Medical Board Licensing Efficiency Act.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 3
HOUSE BILL 480
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/15/25
Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 6/24/25

Short Title: Medical Board Licensing Efficiency Act. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
March 25, 2025
*H480-v-3*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MAKE MODIF ICATIONS TO THE LAWS PERTAINING TO THE N ORTH 2
CAROLINA MEDICAL BOARD. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Article 1 of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5
a new section to read: 6
"§ 90-12.2B. Licensure by endorsement. 7
(a) The Board may issue a license as a physician, physician assistant, or anesthesiologist 8
assistant in North Carolina to an applicant who submits an application for licensure by 9
endorsement to the Board and satisfies all of the following , as applicable to the applicant 's 10
licensure: 11
(1) Has held an active, full, and unrestricted license in at least one other United 12
States jurisdiction, including any state, territory, or district , for at least five 13
years. Physicians applying for a license to practice medicine must have 14
practiced with an active, full, and unrestricted license for at least two years 15
after completing training after graduating from medical school in a residency 16
program approved by any of the following: 17
a. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. 18
b. The American Osteopathic Association. 19
c. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. 20
d. The College of Family Physicians of Canada. 21
(2) An employer submits a letter to the Board verifying that the applicant has 22
accepted an offer of full -time employment to practice consistent with the 23
applicant's respective licensure in person at a physical location in this State 24
rendering care to individuals in this State. 25
(3) Provides to the Board sufficient proof of identification, including the 26
applicant's social security number, certified or official copy of birth certificate, 27
copy of drivers license, Un ited States passport, or other government -issued 28
identification. The applicant shall include documentation of any legal name 29
change. 30
(4) Provides an attestation that the applicant meets all of the following: 31
a. Is in good standing in all jurisdictions of licensure where the applicant 32
holds an active license, has not been disciplined in the last five years 33
by any occupational licensing board preceding the application by 34
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 480-Third Edition
endorsement, and has no pending investigations by any occupational 1
licensing board. 2
b. Is not the subject to any adverse action taken by any regulatory board 3
or agency overseeing the applicant 's respective licensure in the last 4
five years preceding the application for licensure by endorsement. 5
c. Has actively practiced as a physician, physician assistant, or 6
anesthesiologist assistant for an average of 20 hours or more per week 7
during the two years immediately preceding the application for 8
licensure by endorsement. 9
d. Has no misdemeanor or felony convictions in the last five years 10
preceding the application for licensure by endorsement. 11
e. Meets the licensure requirements of physicians under G.S. 90-9.1 or 12
G.S. 90-9.2, physician assistants under G.S. 90-9.3, or 13
anesthesiologist assistants under G.S. 90-9.4. 14
f. Meets the examination requirements of G.S. 90-10.1 for physician 15
licensure. 16
g. Is able to satisfy all licensing requirements of any applicable Board 17
rule, including 21 NCAC 32B .1303, 21 NCAC 32S .0202, and 21 18
NCAC 32W .0102, as amended, for physicians, ph ysician assistants, 19
and anesthesiologist assistants, respectively. 20
(b) Licensees who have received a licensure in accordance with subsection (a) of this 21
section shall submit to the Board any additional licensure information for a license as required 22
by any applicable Board rule, including 21 NCAC 32B .1303, as amended, within 120 days of 23
receipt of licensure by endorsement under this section. Failure to provide the necessary 24
information under this section shall constitute a basis for the Board to investigate that failure and 25
take appropriate action. The Board has the authority to investigate and take appropriat e action 26
against an applicant or licensee who applied for or received licensure by endorsement under this 27
section. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over the holder of any inactive license issued by the 28
Board. 29
(c) A license issued under this section shall become inactive after 180 days unless the 30
applicant meets all of the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. 31
(d) An applicant for licensure by endorsement shall pay the applicable license fees under 32
G.S. 90-13.1 and applicable criminal background check fees under G.S. 90-11." 33
SECTION 2. G.S. 90-13.1 is amended by adding the following new subsections to 34
read: 35
"(i) Physicians applying for l icensure by endorsement under G.S. 90-12.2B shall pay to 36
the Board an application fee not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). 37
(j) Anesthesiologist assistants applying for licensure by endorsement under 38
G.S. 90-12.2B shall pay to the Board an application fee not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars 39
($250.00). 40
(k) Physician assistants applying for licensure by endorsement under G.S. 90-12.2B shall 41
pay to the Board an application fee not to exceed three hundred thirty dollars ($330.00)." 42
SECTION 3. The North Carolina Medical Board may adopt temporary rules to 43
implement the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of this act. 44
SECTION 4. G.S. 90-16(c) reads as rewritten: 45
"(c) All records, papers, investigative files, investigative reports, other investigative 46
information and other documents containing information in the possession of or received or 47
gathered by the Board, or its members or employees or consultants as a result of investigations, 48
inquiries, assessments, or interviews conducted in connection with a licensing, complaint, 49
assessment, potential impairment matter, disciplinary matter, or report of professional liability 50
insurance awards or settlements pursuant to G.S. 90-14.13, shall not be considered public records 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 480-Third Edition Page 3
within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes and are privileged, confidential, and 1
not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for release to any person 2
other than the Office of the State Auditor pursuant to G.S. 147-64.7(a), the Board, its employees 3
or consultants involved in the application for license, impairment assessment, or discipline of a 4
license holder, except as provided in subsection (e1) of this section. For purposes of this 5
subsection, investigative information includes information relating to the identity of, and a report 6
made by, a physician or other person performing an expert review for the Board and transcripts 7
of any deposition taken by Board counsel in preparation for or anticipation of a hearing held 8
pursuant to this Article but not admitted into evidence at the hearing." 9
SECTION 5. Sections 1 and 2 of this act become effective January 1, 2026. Except 10
as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law. 11