State Licensure

The Distance Learning (DL) Compliance Team oversees the University of Kentucky’s (UK's) inventory of state licensure programs, conducts regulatory research, manages associated data and publications, and monitors compliance with professional licensure disclosure requirements. In collaboration with academic programs and colleges, the DL Compliance Team conducts licensure research to determine whether UK's state licensure programs meet the educational requirements set by state or territory licensing agencies.

Typically, 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. However, there are some circumstances that may lead to a different conclusion. Please see UK’s Licensure Program Identification Policy for details.

For a list of UK’s state licensure programs, please refer to the Program State Licensure Map.

UK’s Distance Education PPA (DE-PPA) Licensure Programs

At UK, degree programs leading to state licensure, that include one or more distance education courses allowing students to study outside of Kentucky during their initial term, are designated as DE-PPA Licensure Programs. The DL Compliance Team oversees the identification of DE-PPA Licensure Programs. To view UK’s DE-PPA Licensure Program inventory, refer to the UK DE-PPA Licensure Program Inventory report.

Per Federal Regulation 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), DE-PPA Licensure Programs are not eligible for Title IV funds in states where the program curriculum either does not meet, or UK cannot determine it meets the educational requirements for licensure set by the relevant state licensing agencies, and therefore, cannot enroll new students located in those states. However, the regulation offers an alternative pathway allowing programs to remain eligible for Title IV funds and to enroll such students if students attest that they intend to seek employment in a state where the program meets educational requirements for licensure (or in a state that does not regulate the profession). Applicants to DE-PPA Licensure Programs are screened during the application process, and if applicable, are provided the opportunity to complete the attestation. To identify the states affected for each DE-PPA Licensure Program, please refer to the Program State Licensure Map.

The DL Compliance Team maintains the Program State Licensure Map to indicate whether each state licensure program meets the educational requirements for licensure in each U.S. state/territory. However, updates are made only after an annual review and may not reflect recent changes to the educational requirements for state licensure. Programs should always advise students to check with their state licensure board directly to verify current licensure requirements.

We also offer an accessible spreadsheet of state licensure programs.

At UK, the DL Compliance Team conducts licensure research for all state licensure programs by collaborating with each program and college. The process is as follows:

1. The designated researcher from the DL Compliance Team collects detailed curriculum information from the state licensure program.
2. Annually, the researcher conducts state-by-state licensure and/or state authorization research as needed.
3. Upon completing the research, the researcher prepares a detailed compliance report for the program to review and approve.
4. The relevant program contact(s) and college leadership review the findings, provide feedback, approve the compliance report, and return the signed report to the DL Compliance Team.
5. The DL Compliance Team documents the signed report, updates the Program State Licensure Map, State Authorization Map, and Internal OOS Field Placement Map, as applicable, to reflect the new results.

Public Licensure Disclosures

The DL Compliance Team maintains the Program State Licensure Map to indicate whether each state licensure program meets the educational requirements for licensure in each U.S. state/territory. However, updates are made only after an annual review and may not reflect recent changes to the educational requirements for state licensure. Programs should always advise students to check with their state licensure board directly to verify current licensure requirements.

Direct Licensure Disclosures

1. The DL Compliance Team oversees the educational licensure requirements for state licensure programs and sends direct disclosure notices to applicants who apply through UK’s application system (Slate). For state licensure programs using external application systems, program staff must coordinate with the DL Compliance Team to ensure that appropriate direct disclosures are provided.
2. The DL Compliance Team also monitors the educational licensure requirements for current students enrolled in state licensure programs and provides direct disclosure notices to these students accordingly.

In accordance with Federal Regulation 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v), a link directing students to the public licensure disclosure must be prominently displayed and easily accessible on the state licensure program’s webpage. If you need assistance with sample language, please reach out to our team, and we will provide support.