diff --git a/apps.awesim.org/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb b/apps.awesim.org/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb
index 774ecc3..89570ce 100644
--- a/apps.awesim.org/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb
+++ b/apps.awesim.org/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb
@@ -61,8 +61,13 @@ attributes:
     min: 0
     max: 4
   licenses:
-    value: ""
-    widget: hidden_field
+    help: |
+      Licenses are comma separeated in the format '\<name\>@osc:\<# of licenses\>' like
+      'stata@osc:1'. More help can be found on our website regarding the changes
+      in the [slurm migration].
+
+      [slurm migration]: https://www.osc.edu/resources/technical_support/supercomputers/owens/environment_changes_in_slurm_migration
+    pattern: '^([\w]+@osc:\d+,{0,1})+$'
   node_type:
     widget: select
     label: "Node type"
diff --git a/ondemand.osc.edu/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb b/ondemand.osc.edu/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb
index 774ecc3..89570ce 100644
--- a/ondemand.osc.edu/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb
+++ b/ondemand.osc.edu/apps/bc_desktop/cardinal.yml.erb
@@ -61,8 +61,13 @@ attributes:
     min: 0
     max: 4
   licenses:
-    value: ""
-    widget: hidden_field
+    help: |
+      Licenses are comma separeated in the format '\<name\>@osc:\<# of licenses\>' like
+      'stata@osc:1'. More help can be found on our website regarding the changes
+      in the [slurm migration].
+
+      [slurm migration]: https://www.osc.edu/resources/technical_support/supercomputers/owens/environment_changes_in_slurm_migration
+    pattern: '^([\w]+@osc:\d+,{0,1})+$'
   node_type:
     widget: select
     label: "Node type"