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North Carolina House Bill H480

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H480 Compare Versions

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11 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
22 SESSION 2025
3-H 2
3+H 1
44 HOUSE BILL 480
5-Committee Substitute Favorable 4/15/25
5+
66
77 Short Title: Medical Board Licensing Efficiency Act. (Public)
8-Sponsors:
9-Referred to:
8+Sponsors: Representatives Campbell and Reeder (Primary Sponsors).
9+For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10+Referred to: Health, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the
11+House
1012 March 25, 2025
11-*H480 -v-2*
13+*H480 -v-1*
1214 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
1315 AN ACT TO MAKE MODIF ICATIONS TO THE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE NORTH 2
1416 CAROLINA MEDICAL BOA RD. 3
1517 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
1618 SECTION 1. Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5
1719 a new section to read: 6
1820 "§ 90-12.2B. Licensure by endorsement. 7
1921 (a) The Board may issue a license as a physician, physician assistant, or anesthesiologist 8
2022 assistant in North Carolina to an applicant who submits an application for licensure by 9
2123 endorsement to the Board and satisfies all of the following, as applicable to the applicant's 10
2224 licensure: 11
2325 (1) Has held an active, full, and unrestricted license in at least one other United 12
2426 States jurisdiction, including any state, territory, or district, for at least five 13
2527 years. Physicians applying for a license to practice medicine must have 14
2628 practiced with an active, full, and unrestricted license for at least two years 15
2729 after completing training after graduating from medical school in a residency 16
2830 program approved by any of the following: 17
2931 a. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. 18
3032 b. The American Osteopathic Association. 19
3133 c. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 20
3234 d. The College of Family Physicians of Canada. 21
3335 (2) An employer submits a letter to the Board verifying that the applicant has 22
3436 accepted an offer of full-time employment to practice consistent with the 23
3537 applicant's respective licensure in person at a physical location in this State 24
3638 rendering care to individuals in this State. 25
3739 (3) Provides to the Board sufficient proof of identification, including the 26
3840 applicant's social security number, certified or official copy of birth certificate, 27
3941 copy of drivers license, United States passport, or other government-issued 28
4042 identification. The applicant shall include documentation of any legal name 29
4143 change. 30
4244 (4) Provides an attestation that the applicant meets all of the following: 31
4345 a. Is in good standing in all jurisdictions of licensure where the applicant 32
4446 holds an active license, has not been disciplined in the last five years 33
45-by any occupational licensing board preceding the application by 34
46-endorsement, and has no pending investigations by any occupational 35
47-licensing board. 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48-Page 2 House Bill 480-Second Edition
49-b. Is not the subject to any adverse action taken by any regulatory board 1
50-or agency overseeing the applicant's respective licensure in the last 2
51-five years preceding the application for licensure by endorsement. 3
52-c. Has actively practiced as a physician, physician assistant, or 4
53-anesthesiologist assistant for an average of 20 hours or more per week 5
54-during the two years immediately preceding the application for 6
55-licensure by endorsement. 7
56-d. Has no misdemeanor or felony convictions in the last five years 8
57-preceding the application for licensure by endorsement. 9
58-e. Meets the licensure requirements of physicians under G.S. 90-9.1 or 10
59-G.S. 90-9.2, physician assistants under G.S. 90-9.3, or 11
60-anesthesiologist assistants under G.S. 90-9.4. 12
61-f. Meets the examination requirements of G.S. 90-10.1 for physician 13
62-licensure. 14
63-g. Is able to satisfy all licensing requirements of any applicable Board 15
64-rule, including 21 NCAC 32B .1303, 21 NCAC 32S .0202, and 21 16
65-NCAC 32W .0102, as amended, for physicians, physician assistants, 17
66-and anesthesiologist assistants, respectively. 18
67-(b) Licensees who have received a licensure in accordance with subsection (a) of this 19
68-section shall submit to the Board any additional licensure information for a license as required 20
69-by any applicable Board rule, including 21 NCAC 32B .1303, as amended, within 120 days of 21
70-receipt of licensure by endorsement under this section. Failure to provide the necessary 22
71-information under this section shall constitute a basis for the Board to investigate that failure and 23
72-take appropriate action. The Board has the authority to investigate and take appropriate action 24
73-against an applicant or licensee who applied for or received licensure by endorsement under this 25
74-section. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over the holder of any inactive license issued by the 26
75-Board. 27
76-(c) A license issued under this section shall become inactive after 180 days unless the 28
77-applicant meets all of the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. 29
78-(d) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall pay the applicable license fees under 30
79-G.S. 90-13.1 and applicable criminal background check fees under G.S. 90-11." 31
80-SECTION 2. G.S. 90-13.1 reads as rewritten: 32
81-"§ 90-13.1. License fees. 33
82-(a) Each applicant for a license to practice medicine and surgery in this State under 34
83-G.S. 90-9.1, 90-9.2, or 90-12.02 shall pay to the North Carolina Medical Board an application 35
84-fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00).not to exceed five hundred fifty dollars ($550.00). 36
85-(a1) Physicians applying for licensure by endorsement under G.S. 90-12.2B shall pay to 37
86-the Board an application fee not to exceed eight hundred twenty-five dollars ($825.00). 38
87-(b) Each applicant for a limited license to practice in a medical education and training 39
88-program under G.S. 90-12.01 shall pay to the Board a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00).one 40
89-hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00). 41
90-(c) An applicant for a limited volunteer license under G.S. 90-12.1A or G.S. 90-12.1B 42
91-shall not pay a fee. 43
92-(d) A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid for the issuance of a duplicate 44
93-license. 45
94-(e) All fees shall be paid in advance to the North Carolina Medical Board, to be held in 46
95-a fund for the use of the Board. 47
96-(f) For the initial and annual licensure of an anesthesiologist assistant, the Board may 48
97-require the payment of a fee not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).two hundred 49
98-dollars ($200.00). 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99-House Bill 480-Second Edition Page 3
100-(g) Anesthesiologist assistants applying for licensure by endorsement under 1
101-G.S. 90-12.2B shall pay to the Board an application fee not to exceed three hundred dollars 2
102-($300.00). 3
103-(h) For the initial licensure of a physician assistant, the Board shall require the payment 4
104-of a fee not to exceed three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325.00). 5
105-(i) Physician assistants applying for licensure by endorsement under G.S. 90-12.2B shall 6
106-pay to the Board an application fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00)." 7
107-SECTION 3. G.S. 90-13.2 reads as rewritten: 8
108-"§ 90-13.2. Registration every year with Board. 9
109-(a) Every licensee shall register annually with the Board no later than 30 days after the 10
110-person's birthday. 11
111-(b) A person who registers with the Board shall report to the Board the person's name and 12
112-office and residence address and any other information required by the Board, and shall pay an 13
113-annual registration fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), not to exceed three hundred fifty 14
114-dollars ($350.00), except those who have a limited license to practice in a medical education and 15
115-training program approved by the Board for the purpose of education or training shall pay a 16
116-registration fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00), one hundred fifty dollars 17
117-($150.00), and those who have a retired limited volunteer license pursuant to G.S. 90-12.1B or a 18
118-limited volunteer license pursuant to G.S. 90-12.1A shall pay no annual registration fee. 19
119-However, licensees who have a limited license to practice for the purpose of education and 20
120-training under G.S. 90-12.01 shall not be required to pay more than one annual registration fee 21
121-for each year of training. 22
122-(b1) Physician assistants shall pay an annual registration fee not to exceed two hundred 23
123-dollars ($200.00). A physician assistant who fails to register as required by this section shall pay 24
124-an additional fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to the Board. 25
125-(c) Repealed by Session Laws 2016-117, s. 2(i), effective October 1, 2016. 26
126-(d) A licensee who is not actively engaged in the performance of medical acts, tasks, or 27
127-functions in North Carolina and who does not wish to register the license may direct the Board 28
128-to place the license on inactive status. 29
129-(e) A physician who fails to register as required by this section shall pay an additional 30
130-fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Board. The license of any physician who fails to register and 31
131-who remains unregistered for a period of 30 days after certified notice of the failure is 32
132-automatically inactive. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over the holder of the inactive license. 33
133-(f) Except as provided in G.S. 90-12.1B, a person whose license is inactive shall not 34
134-practice medicine in North Carolina nor be required to pay the annual registration fee. 35
135-(g) Upon payment of all accumulated fees and penalties, the license of the licensee may 36
136-be reinstated, subject to the Board requiring the licensee to appear before the Board for an 37
137-interview and to comply with other licensing requirements. The penalty may not exceed the 38
138-applicable maximum fee for a license under G.S. 90-13.1. 39
139-(h) The Board shall not deny a licensee's annual registration based solely on the licensee's 40
140-failure to become board certified." 41
141-SECTION 4. G.S. 90-689 reads as rewritten: 42
142-"§ 90-689. Expenses; fees. 43
143-(a) All fees shall be payable to the Medical Board and deposited in the name of the 44
144-Medical Board in financial institutions designated by the Medical Board as official depositories. 45
145-These fees shall be used to carry out the purposes of this Article. 46
146-(b) All salaries, compensation, and expenses incurred or allowed to carry out the purposes 47
147-of this Article shall be paid by the Medical Board exclusively out of the fees received by the 48
148-Medical Board as authorized by this Article or funds received from other sources. In no case shall 49
149-any salary, expense, or other obligation authorized by this Article be charged against the State 50
150-treasury. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
151-Page 4 House Bill 480-Second Edition
152-(c) The Committee, upon the approval of the Medical Board, shall establish fees not 1
153-exceeding the following amounts: 2
154-(1) License application $350.00$400.00 3
155-(2) Biennial renewal of license $350.00$400.00 4
156-(3) Late renewal of license $100.00 5
157-(4) Provisional license $175.00$200.00 6
158-(5) Copies of rules Cost." 7
159-SECTION 5. The North Carolina Medical Board may adopt temporary rules to 8
160-implement the provisions of this act. 9
161-SECTION 6. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 10
47+by any occupational licensing board preceding the application by 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48+Page 2 House Bill 480-First Edition
49+endorsement, and has no pending investigations by any occupational 1
50+licensing board. 2
51+b. Is not the subject to any adverse action taken by any regulatory board 3
52+or agency overseeing the applicant's respective licensure in the last 4
53+five years preceding the application for licensure by endorsement. 5
54+c. Has actively practiced as a physician, physician assistant, or 6
55+anesthesiologist assistant for an average of 20 hours or more per week 7
56+during the two years immediately preceding the application for 8
57+licensure by endorsement. 9
58+d. Has no misdemeanor or felony convictions in the last five years 10
59+preceding the application for licensure by endorsement. 11
60+e. Meets the licensure requirements of physicians under G.S. 90-9.1 or 12
61+G.S. 90-9.2, physician assistants under G.S. 90-9.3, or 13
62+anesthesiologist assistants under G.S. 90-9.4. 14
63+f. Meets the examination requirements of G.S. 90-10.1 for physician 15
64+licensure. 16
65+g. Is able to satisfy all licensing requirements of any applicable Board 17
66+rule, including 21 NCAC 32B .1303, 21 NCAC 32S .0202, and 21 18
67+NCAC 32W .0103, as amended, for physicians, physician assistants, 19
68+and anesthesiologist assistants, respectively. 20
69+(b) Licensees who have received a licensure in accordance with subsection (a) of this 21
70+section shall submit to the Board any additional licensure information for a license as required 22
71+by any applicable Board rule, including 21 NCAC 32B .1303, as amended, within 120 days of 23
72+receipt of licensure by endorsement under this section. Failure to provide the necessary 24
73+information under this section shall constitute a basis for the Board to investigate that failure and 25
74+take appropriate action. The Board has the authority to investigate and take appropriate action 26
75+against an applicant or licensee who applied for or received licensure by endorsement under this 27
76+section. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over the holder of any inactive license issued by the 28
77+Board. 29
78+(c) A license issued under this section shall become inactive after 180 days unless the 30
79+applicant meets all of the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. 31
80+(d) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall pay the applicable license fees under 32
81+G.S. 90-13.1 and applicable criminal background check fees under G.S. 90-11." 33
82+SECTION 2. G.S. 90-13.1 reads as rewritten: 34
83+"§ 90-13.1. License fees. 35
84+(a) Each applicant for a license to practice medicine and surgery in this State under 36
85+G.S. 90-9.1, 90-9.2, or 90-12.02 shall pay to the North Carolina Medical Board an application 37
86+fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00).not to exceed five hundred fifty dollars ($550.00). 38
87+(a1) Physicians applying for licensure by endorsement under G.S. 90-12.2B shall pay to 39
88+the Board an application fee not to exceed eight hundred twenty-five dollars ($825.00). 40
89+(b) Each applicant for a limited license to practice in a medical education and training 41
90+program under G.S. 90-12.01 shall pay to the Board a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00).one 42
91+hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00). 43
92+(c) An applicant for a limited volunteer license under G.S. 90-12.1A or G.S. 90-12.1B 44
93+shall not pay a fee. 45
94+(d) A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall be paid for the issuance of a duplicate 46
95+license. 47
96+(e) All fees shall be paid in advance to the North Carolina Medical Board, to be held in 48
97+a fund for the use of the Board. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98+House Bill 480-First Edition Page 3
99+(f) For the initial and annual licensure of an anesthesiologist assistant, the Board may 1
100+require the payment of a fee not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).two hundred 2
101+dollars ($200.00). 3
102+(g) Anesthesiologist assistants applying for licensure by endorsement under 4
103+G.S. 90-12.2B shall pay to the Board an application fee not to exceed three hundred dollars 5
104+($300.00). 6
105+(h) For the initial licensure of a physician assistant, the Board shall require the payment 7
106+of a fee not to exceed three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325.00). 8
107+(i) Physician assistants applying for licensure by endorsement under G.S. 90-12.2B shall 9
108+pay to the Board an application fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00)." 10
109+SECTION 3. G.S. 90-13.2 reads as rewritten: 11
110+"§ 90-13.2. Registration every year with Board. 12
111+(a) Every licensee shall register annually with the Board no later than 30 days after the 13
112+person's birthday. 14
113+(b) A person who registers with the Board shall report to the Board the person's name and 15
114+office and residence address and any other information required by the Board, and shall pay an 16
115+annual registration fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), not to exceed three hundred fifty 17
116+dollars ($350.00), except those who have a limited license to practice in a medical education and 18
117+training program approved by the Board for the purpose of education or training shall pay a 19
118+registration fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00), one hundred fifty dollars 20
119+($150.00), and those who have a retired limited volunteer license pursuant to G.S. 90-12.1B or a 21
120+limited volunteer license pursuant to G.S. 90-12.1A shall pay no annual registration fee. 22
121+However, licensees who have a limited license to practice for the purpose of education and 23
122+training under G.S. 90-12.01 shall not be required to pay more than one annual registration fee 24
123+for each year of training. 25
124+(b1) Physician assistants shall pay an annual registration fee not to exceed two hundred 26
125+dollars ($200.00). A physician assistant who fails to register as required by this section shall pay 27
126+an additional fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to the Board. 28
127+(c) Repealed by Session Laws 2016-117, s. 2(i), effective October 1, 2016. 29
128+(d) A licensee who is not actively engaged in the performance of medical acts, tasks, or 30
129+functions in North Carolina and who does not wish to register the license may direct the Board 31
130+to place the license on inactive status. 32
131+(e) A physician who fails to register as required by this section shall pay an additional 33
132+fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) to the Board. The license of any physician who fails to register and 34
133+who remains unregistered for a period of 30 days after certified notice of the failure is 35
134+automatically inactive. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over the holder of the inactive license. 36
135+(f) Except as provided in G.S. 90-12.1B, a person whose license is inactive shall not 37
136+practice medicine in North Carolina nor be required to pay the annual registration fee. 38
137+(g) Upon payment of all accumulated fees and penalties, the license of the licensee may 39
138+be reinstated, subject to the Board requiring the licensee to appear before the Board for an 40
139+interview and to comply with other licensing requirements. The penalty may not exceed the 41
140+applicable maximum fee for a license under G.S. 90-13.1. 42
141+(h) The Board shall not deny a licensee's annual registration based solely on the licensee's 43
142+failure to become board certified." 44
143+SECTION 4. G.S. 90-689 reads as rewritten: 45
144+"§ 90-689. Expenses; fees. 46
145+(a) All fees shall be payable to the Medical Board and deposited in the name of the 47
146+Medical Board in financial institutions designated by the Medical Board as official depositories. 48
147+These fees shall be used to carry out the purposes of this Article. 49
148+(b) All salaries, compensation, and expenses incurred or allowed to carry out the purposes 50
149+of this Article shall be paid by the Medical Board exclusively out of the fees received by the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150+Page 4 House Bill 480-First Edition
151+Medical Board as authorized by this Article or funds received from other sources. In no case shall 1
152+any salary, expense, or other obligation authorized by this Article be charged against the State 2
153+treasury. 3
154+(c) The Committee, upon the approval of the Medical Board, shall establish fees not 4
155+exceeding the following amounts: 5
156+(1) License application $350.00$400.00 6
157+(2) Biennial renewal of license $350.00$400.00 7
158+(3) Late renewal of license $100.00 8
159+(4) Provisional license $175.00$200.00 9
160+(5) Copies of rules Cost." 10
161+SECTION 5. The North Carolina Medical Board may adopt temporary rules to 11
162+implement the provisions of this act. 12
163+SECTION 6. This act becomes effective October 1, 2025. 13