Professional licensure disclosure is the public information an institution must provide about whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure in each state where it enrolls students.
How it works
The institution identifies programs that prepare students for licensed occupations, researches the educational requirements in each state (or uses a reliable third-party compilation), and publishes the results. When a determination changes, disclosures are updated. Students located in states where the program does not meet requirements must receive direct notice.
Example: an online teacher-preparation program meets licensure requirements in 40 states, does not meet them in 8, and has not made a determination for 2. The institution posts the list on its website and emails the direct notice to any newly enrolled student living in one of the 8 states where requirements are not met.
How it differs
Programmatic accreditation is a voluntary or profession-driven quality review; licensure disclosure is a consumer-information requirement tied to state law. State authorization grants permission to enroll students; it does not guarantee that graduates will qualify for a professional license. SARA participation does not waive the disclosure duty.
Common errors
Posting a blanket statement that the program “meets requirements in all states” without verification. Failing to update disclosures when state rules change. Providing the disclosure only after a student has enrolled and paid.
References
- 1. 34 CFR 668.43 public disclosuresRequired licensure disclosures
- 2. Institutional disclosure practices for online programsState-by-state determinations
Professional licensure disclosure is the public information an institution must provide about whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure in each state where it enrolls students.