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Frequently Asked Questions
Has this information already been made public?
This information is available through public sources such as state laws, regulations, rules, policies, commission websites, application materials, and other third party sources (such as licensing bodies). There is no one place where everything is stored together and allows institutions to review and compare programs.
Some professional organizations, professional licensing board committees, federal agencies, or other bodies compile specific information related to licensing. However, these sources do not include all educational requirements for licensing in all 59 US states and territories that educational institutions need to be aware of.
Maybe my staff and teachers already know how to do that?
University faculty are familiar with researching professional licensing requirements, but few do this work for all US states and territories in various specialties. Finding and interpreting all parts of a requirement requires a certain level of expertise.
Do I have to do this?
Current U.S. Department of Education (ED) regulations were drafted without a complete understanding of how much effort would be required to research and understand all professional education licensing requirements across all U.S. states and territories. Many will agree with what has been said. The agency's hourly effort and costs were greatly underestimated. However, this is applicable law that educational institutions must comply with or risk disqualifying students from participating in Title IV Federal Financial Assistance programs.
Additionally, ED plans to release changes to the certification process for Title IV program in 2023. The language proposed by the ED during the 2022 rulemaking negotiations includes a requirement that educational institutions “ensure" that they meet all educational requirements and improved disclosure requirements for licensing.
How can you use The Reference?
Step 1: Email us at samoneal@professionallicensure.com
Step 2: We will send you a User Agreement and answer your questions
Step 3: Return:
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signed user agreement
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Annual fee payment (credit card, ACH, check)
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A list of each user's name, institution/organizational role, and email address
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Each user receives a welcome email with unique credentials Step 4: Start accessing The Reference.
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What does subscription include?
All subscription levels include access to all license types at The Reference (over 50 currently available, with more to come). Each license type includes information about education and other licensing requirements. Degree types, specific certifications, accreditation, specific courses, exams, additional training or experience. In addition, The Reference contains an educational resource to determine if a detailed course or curriculum comparison is required in that state/territory to determine if the program "passes" or "fails" the licensing requirements. It also contains guidance for institutions.
What professional licensing types are included?
Over 50 license types are currently available and more are being added. P-12 instructors, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, certified professional counselors, occupational therapists, certified public accountants, psychologists, and more.
What if someone is hired to do this job full-time or is employed full-time?
The Reference is a great resource for any employee focused on this task. The Reference lists the educational requirements for various types of professional licenses in all US states/territories. Someone at your institution should review this information and compare it to licensing-related programs. For states that need detailed comparisons of undergraduate performance to determine whether requirements are "met" or "not met," this could require significant work. In addition, each college/university must have processes for making and maintaining the public and direct disclosures required by federal law. It takes time and effort to create a complete process and coordinate with various departments such as IT, admissions and faculty. We encourage any institution to consider dedicating a role, or a majority of roles, to this effort.
How can you use The Reference?
In addition to meeting the needs of professional licensing research for Title IV compliance and State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) disclosure, The Reference is a useful tool for faculty, compliance coordinators and student advisors to guide students and alumni in professional licensing and on-the-job employment, as well as new program development.
Contact us for more information or to become a subscriber of The Reference:
Eliminate the time, complexity and expense of finding the professional license information you need to meet federal and State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) disclosure requirements. The Reference is THE solution that meets your compliance needs and supports your students.