H763 - Neighbor State License Recognition Act. (SL 2025-61)

Overview: S.L. 2025‑61 (House Bill 763) requires occupational licensing boards and State agency licensing boards to issue a license, certification, or registration to any applicant who establishes residency in North Carolina and satisfies all the following requirements:

• The applicant holds a current license – and has held that license for at least one year – in the same professional occupation at a substantially equivalent practice level from one of the following states: Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia.
• The applicant has passed any exam required for licensure in the jurisdiction in which they currently hold a license.
• The applicant demonstrates competency in the profession through methods determined by the board.
• The applicant is in good standing in all jurisdictions in the United States in which he or she has ever held licensure, and has not: (i) faced any active or pending disciplinary actions from an occupational licensing board, (ii) had their license revoked or voluntarily surrendered due to unprofessional conduct related to the professional occupation, nor (iii) developed a disqualifying criminal history record.
• The applicant has paid all fees.

This act applies to all occupational licensing boards and State agency licensing boards, except the following:

 

Any healthcare practitioner licensed under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. Architects. Certified Public Accountants. Engineers. Veterinarians. Attorneys. Dealers, salesmen, issuers, investment advisors, investment advisor representatives, and athlete agents under Chapter 78A, 78C, and 78D of the General Statutes.

Practitioners licensed by the North Carolina Pesticide Board. Practitioners licensed by the North Carolina Structural Pest Control Committee. Practitioners certified by the North Carolina On‑Site Wastewater Contractors and Inspectors Certification Board. New/used motor vehicle dealers, motor vehicle sales representatives, manufacturers, factory branches, factory representatives, distributors, distributor branches, distributor representatives, and wholesalers under Article 12 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes.

Each occupational licensing board and State agency licensing board must:

• Publish on its website a list of specific criteria or requirements for licensure by the board under this act, along with any necessary documentation applicants must submit.
• Report annually, beginning October 1, 2026, on the number of individuals who applied for, received, or were denied licensure under the neighbor state licensure recognition statute.

This act became effective October 1, 2025, and applies to applications for licensure, certification, or registration received on or after that date.