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:
- Complete the Professional Corporation Application.
- Complete the North Carolina Secretary of State Form PC-05 (Articles of Incorporation – Professional Corporation) under Related Forms.
- Mail or email the Professional Corporation Application to the address on the application cover sheet or to firms@ncbels.org. Upon receipt of the application, a secure link will be emailed to you to pay the non-refundable $100 application fee. Along with the application, provide a copy of Form PC-05. Keep the original of Form PC-05 to file with the NC Secretary of State after the application is approved by this office. If paying by check, make it payable to the NC Board of Examiners.
- 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.
Section B – Foreign Professional Corporate (out-of-state) Applicants:
- Complete the Professional Corporation Application.
- 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.
- Mail or email the Professional Corporation Application to the address on the application cover sheet or to firms@ncbels.org. Upon receipt of the application, a secure link will be emailed to you to pay the non-refundable $100 application fee.. Along with the application, provide a copy Form PC-01. Keep the original of Form PC-01 to file with the NC Secretary of State after the application is approved by this office. If paying by check, make it payable to the NC Board of Examiners. NOTE: See Number 4 for additional required documents.
- 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.
- 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.