Professional Licensure

Description 

In addition to state program approvals, for an institution to participate in Title IV Federal Financial Aid programs, institutions must comply with federal regulations related to their programs that lead to a professional license required for employment in an occupation.

Federal regulations require the following:

• The institution must certify that the program satisfies state educational requirements in the state where the institution is located and where the distance education students are located at the time of enrollment in the program.
• The institution must provide public and individualized student disclosures regarding  programs leading to a professional license or certification related to the states where the students are located.

Action to be taken

• Establish a Location Policy – Develop an institutional policy to determine students’ physical locations.
• Research State Requirements – Identify educational requirements in each state where students are enrolled.
• Assess Curriculum Compliance – Compare the program curriculum against state requirements to ensure alignment.
• Decide Service Areas – Determine in which states the institution will offer programs based on compliance.
• Provide Disclosures – Issue required public and individualized disclosures regarding licensure eligibility for students in each state.

Effective Date

• July 1, 2020 - revised July 1, 2024 - Public and Individualized Disclosures
• July 1, 2024 – Certification of Programs Leading to a License or Certification

Resources

• 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) and 34 CFR 668.43(c)
• 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)(ii)
• Programs Leading to a License or Certification
• Professional Licensure Handbook 2nd edition  (2024)
• Ready or Not, Here It Comes! New Regulations When Offering Programs Leading to a License Effective July 1!; WCET Frontiers