Federal Requirements

Effective July 1, 2024, institutions must certify that programs that prepare students for occupations requiring programmatic accreditation or State licensure satisfy applicable educational requirements for a license in the state where the Institution is Located AND where the Student is Located at time of initial enrollment or the State where the student attests they intend to seek employment. (34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)(ii))

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 a list of States where the institution has determined, including as part of the institution's obligation under 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)(ii), that the program does and does not meet such requirement. (Effective July 1, 2024, institutions are no longer required to publicly provide a list of states where the institution has not made a determination about meeting state educational requirements for those states.)

A direct disclosure to students is required by 34 CFR 668.43(c) if the program leading to professional licensure or certification falls in one of the following (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.

In accordance with 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), Texas A&M University must certify that programs leading to licensure or certification satisfy applicable state educational requirements in the State of Texas and where students enrolled in distance education are located at the initial time of enrollment or where the student attests they intend to seek employment. Therefore, we cannot enroll students in distance education programs from a state where we have determined that the curriculum does not meet professional licensure/certification requirements or where we have yet to make a determination.
 

NC-SARA Requirements

Texas A&M University is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (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