H231 - Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact. (SL 2025-7)

Overview: S.L. 2025‑7 (House Bill 231) makes North Carolina a member of the Social Work Licensure Compact (Compact), facilitating the licensure of social workers across state lines.

All states who participate in the Compact must do the following:

• Have licensure, education, examination, and discipline standards.
• Participate in the Social Work Licensure Compact Commission's (Commission) data system, follow the Commission's rules, and nominate a delegate to participate in Commission meetings.
• Implement procedures to conduct criminal background checks and notify the Commission about any criminal or disciplinary activity of the state's licensees.
• Authorize individuals holding a multistate license to practice in the state.
• Designate the categories of social work that are eligible for multistate licenses. Member states can charge an additional fee for granting a multistate license.

All social workers participating in the Compact must:

• Hold an unencumbered license in a home state.
• Pay applicable fees.
• Pass a criminal background check.
• Notify the home state of any adverse action taken by any other state.
• Meet continuing education requirements.
• Follow the laws of the state in which the client is located when care is provided.

Once a state determines an applicant has submitted a valid application for multistate licensure, it must issue the multistate license at the appropriate licensure level.

Nothing in the Compact can be construed to limit a state licensing authority's ability to enforce its own laws and regulations, issue single‑state licenses, or take adverse action against a single or multistate licensee practicing in the state.

Only home states can take adverse action against a regulated social worker's multistate license. Remote states can only take action against the authorization for an individual to practice remotely in that one state. Remote states can report conduct warranting adverse action to a licensee's home state. Member states can take notice of the investigation results of any other member state. Results of any investigation must be reported to the Compact's data center where it will be accessible to all member states.

The Compact will be administered by the Commission, which has the power to levy fees on member states to fund its operations and powers necessary to implement the provisions of the Compact.

This act became effective October 1, 2025.