Many strong civilian careers require a state license — and the rules change at every border. Pick a career and your state to see exactly what it takes: exams, education, background checks, continuing education, and the licensing board to contact.
One of the most common transition surprises is discovering that a civilian career you are perfectly qualified for still requires a state license before you can legally work in it. Nurses, electricians, security officers, commercial drivers, real-estate agents, HVAC technicians, and dozens of other roles are licensed at the state level — and the exact requirements (exams, degree, supervised hours, background checks) differ from state to state.
This free tool pulls current licensing requirements straight from CareerOneStop, the U.S. Department of Labor’s official career resource, so you can see what your target career requires in the state where you plan to live. Always confirm the details with the licensing board itself before you commit time or money — we link you straight to it.