About the Board

Rule Change Tracker

Use this resource to follow changes to the NCMB’s administrative rules. The table below displays proposed rules and proposed amendments to existing rules.

Rules typically go through numerous revisions before they are finally approved by the NC Rules Review Commission (RRC). The NCMB will periodically update the text posted to reflect revisions. The final text of the rule will be posted pending approval by RRC.

REVIEW/APPROVAL PROCESS:

  • The first step in the rules process is publication of the text of the proposed rule in the NC Register (Status = Published)
  • The next step is a public hearing to receive written or oral comments on the proposed rule (Status = Public Hearing)
  • Once comments are received and reviewed, the NCMB may make revisions to the rule based on feedback. The rule is then submitted to the NC Rules Review Commission for final approval (Status = Submitted to RRC)
  • If the rule is approved by RRC, the status will be updated to indicate “Approved.”

    COMMENTS: If you would like to comment on any of the proposed rules or amendments, you may send written comments via regular mail to Rules Coordinator, NC Medical Board, PO Box 20007, Raleigh, NC 27619 or you may .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) your comments.

Recent Rule Changes
Rule Name Status Explanation and Reason
21 NCAC 32M .0107  Continuing Education (CE) (Amendment) Public Hearing
2/13/23
10:00 AM

The proposed amendment would require nurse practitioners to obtain 50 contact hours of continuing education every two years instead of every year. In addition, the rule would be amended to include a provision that a nurse practitioner who maintains a current national certification with a national credentialing body will be deemed in compliance with his or her CE requirements. A nurse practitioner must continue to provide documentation of all continuing education for the previous five calendar years upon the request of either board.

The proposed amendments track the current requirements for physician assistants, who by Board rule 21 NCAC 32S .0216, must complete 50 hours of Category I CME every two years. Also, per this same rule, a physician assistant who possesses a current certification with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants is deemed to be in compliance with the Board’s CE requirements.

The hearing will be held at NCMB's offices at 3127 Smoketree Ct, Raleigh, NC 27604.
REPEAL 21 NCAC 32B .1708; 32M .0119  COVID-19 Drug Preservation Rule Public Hearing
1/4/23
10:00 AM

At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, the North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services and the State Health Director proposed that the Boards of Pharmacy and Nursing and the Medical Board adopt a COVID-19 Drug Preservation Rule. At that time, there were many drugs with a suspected potential to treat COVID-19. The rule was drafted to ensure that a supply of those drugs also remained available for patients who were prescribed those drugs for other conditions. On August 15, 2022, the declared state of emergency ended in North Carolina. With that change, the North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services
and the State Health Director have agreed that there is no current need for this rule.

The hearing will be held at the offices of the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, 6015 Farrington Road, Suite 201, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517
21 NCAC 32A .0115  PETITION FOR RULE-MAKING Public Hearing
8/30/22
10:00 AM

To establish a rule for petitioning the NC Medical Board for rule making.

The public hearing will be held remotely via teleconference 1-919-518-9840; Conference ID: 957 499 419# making.