are in line with President Barack Obama's directive released in 2011 to promote a "whole of government" approach to helping military families. Since 2008, the office also has succeeded in getting 39 states to pass laws to accept the out-of-state course work of school-age military children. To Honor and Thank You for Your Service HOOPES VISION IS PROUD 'TO RENEW OUR OFFER: $1000'PFF BLADE-FREI,CUSTdr "" (F) ow/ li Because Others Rely on Your Vision ti I I NEWER TECHNOLOGY IS SAFER, AND PROVIDES BETTER VISION NIGHT AND DAY It has been our privilege to help many police officers, firefighters, military personnel and their spouses over the last few years. Hoopes Vision is once again extending our offer of $1000 dollars off custom IntraLASIK vision correction procedures to police officers, firefighters, military personnel and their spouses. It's our way of saying "Thank You" for all you do. Combined with our special financing options, we're making your vision one less thing for you to worry about. Your job may come with a high amount of risk, but when it comes to your eyes, you need the safest procedure you can find. Hoopes Vision was the first LASIK center in Utah to use the new iFS IntraLase TM IntraLaseTM replaces the metal blade traditionally used in step one of LASIK. It is safer, up to 100 times more accurate, and more likely to provide 20/20 or better vision than traditional LASIK. The new iFS IntraLase TM is also more comfortable, faster, and improves healing time. The doctors at Hoopes Vision are the most experienced IntraLASIK surgeons in the state, having performed more than 3 times as many IntraLASIK procedures as any other surgeon in Utah. Hoopes Vision is also home to Utah's first wavefront-optimized lasers. These lasers are designed to provide better vision both night and day, and have been shown to maintain or improve quality of vision in regard to night time halo and glare - helpful not only for your demanding career, but for your daily life. To see if LASIK is right for you, please call (801) 568-0200 for a complimentary LASIK exam. HOOPES VISION 10011 South Centennial Parkway Suite 400 " Sandy, Utah 84070 877.30.LASIK " 801.568.0200 www.hoopesvision.com More Choices. More experience. Better Results CALL 1.877.30.LASIK OR 568.0200 FOR YOUR FREE LASIK EXAM! FREE LASIK EXAM Call and ask about our Special Financing Options $1000 OFF ($500 off per eye) Offer applies to police officers, firefighters, military. and their spouses only. tvlay be used on any custom IntraLASIK procedure Not valid with any other offer or discount. Discount for PRK is $250 off per eye_ Expires 07/3112011 Call for details. *Call for details. LASIK is not for everyone. As with any surgery there is some risk. During your free evaluation, you will be told if you are a LASIK candidate, if another procedure may be better, or if you are not a candidate for vision correction surgery. Risks and benefits will be discussed in detail to allow you to make an educated decision . |