                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

UNIVERSAL LICENSE RECOGNITION (§ 54.1-205)

A. For purposes of this section,
			&#8220;Another state&#8221; or &#8220;other state&#8221; means any state,
territory, possession, or jurisdiction of the United States.
			&#8220;Neighboring state&#8221; means the District of Columbia, Maryland,
North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, or West Virginia.

B. Except as provided in subsection D, the regulatory boards within the
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation shall, upon application
by an individual, recognize licenses or certificates issued by another state as
fulfillment of qualifications for licensure or government certification in the
Commonwealth if the following conditions are met:

   1. The individual holds a current and valid professional or occupational
   license or government certification in another state in a profession or
   occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board in the
   Commonwealth;

   2. The individual has held the professional or occupational license or
   government certification in the other state for at least three years;

   3. The board in the other state or state of original licensure required the
   individual to pass an examination and to meet certain standards related to
   education, training, or experience;

   4. There are no pending investigations or unresolved complaints against the
   individual, and the board in the other state holds the individual in good
   standing;

   5. The individual does not have a disqualifying criminal record as determined
   by the board in the Commonwealth in accordance with &#xA7; 54.1-204;

   6. No board in another state has imposed discipline on the licensee, except
   for discipline involving only a financial penalty and no harm to the health or
   economic well-being of the public; and

   7. The individual pays all applicable fees.

C. Except as provided in subsection D, the regulatory boards within the
Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation shall, upon application
by an individual, recognize work experience in another state as fulfillment of
qualifications for licensure or government certification in the Commonwealth if
the following conditions are met:

   1. The individual worked in another state that does not use a professional or
   occupational license or government certification to regulate a profession or
   occupation, but the Commonwealth uses a professional or occupational license
   or government certification to regulate a profession or occupation with a
   similar scope of practice, as determined by the board;

   2. The individual has worked in the profession or occupation for at least
   three years;

   3. The individual passes any examination required by the board of applicants
   for licensure or certification; and

   4. The individual satisfies the conditions outlined in subdivisions B 5, 6,
   and 7.

D. The Real Estate Appraiser Board, the Real Estate Board, the Board for Waste
Management Facility Operators, and the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works
Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals shall, upon application by an
individual, and without examination, immediately recognize the licenses or
certificates issued by a neighboring state as fulfillment of qualifications for
licensure in the Commonwealth if the following conditions are met:

   1. The individual holds a current and valid professional or occupational
   license or government certification in a neighboring state in a profession or
   occupation with a similar scope of practice, as determined by the board in the
   Commonwealth;

   2. There are no pending investigations or unresolved complaints against the
   individual, and the other state holds the individual in good standing;

   3. The individual does not have a disqualifying criminal record as determined
   by the board in accordance with &#xA7; 54.1-204; and

   4. No other state has imposed discipline on the licensee, except for
   discipline involving only a financial penalty and no harm to the health or
   economic well-being of the public.

E. The regulatory boards within the Department of Professional and Occupational
Regulation may require an individual seeking a professional or occupational
licensure or government certification pursuant to this section to pass a
jurisprudential examination specific to relevant state laws and administrative
rules that regulate such profession or occupation if such an examination is
required of other applicants for the same license or certification.

F. This section shall not apply to any professional services, as defined in
&#xA7; 2.2-4301.

HISTORY: 2023, cc. 2, 3; 2024, c. 157.