COLUMBIA, S.C. – Military spouses are benefitting from a new law requiring state licensing boards to issue temporary professional licenses to spouses of active duty military assigned to a South Carolina base.

Amy Kinsel, is the wife of Lt. Col. Wayne Kinsel, Commander of the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Charleston. Amy is able to work in South Carolina because of bill S455, the Armed Services Members and Spouses Professional and Occupational Licensing Act, passed and signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May of 2020.  This law was created to ease and expedite credentialing for military members and their spouses in the state of South Carolina.

Lt. Col. Kinsel and his family were transferred from Texas to Charleston in 2019 when Amy applied for and received a one- year SC temporary pharmacy license. Once relocated, Lt. Col. Kinsel became sick and was hospitalized with COVID-19 in March. During the pandemic, testing sites were shut down, and Amy was in fear her temporary license would expire in June before she could take the test for her permanent license, which meant she wouldn’t be able to work.

South Carolina Department of Veterans’ Affairs made sure the Kinsel family received the assistance they needed. Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) in connection with the Board of Pharmacy extended Amy’s license two times to allow her plenty of time to take the South Carolina exam. 

The new Armed Services Members and Spouses Professional and Occupational Licensing Act allows reciprocity for those applicants who have a valid license in good standing from another state and:

• are married to and living with an active duty service member stationed in South Carolina under official military orders;
• possess a valid license or certification in good standing from another state with licensing requirements equal to or greater than those in South Carolina;
• pay any required fee and submit to any required criminal or other background check by an authorized board, commission, or agency in the state.

This law does not apply to the practice of law or to educators. 

“South Carolina is the most military-friendly state in the country because we’re always looking for ways to enhance our support of members of the military and their families,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “If we can cut through red tape to help our military families achieve financial security, we will do it every time. This is a great piece of legislation and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to sign it into law.”

South Carolina Labor Licensing and Regulation Director, Emily Farr said the Agency looks forward to working with the spouses of active-duty military members to make sure they are licensed as quickly as possible. “This law shows the commitment we all have to our military members, and it underscores the significance of the impact they have on our state.”