Professional Licensure & Certification Requirements
Federal Requirements
Effective July 1, 2020, new US Department of Education regulations, 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and 34 CFR 668.43 (c) require disclosures by institutions regarding educational requirements for programs leading to professional licensure or certification, regardless of modality. 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) requires an institution to disclose whether programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet each state's educational requirements. Specifically, the regulation requires the following:
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A list of all states for which the program's curriculum meets state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification,
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A list of all states for which the program's curriculum does not meet state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, and
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A list of all states for which the institution has not made a determination of whether the curriculum meets educational requirements.
A direct disclosure to the individual student is required by 34 CFR 668.43(c) if the program leading to professional licensure or certification falls in one of the latter two categories above (the curriculum does not meet educational requirements, or the institution has not made a determination) for the state in which a student is located. In those two situations, the institution must inform the student directly of that status. This direct notification (typically by email or letter) must occur prior to the students' enrollment in the program for prospective students and for current students upon receipt of information from the student that his or her location has changed to another State.
NC-SARA Requirements
Texas A&M University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is an agreement between member U.S. states, territories, and districts, which allows our institution to offer distance programs and on the ground courses within member state borders. Recent changes to the NC-SARA manual (Section 5.2) concerning professional licensure programs have changed to align with the new federal regulations. NC-SARA participating institutions must provide licensing board contact information to the students or applicants when unable to make a determination.
To this extent, programs are to provide the state licensing board contact information where the student is located.
Department of Veterans Affairs Newly Released Regulations
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released final regulations regarding Professional Licensure or Certification to be effective February 17, 2023.
Modifications of Approval Requirements for Courses Designed to Prepare Individuals for Licensure or Certification are provided in the Federal Register in reference to the modified requirements of 38 CFR 21.4253(d), 21.4254(c)(15), and 38 CFR 21.4259(e).
The following links provide important information regarding University Procedures:
Procedures for Professional Licensure and Certification
Texas A&M University Professional Licensure or Certification Programs
State Licensing Board Directory