SB 451 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

Universal Licensure/Limit Continuing Ed.

SB 451 reduces continuing education requirements by 50% for specific licensed professionals in North Carolina, including landscape architects, engineers, geologists, athletic trainers, and contractors. The bill requires affected licensing boards to either halve the required training hours per renewal cycle or maintain the same hours while doubling the time allowed to complete them. It directly affects licensed professionals who must meet these continuing education requirements to renew their licenses. The law includes exceptions if reductions conflict with federal rules or accreditations, requiring boards to report such cases by October 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 24, 2025 Last action Jun 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift its focus from reducing continuing education hours to establishing a 'universal licensure' program for out-of-state professionals. The new version mandates that specific boards must issue licenses to qualified applicants from neighboring states without requiring them to retake exams or prove substantial equivalency, while also exempting certain experienced licensees from continuing education requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a limited list of specific boards to a broader mandate covering 'all occupational licensing boards and State agency licensing boards,' with specific exclusions for healthcare, law, and other regulated professions.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for covered boards to reduce continuing education hours by 50%.

Added a new exemption for certain experienced licensees from continuing education requirements.

Added specific eligibility criteria for out-of-state applicants, including requirements to hold a license for at least one year and maintain good standing in all jurisdictions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new mandate requiring boards to issue licenses to residents of neighboring states (Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia) who hold equivalent licenses, without requiring proof of substantial equivalency.

SCOPE

Changed the list of covered boards from a specific, limited list to a general rule applying to all boards, with specific exceptions listed.

TIMELINE

Removed the specific deadline for boards to submit reports regarding accreditation conflicts.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 17, 2026

Committee

Re-ref Com On Finance

upper

Jun 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Com Substitute Adopted

upper

Jun 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

upper

Jun 17, 2026

Committee

Sequential Referral To Finance Added After Regulatory Reform

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to Regulatory Reform. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor