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Professional Licensure Disclosures

Â鶹ÊÓƵ University offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the State of Tennessee. States vary in what professions they require to be licensed and how licensure is acquired. Some states require an individual to graduate from an accredited program. Others require individuals to obtain additional coursework, additional fieldwork, background checks, passage of additional state licensing exams, additional fees, or other requirements.

Accreditation

Â鶹ÊÓƵ University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a regional accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, visit Â鶹ÊÓƵ University accreditation website.

State Authorization

State Authorization refers to federal, state, and professional licensing board regulations that impact online education offered across state lines. Compliance with these regulations ensures that a degree from Â鶹ÊÓƵ University will be recognized. However, the requirements for licensure vary from state to state. Â鶹ÊÓƵ is a member of the (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than Tennessee. NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in Tennessee may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state.

Professional Licensure/Certification

Under SARA regulations, certain disclosures are required for academic programs leading to professional licensure regardless of the modality they are offered. At Â鶹ÊÓƵ, these professional academic programs are designed to, and may only, fulfill the educational prerequisites for licensure only in Tennessee. This means that, when a student graduates from a licensure program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, he or she has the minimum educational qualifications to apply for Tennessee licensure. For other U.S. states and territories, this may or may not be the case, as educational requirements vary from state to state.

Relocation

Relocating while in the course of a program to another state may impact if the student can remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements and/or continue to receive financial aid funding. Prior to considering relocation, please contact your program advisor to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.

International Students

Prior to enrolling in any program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University, prospective students living and/or working outside of the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment, as to certain types of employment or for advanced/specialized educational programs.

Student Attestations

Many professions and certifications are governed by state and professional regulations. These regulations often dictate specific educational requirements for professional licensure or certification. For this reason, some of Â鶹ÊÓƵ University’s programs that lead to professional licensure and certification may not meet the educational requirements of all states and territories. Â鶹ÊÓƵ University is committed to transparency to ensure that students are informed about which programs align with educational standards and requirements of each state so students can make an informed decision.

Professional Licensure Disclosure Policy

In accordance with federal requirements, and as a participating institution, Â鶹ÊÓƵ University will provide public and direct Professional Licensure Disclosure Statements as set forth in this policy.

Professional Licensure Disclosure Statements are defined as announcements/notifications by the University that provide information publicly or, when indicated, by directly notifying students whether a specific academic program aligns with professional licensure education requirements for the state in which a prospective student resides or a currently enrolled student is located.

Policy: If a student is registered for a program in a licensure field, the student will receive notification prior to the first day of courses if the program does not lead to licensure in their location. If registration occurs after the first day of the term, the student will receive notification within 14 days. Furthermore, prospective students who have indicated interest in a licensure field will be notified prior to enrollment if the University’s program does not lead to licensure in their state of residence or location.

Academic Program Director/Coordinator Responsibilities

  • Academic program directors in areas that offer programs leading to professional licensure or certification are responsible for determining whether their programs meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in states where their students are located. Program Directors are also responsible for confirming the accuracy of their programs’ licensure information publicized on the University’s Consumer Information website.
  • Students will be notified directly if the academic program director determines that the University’s program does not meet professional education requirements where the student is located.
  • Each academic program director is responsible for ensuring that the University transmits the required direct Professional Licensure Disclosure Statements in a timely manner. This disclosure statement can be communicated via email.

Student Location

For purposes of this policy, student location is determined to be the state in which the student is located while engaged in Â鶹ÊÓƵ University educational program. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the program director if the student’s location changes during enrollment in the program to ensure authorization and licensure eligibility requirements are met.

Definitions

  • Current Students: Students who are currently enrolled in a Â鶹ÊÓƵ University educational program.
  • Prospective Students: Students who have applied for admission to a Â鶹ÊÓƵ University educational program but who have not yet enrolled.
  • Professional Licensure Program: A degree program that can lead to professional licensure or certification and ensures that a professional meets certain industry requirements in terms of knowledge and experience. The professional license/certification is a way to acknowledge the expertise of professionals and recognize their abilities in a particular field.
  • Residence: The state in which the student has legal residence.
  • Location: The state in which the student is located while participating in a Â鶹ÊÓƵ University educational program.
  • Time of Enrollment: The student’s enrollment into any Â鶹ÊÓƵ University program and not the time of the student’s initial application to the institution.
  • Relocation During the Course of a Program: Licensing and authorization requirements can vary by state, therefore any relocation by prospective and current students can impact their ability to continue the course, meet the licensure eligibility requirements of that state, and/or receive financial aid funding. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the University and the program director if the student’s location changes during enrollment in the program to ensure authorization and licensure eligibility requirements are met.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Programs Customarily Leading to Licensure or Certification

Accounting Education Engineering Nursing Pharmacy Social Work

Student Attestations for Professional Licensure Programs

Many professions and certifications are governed by state and professional regulations. These regulations often dictate specific educational requirements for professional licensure or certification. For this reason, some of Â鶹ÊÓƵ University’s programs that lead to professional licensure and certification may not meet the educational requirements of all states and territories. Â鶹ÊÓƵ University is committed to transparency to ensure that students are informed about which programs align with educational standards and requirements of each state so students can make an informed decision.

Why Must I Complete an Attestation?

Federal regulation, 34 CFR § 668.14(b)(32)(i) and (ii), requires all programs offered by institutions of higher education that prepare students for occupations requiring programmatic accreditation or state licensure to meet those requirements in the state where the institution is located. Moreover, if students are enrolled in distance education programs, the program must meet the requirements for licensure or certification in the state where the student is located at the time of initial enrollment or in the state that a student attests that he or she intends to seek licensure/employment. The attestation serves as a crucial tool to ensure that students engage in the decision-making process with full awareness and consent.

The attestation requires students enrolled in distance education programs leading to a professional license to:

  1. Disclose their location at the time of initial enrollment and their future plans for employment.
  2. Acknowledge that they have been informed by Â鶹ÊÓƵ University that the program for which they intend to enroll is not designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state where they are located.
  3. Attest that the student intends to seek employment in a state that meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification.
  4. Confirm that Â鶹ÊÓƵ has provided program advising and alternative options and resources related to their pursuit of professional licensure or state certification.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ University’s attestation process was created to ensure that students are fully informed about how the University’s professional licensure and certification programs align with the educational standards of a given U.S. state or territory.

Notification and Student Attestation Process

The information below specifies the process and procedures to be followed regarding enrollment in distance education and obtaining student attestations from distance education students for Â鶹ÊÓƵ University’s professional licensure programs that do not meet the educational requirements for the state or territory where a student is located.

Step 1: Notification

At the time of acceptance to a professional licensure program, the student is notified in writing whether the professional licensure program in which they intend to enroll meets the educational requirements for licensure in their home state.

Step 2: Advisement and Registration

If the student resides in a state where their chosen program does not meet educational requirements for licensure in that state, their advisor informs them that they are ineligible to enroll in online classes. If a student has already registered for the first term, the student will be withdrawn from all courses.

Step 3: Attestation

If an ineligible student intends to seek licensure and employment in a different state from where they are located and for which their program meets licensing requirements, they may submit a .

The attestation must achieve the following:

  1. Clearly disclose the student’s plans for professional licensure upon graduation from the University.
  2. Identify a specific state in which the student’s program meets licensing requirements and the student intends to seek licensure upon graduation.

Attestations will be reviewed initially by the program recruiter, if applicable, and again by the program coordinator and/or program director. Students who submit attestations that achieve all the criteria listed above will become eligible to enroll in online classes for their first term in the program. All submitted attestations will be stored following the appropriate records management protocols.

Step 4: Location determination and enrollment

Prior to the start of the semester, ineligible students enrolled in online classes who have not yet submitted attestations will receive notice that they will be dropped from online classes.