The bill establishes the Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025 in West Virginia, mandating that all boards of examination or registration issue occupational or professional licenses, registrations, or certificates without examination to individuals who either establish residency in the state or are married to active-duty military members stationed in the state. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid license in another state, meet specific criteria regarding their professional standing, and comply with various requirements, including not having a disqualifying criminal history. The bill also allows boards to require an examination on state laws for certain applicants and emphasizes that licenses issued under this act are valid only within West Virginia.

Additionally, the bill outlines that it does not apply to legal practice licenses, certain federally overseen boards, or criminal history checks mandated by boards. It requires all boards to provide clear information about the licensing process on their applications and websites and mandates the tracking and reporting of application data to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce and legislative committees quarterly starting July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 30-1-27
Committee Substitute: 30-1-27
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 30-1-27