Policy & Procedures

The following criteria are based on all relevant evidence (federal regulation 668.14 (b)(32) and 34 CFR 668.43(c), NC-SARA, SAN Guidance, and the spirit of consumer protection, etc.)

1. When a program is designed or advertised to prepare students for professional licensure or certification regulated by Kentucky law, and the curriculum meets the educational requirements set by the state licensing agency, it should be designated as a state licensure program. 
2. In situations where Kentucky does not regulate the profession,
   1. If the program is designed or advertised to prepare students for professional licensure or certification regulated by another U.S. state, and the curriculum meets the educational requirements established by the relevant state licensing agency, it should be designated as a state licensure program. 
   2. If a program is not designed or advertised to lead to professional licensure or certification, however, the program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in any other U.S. states, the program may be designated as a licensure program at the program’s discretion.
   3. If a program is designed or advertised to prepare students for national certification rather than state-level professional licensure, it will not be designated as a state licensure program.
3. If a program’s curriculum does not meet the educational requirements established by the Kentucky state licensing agency, it must not be designated as a state licensure program. Such programs must not advertise that it leads to a state-level professional licensure.
4. Only programs that lead to state-level initial licensure will be designated as state licensure programs. Programs that lead to post-licensure or advanced licensure, and require applicants to already hold the initial level of the same type of licensure, should not be designated as "state licensure programs" for the purposes of federal regulation monitoring. 

This policy defines terms and strategies to ensure compliance with the Financial Responsibility, Administrative Capability, Certification Procedures, Ability To Benefit regulations [34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)]. 

Regulation Summary

To be eligible for Title IV, HEA program funds, the University of Kentucky must certify that any program that is designed or advertised to prepare students for state-level professional license, mandated by law for individuals to practice in regulated professions, must meet educational requirements in Kentucky AND in the states where distance education students are located. New entrants applying to a Distance Education PPA licensure program with a first term location of study in a state where the program “does not meet” or “cannot be determined” cannot enroll in the selected program unless they attest that they plan to work in another state where the program meets licensure requirements. 

Policy

New Entrants: Only individuals who submit applications to the Distance Education PPA licensure programs on or after July 1, 2024, will be identified as “New Entrants” for the purpose of 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32).   

Distance Education PPA Licensure Programs: Degree programs that lead to a state-level professional license, as mandated by law to practice in regulated professions, and that include one or more distance education courses enabling students to reside outside of Kentucky during their initial term of study. For new entrants who submit applications to these programs, their initial term location of study is determined by their response to the 'location of study for first term' question in the application.  

Non-Distance Education PPA Licensure Programs: Degree programs that lead to a state-level professional license, as mandated by law to practice in regulated professions, and that do not offer one or more distance education courses enabling students to reside in a state other than Kentucky during their initial term of study. For individuals who submit applications to these programs, their initial term location of study is defined as “Kentucky.” 

The University Level Distance Learning Standards (ULDL Standards) summarize the university’s distance learning (DL) course requirements and addresses responsibilities for ensuring these requirements are met.