Businesses

Professional Corporation Licensure

North Carolina General Statute 55B requires all corporations incorporated after June 5, 1969, to qualify as a Professional Corporation. In order to qualify as a Professional Corporation the ownership of the company must meet N.C.G.S. 55B-6 and 55B-4(3), which requires at least 2/3 ownership by licensees and at least one North Carolina licensee for each profession that will be offered who is an officer, director and shareholder in the corporation. Up to 1/3 of the company may be owned by non-licensed employees. No company may be an owner of the Professional Corporation.

Application for Licensure as a Professional Corporation

If filing as a Domestic Professional Corporation, use Section A of the instructions. If filing as a Foreign Professional Corporation (all out-of-state entities), use Section B of the instructions.

Section A – Domestic Professional Corporate Applicants:

  1. Complete the Professional Corporate Application.
  2. Complete the North Carolina Secretary of State Form PC-05 (Articles of Incorporation – Professional Corporation) under Related Forms.
  3. Mail or email the Professional Corporate Application to the address on the application cover sheet or to firms@ncbels.org. Along with the application, provide a copy of Form PC-05 and the $100 application fee made payable to the NC Board of Examiners or provide a completed Credit Card Information Sheet attached to the application. Keep the original of Form PC-05 to file with the NC Secretary of State after the application is approved by this office.
  4. Once the NC Secretary of State files their paperwork and a copy is returned to the firm, it is required that a copy of that recorded paperwork be provided to the Board in order for a firm license to be issued. The Secretary of State paperwork is not a license to practice. The recorded paperwork may be mailed or emailed to firms@ncbels.org.
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Section B – Foreign Professional Corporate (out-of-state) Applicants:

  1. Complete the Professional Corporate Application.
  2. Complete the North Carolina Secretary of State Form PC-01 (Application for Certificate of Authority – Foreign Professional Corporation) under Related Forms. NOTE: Lines 6-8 of the form asks for a NC Registered Agent, although you do not have to have an office in NC, you must maintain a Registered Agent with the NC Address where civil correspondence, subpoenas, etc. can be delivered on behalf of your firm. There are several national agencies that offer this service.
  3. Mail or email the Professional Corporate Application to the address on the application cover sheet or to firms@ncbels.org. Along with the application, provide a copy Form PC-01 and the $100 application fee made payable to the NC Board of Examiners or provide a completed Credit Card Information Sheet attached to the application. Keep the original of Form PC-01 to file with the NC Secretary of State after the application is approved by this office. NOTE: See Number 4 for additional required documents.
  4. For Foreign (out-of-state) Professional Corporation Applicants Only – In addition to the above forms, you must provide a copy of your existing Articles of Incorporation and any amendments to present as well as a copy of a Certificate of Existence from the firm’s State of Incorporation that is less than 6 months old.
  5. Once the NC Secretary of State files their paperwork and a copy is returned to the firm, it is required that a copy of that recorded paperwork be provided to the Board in order for a firm license to be issued. The Secretary of State paperwork is not a license to practice. The recorded paperwork may be mailed or emailed to firms@ncbels.org.
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Related Forms