GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 763
Short Title: Neighbor State License Recognition Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Zenger, Tyson, Moss, and Pless (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 7, 2025
*H763 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FO R OCCUPATIONAL LICEN SURE RECOGNITION FOR 2
INDIVIDUALS LICENSED IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORING STATES WHO ESTABLISH 3
RESIDENCE IN THIS STATE. 4
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 5
SECTION 1. Chapter 93B of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 6
section to read: 7
"§ 93B-15.3. Licensure recognition for individuals licensed in neighboring states. 8
(a) Applicability. – This section applies to all occupational licensing boards and State 9
agency licensing boards except as provided in this subsection. This section shall not apply to: 10
(1) Licensure related to the diagnosis or treatment of human or animal ailments, 11
conditions, or diseases by: 12
a. Chiropractors under Article 8 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 13
b. Dentists under Article 2 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 14
c. Optometrists under Article 6 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 15
d. Physicians under Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 16
e. Podiatrists under Article 12A of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 17
f. Veterinarians under Article 11 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 18
(2) Admission to the practice of law or licensure as an attorney under Chapter 84 19
of the General Statutes. 20
(b) Licensure Recognition. – Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 21
occupational licensing board or a State agency licensing board subject to this section shall issue 22
a license, certification, or registration to any applicant who establishes residence in this State and 23
satisfies all of the following conditions: 24
(1) The applicant is currently licensed, certified, or registered in Georgia, South 25
Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia in the discipline applied for 26
in this State at the same or substantially equivalent practice level, as 27
determined by the occupational licensing board or State agency licensing 28
board. 29
(2) The applicant has been licensed, certified, or registered in one or more of the 30
states listed in subdivision (1) of this subsection for at least one year. 31
(3) The applicant has passed an examination required for the license, certification, 32
or registration in the jurisdiction in which the applicant holds a current license, 33
certification, or registration, if an examination was required. 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 763-First Edition
(4) The applicant is in good standing in all jurisdictions within the United States 1
in which the applicant holds or has ever held a license, certification, or 2
registration in the profession for which the applicant is seeking licensure, 3
certification, or registration in this State. 4
(5) The applicant has not voluntarily surrendered a license, certification, or 5
registration or had a license, certification, or registration revoked in any 6
jurisdiction within the United States as a result of unprofessional conduct 7
related to the profession for which the applicant is seeking licensure, 8
certification, or registration in this State. 9
(6) The applicant demonstrates competency in the profession through methods 10
determined by the board, which may include having met the minimum 11
education, clinical supervision, or work experience requirements in effect in 12
the originating state at the time the applicant obtained the license, certification, 13
or registration from that state. 14
(7) The applicant does not have any active or pending disciplinary actions from 15
an occupational licensing board or agency in another jurisdiction within the 16
United States, and, if applicable, the occupational licensing board or State 17
agency licensing board has completed verification under subsection (c) of this 18
section. 19
(8) The applicant does not have a disqualifying criminal history record, as 20
determined by the occupational licensing board or State agency licensing 21
board under G.S. 93B-8.1 and related provisions of law. 22
(9) The applicant has paid all applicable fees, including fees for application 23
processing, license issuance, verification of credentials, and background 24
checks. 25
(c) Prior Disciplinary Actions. – If the applicant has any prior resolved disciplinary 26
actions from an occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board at the time of 27
application, the occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board to which the 28
applicant is applying shall determine and verify that the disciplinary action is resolved and, if 29
applicable, corrective action has been taken. If a disciplinary action is pending in another 30
jurisdiction, an occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board shall suspend the 31
application process for any license, certificate, or registration under this section until the 32
disciplinary action has been resolved. 33
(d) Required Information. – Each occupational licensing board or State agency licensing 34
board shall publish a document that lists the specific criteria or requirements for licensure, 35
certification, or registration by the board under this section and any necessary documentation 36
needed for satisfying the requirements. The information required by this subsection shall be 37
published on the occupational licensing board's or State agency licensing board's website. 38
(e) Effect on Other Agreements. – Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent 39
any occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board in this State from entering into 40
a reciprocity agreement with another jurisdiction or to invalidate any existing reciprocity 41
agreement between any occupational licensing board or agency in this State and another 42
jurisdiction. 43
(f) Scope of License. – Any license, certification, or registration granted by an 44
occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board to any applicant under this section 45
shall be valid only in this State and does not extend validity to other jurisdictions, including 46
through an interstate compact, unless otherwise provided by law or interstate agreement. 47
(g) Rights and Obligations. – Any individual who is licensed, certified, or registered 48
under this section shall be entitled to the same rights and subject to the same obligations as 49
required of an individual who was licensed, certified, or registered by an occupational licensing 50
board or State agency licensing board in this State under any other provision of law. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 763-First Edition Page 3
(h) Alternative Pathway. – Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an 1
individual from proceeding under the existing licensure, certification, or registration 2
requirements established by an occupational licensing board or State agency licensing board in 3
this State." 4
SECTION 2. Report. – Beginning on October 31, 2026, each occupational licensing 5
board and State agency licensing board subject to G.S. 93B-15.3, as enacted by this act, shall 6
include all of the following data for the previous fiscal year in the annual report to the Secretary 7
of State, the Attorney General, and the Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight 8
Committee, as required by G.S. 93B-2: 9
(1) The number of individuals who applied for licensure, certification, or 10
registration in accordance with G.S. 93B-15.3. 11
(2) The number of individuals who received licensure, certification, or 12
registration in accordance with G.S. 93B-15.3. 13
(3) The number of individuals who were denied licensure, certification, or 14
registration in accordance with G.S. 93B-15.3, including the reasons for 15
denial. 16
SECTION 3. Effective Date. – This act becomes effective October 1, 2025, and 17
applies to applications for licensure, certification, or registration received on or after that date. 18