NCBON
On May 21, 2026, the Board of Nursing approved the following actions regarding Chapter 36 Board of Nursing Administrative Code (Rules):
A public hearing will be held Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 1:00 pm at the North Carolina Board of Nursing office located at 4516 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Persons may submit objections or public comment related to these rules by contacting:
Angela Ellis
Rulemaking Coordinator
NC Board of Nursing
PO Box 2129
Raleigh, NC 27602-2129
Public comment period ends on August 31, 2026.
Waiver of Enforcement (Adoption)
Reason for Proposed Amendment: As part of periodic review, NCBON has been reviewing Chapter 36 of the NC Administrative Code. Staff identified the need for a rule which will permit the Board to waive any of the rules under certain circumstances. Adopting a waiver rule aligns with other licensing boards and would be consistent with best practice to grant the Board the discretion to waive their own rule in the interest of carrying out the mission of public protection.
Definitions (Amendment)
Reason for Proposed Amendment: NCBON received a request to amend the faculty rule to increase access to clinical faculty in the rural areas of North Carolina. The proposed amendment seeks to expand nursing faculty eligibility throughout North Carolina by allowing qualified ADN-prepared registered nurses to serve as clinical faculty in ADN and LPN pre-licensure programs, addressing persistent faculty shortages especially in rural areas. In addition, the NCBON clarified the definition of “preceptor” based on amendments to .0318.
Faculty (Amendment)
Reason for Proposed Amendment: NCBON received a request to amend the faculty rule to increase access to clinical faculty in the rural areas of North Carolina. The proposed amendment seeks to expand nursing faculty eligibility throughout North Carolina by allowing qualified ADN-prepared registered nurses to serve as clinical faculty in ADN and LPN pre-licensure programs, addressing persistent faculty shortages especially in rural areas. In addition, the NCBON clarified the definition of “preceptor” in .0120 based on amendments to .0318.
Qualifications (Amendment)
Reason for Proposed Amendment: G.S. 90-171.56 gives the NCBON authority to “establish standards for faculty and applicant requirements for medication aide training and provide ongoing review and evaluation, and recommend changes, for faculty and medication aide training requirements to support safe medication administration and improve client, resident, and patient outcomes.” Based on this authority, the NCBON reviewed current rules regarding Medication Aide RN Instructor approval. In addition, the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) transitioned the current competency exam to the Medication Aide Competency Exam (MACE®). Proposed amendments to the rule reflect best practice that supports safe medication administration in nursing homes.
Medication Aide Training Requirements (Amendment)
Reason for Proposed Amendment: G.S. 90-171.56 gives the NCBON authority to “establish standards for faculty and applicant requirements for medication aide training and provide ongoing review and evaluation, and recommend changes, for faculty and medication aide training requirements to support safe medication administration and improve client, resident, and patient outcomes.” Based on this authority, the NCBON reviewed current rules regarding Medication Aide RN Instructor approval. In addition, the Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR) transitioned the current competency exam to the Medication Aide Competency Exam (MACE®). Proposed amendments to the rule reflect best practice that supports safe medication administration in nursing homes.
Midwifery
No rule changes are under consideration at this time.
Public Hearings are held at the North Carolina Board of Nursing office located at 4516 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607.
Persons may submit objections or public comment related to these rules by contacting:
Angela Ellis, Chief Administrative Officer/APA Coordinator
North Carolina Board of Nursing
P.O. Box 2129
Raleigh, NC 27602-2129
email : [email protected]
“Public comment” is defined by § 150B-21.3A(a)(5) as a written objection to all or part of a rule. Additionally, pursuant to § 150B-21.3A(c)(2), in order for the Rules Review Commission to determine whether the public comment has merit, the public comment must address the specific substance of the rule and address any of the standards of Commission review, as set forth in § 150B-21.9(a).
Procedure for Subjecting a Proposed Rule to Legislative Review: If an objection is not resolved prior to the adoption of the rule, a person may also submit written objections to the Rules Review Commission. If the Rules Review Commission receives written and signed objections in accordance with § 150B-21.3(b2) from 10 or more persons clearly requesting review by the legislature and the Rules Review Commission approves the rule, the rule will become effective as provided in § 150B-21.3(b1). The Commission will receive written objections until 5:00 p.m. on the day following the day the Commission approves the rule. The Commission will receive those objections by mail, delivery service, hand delivery, or facsimile transmission. If you have any further questions concerning the submission of objections to the Commission, call a Commission staff attorney at (919) 431-3000.