Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025

Easier West Virginia licensing for relocating workers

Beginning July 1, 2025, West Virginia boards must recognize qualifying out-of-state work licenses, registrations, and certificates without another professional exam. This covers people establishing West Virginia residence and spouses accompanying active-duty service members to permanent assignments at West Virginia military installations. Applicants need a current credential in the same field and practice level, as determined by the West Virginia board. Their credentials must be in good standing in every state where they are licensed. The other state must verify that applicants met its education and any work experience or clinical supervision requirements. Applicants must also have passed that state's required written or clinical exams. They cannot have a credential revoked or surrendered while under investigation for unprofessional conduct in any state or country. Other discipline can be accepted only when its cause was corrected and the matter fully resolved. Applicants pay applicable West Virginia fees and cannot have a criminal history the board finds disqualifying. Medical, podiatric, and osteopathic applicants need approved graduate medical training and prior licensure to practice without clinical supervision. Dental applicants must have completed a clinical hand-skills exam. Boards can still require an exam on West Virginia law, and existing criminal background-check requirements remain in place. Military-spouse reciprocity agreements cannot accept applicants below substantially equivalent West Virginia standards, assessed case by case. Licenses are valid only in West Virginia, carry no interstate compact privileges, and remain subject to state rules and board oversight. Boards can assess applicants outside interstate compacts under this law. The pathway excludes law licenses and federally overseen boards with less restrictive licensing requirements. Boards must prominently post a notice about this pathway on applications and websites. Starting July 1, 2025, boards must track applications and report to the Commerce Secretary and both legislative Government Organization committees. Reports are due by the 15th day after each quarter ends.