# Title 43 — Occupations and Professions

## Chapter 43-51.1 — Universal Licensure and Board Operations

### § 43-51.1-01. 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.
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.
### § 43-51.1-02. Universal licensure.

1. Unless the 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:
a. Actively has used the license for two of the three years immediately preceding
submitting an application under this section;
b. Provides or demonstrates competency and education in the profession or
occupation through methods determined by the board;
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;
d. Has not been disciplined in any jurisdiction in which the individual has held a
license within the last ten years;
e. Is not under an active investigation by another licensing or disciplinary authority
or law enforcement authority in a state, federal, or foreign jurisdiction;
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
g. Pays the fees established by the board.

2. Subdivision f of subsection 1 does not apply to the state board of law examiners,
which may conduct a character and fitness investigation.
### § 43-51.1-03. Board operations.

1. A board shall issue a license within 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 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 ten-day timeline, and reason for the delay for licenses issued
after the 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
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, 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. 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.
