NC S451

Reduces continuing education requirements by 50% for 10 licensing boards that set requirements by rule, including Landscape Architects, Soil Scientists, Engineers and Surveyors, Geologists, Athletic Trainers, Locksmiths, Environmental Health Specialists, Pesticide Board, Appraisal Board, and Interpreter/Transliterator Licensing Board

Amends statutes for 16 additional licensing boards to either cut annual CE hours in half or allow boards to double the compliance period while maintaining the same total hours (e.g., 5 hours annually or 10 hours biennially)

Affected boards include General Contractors, Landscape Contractors, Irrigation Contractors, Auctioneers, Real Estate, Alarm Systems, Barbers/Electrolysis, Cosmetic Art, Foresters, CPAs, Electrical Contractors, Well Contractors, Code Officials, Home Inspectors, and Manufactured Housing

Requires boards to provide 90-day advance notice to licensees when selecting between annual or biennial compliance options, and suspends reductions if they would invalidate accreditation, Interstate Compacts, or federal requirements

Effective October 1, 2025, and applies to license applications and renewals on or after that date