What No One Tells You About Transferring Your License to Another State

When I first moved across state lines, I thought transferring my license would be like updating an address.  I was wrong. Very wrong.

I quickly learned that “license portability” sounds much smoother than it feels. What should have been a form or two turned into a scavenger hunt of new requirements, outdated rules, and acronyms I had never seen before.

I had already proven my competence. But to a new board, I was just another applicant with incomplete paperwork from somewhere else.

Here’s What I Wish I’d Known

1. Every state has its own “standard.”
   Some accept your existing license as proof of experience. Others require your transcripts, supervision logs, and verification letters… as if you never practiced a day.

2. It’s not about trust; it’s about compliance.
   Boards aren’t doubting your skill; they’re bound by laws. Their hands are tied to check every box, even if it makes no practical sense.

3. Terminology changes everything.
   What’s called “clinical supervision” in one state might be “postgraduate experience” in another. If it doesn’t match wording exactly, it may not count.

4. Communication matters more than paperwork.
   Don’t rely solely on the forms. Call, email, and verify. A five-minute conversation can save you months of confusion.

5. You need patience and a plan.
   Expect it to take longer than you think. Build timelines around that reality, not the optimistic one printed on the website.

The Truth

Relocating is exciting… until your career momentum hits a bureaucratic wall.
I created Simplified Licensing so no therapist has to face that wall alone.

If you’re planning a move or already in the middle of it, don’t wait until you’re frustrated.
We can help you create a step-by-step roadmap that fits your state, your license, and your sanity.

Because moving shouldn’t mean starting over.
It should mean continuing the work you love, wherever life takes you.

Simplified Licensing
Making Licensing Simple.