25.1374.01003
Title.02000
Adopted by the Workforce Development
Committee
Sixty-ninth
February 21, 2025
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senator Hogue
A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new chapter to title 43 of the North Dakota Century
Code, relating to uniformuniversal licensure and board operations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. A new chapter to title 43 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and
enacted as follows:
Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
1."Applicant" means an individual who has submitted a completed application, including
all documentation and fees necessary for the board to consider licensing the
individual.
2."Application" means the process and all required documentation necessary for the
board to consider licensure of the applicant.
3."Board" means a board, commission, or other agency of state government , excluding
the secretary of state, created or identified in this title to regulate a particular
occupation or profession, the education standards and practices board, and the state
board of law examiners.
4."Effective interstate compact" means the minimum number of states necessary for the
interstate compact to become operative have enacted the interstate compact.
5."Interstate compact" means a legislative enactment to recognize and facilitate the
portability of occupational licenses across state lines.
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6."License" means the authorization by a board or the supreme court to practice an
occupation or profession under state law or any other authority by which individuals
are licensed in the state.
7."Occupation or profession" means activity for which a license is required from a board
or the supreme court or similar activity for which a license is required in another state
or jurisdiction.
8."Out-of-state licensee" means an individual who holds a license, certificate, permit, or
similar authorization to practice an occupation or profession, which is issued by a
government agency in another state or jurisdiction in the United States which imposes
requirements for obtaining and maintaining the license, certificate, or permit, which are
comparable to the requirements imposed in this state to obtain and maintain a license
to practice the same profession or occupation.
9."Routine application" means an application that meets all the requirements for
licensure with no derogatory or adverse information in the application.
Uniform Licensure Universal licensure .
1. Unless the state board is part of an effective interstate compact, an executed license
transfer, existing interstate mobility, or reciprocity agreement with another state, a
board shall issue a license to an out-of-state licensee applicant to practice in this state
if, upon application to the board, the applicant:
1. a. Actively has used the license for two of the three years immediately preceding
submitting an application under this section;
2. b. Provides or demonstrates competency and education in the profession or
occupation through methods determined by the board : ;
3. c. Has not committed any act that constitutes grounds for refusal, suspension, or
revocation of a license to practice that profession or occupation in this state
unless the board determines, in its discretion, the act is not an impediment to the
granting of a license to practice in this state;
4. d. Has not been disciplined in any jurisdiction in which the individual has held a
license within the last ten years;
5. e. Is not under an active investigation by another licensing or disciplinary authority
or law enforcement authority in a state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction;
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6. f. Submits to a state and federal criminal background check, paid for by the
applicant, and conducted in the manner provided under section 12 - 60 - 24 if
required by the board and the board has statutory authority to repeat the
background check; and
7. g. Pays the fees established by the board.
2. Subdivision f of subsection 1 does not apply to the state board of law examiner s ,
which may conduct a character and fitness investigation .
Board operations.
1.A board shall issue a license within seven ten business days to an individual who
submits a complete, unencumbered, routine application. This section does not apply to
processing applications through an effective interstate compact or an executed license
transfer agreement. Boards subject to an effective interstate compact shall issue a
license in a timely manner.
2.A board may grant authority to staff or selected board members to issue a provisional
or temporary license between board meetings to an applicant seeking permanent state
licensure if the application is routine, complete, and meets all the requirements for
licensure. To the extent this provision conflicts with any existing limitations on such
delegated authority, this provision supersedes those limitations.
3.The licensing application form must be made available electronically.
4.As part of a complete application, a board may require an individual seeking licensure
in this state to pass a jurisprudence examination on North Dakota law applicable to the
licensed profession. If the examination is a requirement for licensure, and the
examination is administered by the board, the examination must be made available at
least once per month. The board may adopt limits on examination attempts.
5.By July thirty-first of each year 2026 and 2027 , on forms developed by the department
of labor and human rights, each board shall report to the labor commissioner data on
the number of licenses granted, number of licenses denied, number of licenses that
were not issued within the seven-day ten-day timeline, and reason for the delay for
licenses issued after the seven-day ten-day timeline.
6.Unless already a member of an effective interstate compact, a board shall annually
review available interstate compacts in professions it regulates to determine whether
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joining the interstate compact would be in the best interest of the profession and state,
giving consideration to workforce shortages and evolving trends in occupation
licensure and technology. The review must be noted clearly in the board's agenda and
meeting minutes and the board must provide the labor commissioner with a copy of
the considered compact and the board's reason for determining that entering the
interstate compact was not in the best interests of the profession.
7.A board may contract with an entity, another board, or an individual to obtain
administrative and support services to assist in the operation of the board.
8.Unless otherwise specifically authorized by other laws or , rules of the board, or
national standards to practice, all continuing education requirements for licensure
renewal must include the ability to complete all required continuing education hours by
virtual or remote means.
9.A board may assist in providing education or resources for a licensee or an individual
interested in pursuing the regulated occupation or profession.
10.The department of labor and human rights shall maintain on its website information
regarding board resources, board member and staff contact information, and a
message board for members and staff to engage in discussion channels as needed to
identify trends and best practices for occupational licensure. Unless otherwise provided
by law, the governor shall appoint members of a board and may remove members for
cause, misconduct, incapacity, or neglect of duty. After expiration of a term, a board
member may continue to serve until the governor makes an appointment to fill the
position.
11. An applicant aggrieved by a licensure delay first shall try to resolve the matter with the
board. If the matter cannot be resolved, the applicant may bring the matter to the office
of the governor. Each board shall provide information on its website or initial licensure
application regarding how to contact the office of the governor if a matter between the
applicant and the board cannot be resolved .
Alternative pathways to licensure.
Biennially, each board under title 43 shall consider options to provide limited licensing to an
individual with relevant experience who has not previously held an equivalent license of the type
issued by the board.
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