Professional Licensure
Find resources to help determine whether our programs meet educational requirements for licensure in other U.S. states and territories.
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Professional Licensure Overview
Professional licensure refers to an official process, usually administered at the state level, that is required by law for an individual to practice a specific profession. Licensure may require formal postsecondary education, passage of a licensure examination and/or completion of qualifying work experience.
All of the University of Louisville’s programs designed to lead to professional licensure meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kentucky. Federal regulations prohibit institutions from enrolling students in a program designed to lead to licensure unless the program meets educational requirements for licensure:
- In the state where the student is located at the time of initial enrollment in the program OR
- In the state where a student attests that they intend to seek employment.
Relocating to Another State
Prospective and current students should keep in mind that because licensing and authorization requirements vary by state, relocating during the course of a program to another state could impact whether a student meets eligibility requirements. Students should notify their program advisor and check authorization and licensure eligibility requirements before relocating to another state during the course of a program.
UofL Licensure Program Updates
The University of Louisville makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for programs is current; however, licensure requirements are always subject to change. Licensure information is reviewed and updated annually during the fall term. Changes in state requirements after the review period could impact the University of Louisville’s determination of whether the program meets educational requirements in a particular state.
Students should always check with their state licensure board to confirm licensure requirements. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, state-specific topical trainings, etc.
Alternate paths to earning a professional license may be available depending on your program of interest. More information about licensure options is available in our Pathways to Licensure infographic and our Professional Licensure video series.
Professional Licensure Video Series
UofL Licensure Program Information
Visit the licensure disclosures and determinations dashboard to determine whether our online programs meet educational requirements for licensure in other U.S. states and territories.
- Select the name of the program that leads to professional licensure
- Select the U.S. state (page 1 of dashboard) or territory (page 2 of dashboard) to view the specific licensure disclosure and determination
Don't See Your Program?
The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Accountancy program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any U.S. state or territory, since most U.S. states and territories require 150 credit hours for licensure as a CPA. Students who complete this program will be eligible to sit for the CPA examination in the State of Kentucky and may pursue CPA licensure after completing the additional credits required to reach the 150 credit hour minimum required to apply for licensure, but this program will not lead directly to licensure on its own.
The Undergraduate Certificate in Accounting is not designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in any U.S. state or territory, since most U.S. states and territories require 150 credit hours for licensure as a CPA. The nine courses (27 credit hours) that make up the certificate's curriculum provide sufficient accounting credit hours for eligibility to sit for the Kentucky CPA exam; however, a bachelor's degree and an additional 12 credit hours of business courses are also required.
The University of Louisville’s RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing online program is designed for registered nurses who have already earned an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a nursing diploma. The RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing online program is a post-licensure program and does not lead to any advanced type of professional certification or licensure in any U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction or location.
Please review the additional information provided in the State-Specific Restrictions or Requirements section of the State Authorization and Program Availability page. Some states do restrict access to nursing placements for out-of-state programs.
The online Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Learning, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education (IECE) program is designed to prepare early childcare professionals to deliver high-quality, effective and diverse education to young learners in Pre-K classrooms. This program does not lead to any type of professional certification or licensure as a teacher or educator in any U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction or location.
The online Master of Education (MEd) in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis program’s traditional option requires students to complete a course sequence that meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) coursework requirements for the BCBA Certification Exam. To be eligible for the BCBA exam, students must complete 2,000 hours of supervised field experience in addition to the required coursework. In the traditional option, students will complete the required supervised field experience hours on their own outside of the program.
It is important for prospective students to understand that they will not be eligible to sit for the BCBA Certification Exam until they have completed all requirements, including 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork. Because the supervised fieldwork hours are not completed during the program, the traditional option within the MEd in Applied Behavior Analysis at University of Louisville is not designed to prepare students for licensure immediately upon graduation in any U.S. state or other jurisdiction.
The online Master of Education in Teaching and Learning is designed primarily for Kentucky certified teachers who want to develop leadership skills that can impact students and influence peers. This program is not designed to lead to any advanced type of professional licensure in any U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction or location.
The Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership online program is a post-licensure program and does not lead to any advanced type of professional certification or licensure in any U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction or location.
Please review the additional information provided in the State-Specific Restrictions or Requirements section of the State Authorization and Program Availability page. Some states do restrict access to nursing placements for out-of-state programs.
The University of Louisville’s Doctor of Social Work online program is designed for social workers who have already earned a master's degree in social work. The Doctor of Social Work online program is a post-licensure program and does not lead to any advanced type of professional certification or licensure in any U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction or location.
Students in the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis complete a course sequence that meets the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) coursework requirements for the BCBA Certification Exam. However, the certificate does not include or require practicum or supervised fieldwork hours.
To be eligible for the BCBA exam, students must complete 2,000 hours of supervised field experience in addition to the required coursework. These hours must be arranged and completed independently, outside of the program, after earning the certificate. Candidates are strongly encouraged to review and follow the BCBA Fieldwork Standards.
Prospective students should understand that they will not be eligible to sit for the BCBA exam until all requirements are met, including the 2,000 supervised fieldwork hours. Because the program does not provide these hours, the Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Louisville is not designed to prepare students for licensure immediately upon program completion in any U.S. state or other jurisdiction.
The University of Louisville’s online graduate certificate in Classroom Reading (P-12) is not designed to lead to initial licensure in any state and is intended to prepare certified Kentucky teachers to earn an endorsement to their license. Although some or all of the program's coursework may count toward stand-alone licenses or endorsements in other states, this program is not an approved endorsement program in states other than Kentucky. Out-of-state students who intend to pursue licensure or an endorsement should check with their state licensing board before making a decision about whether this program will meet their needs. For Kentucky certified teachers, successful completion of the certificate leads to a teaching endorsement.
The University of Louisville’s online Elementary Mathematics Specialist (P-5) graduate certificate is not designed to lead to initial licensure in any state and is intended to prepare certified Kentucky teachers to earn an endorsement to their license. Although some or all of the program's coursework may count toward stand-alone licenses or endorsements in other states, this program is not an approved endorsement program in states other than Kentucky. Out-of-state students who intend to pursue licensure or an endorsement should check with their state licensing board before making a decision about whether this program will meet their needs. For Kentucky certified teachers, successful completion of the certificate leads to a teaching endorsement.
The University of Louisville’s online graduate certificate in Instructional Computer Technology is not designed to lead to initial licensure in any state and is intended to prepare certified Kentucky teachers to earn an endorsement to their license. Although some or all of the program's coursework may count toward stand-alone licenses or endorsements in other states, this program is not an approved endorsement program in states other than Kentucky. Out-of-state students who intend to pursue licensure or an endorsement should check with their state licensing board before making a decision about whether this program will meet their needs. For Kentucky certified teachers, successful completion of the certificate leads to a teaching endorsement.
The University of Louisville’s online graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), educator track, is not designed to lead to initial licensure in any state and is intended to prepare certified Kentucky teachers to earn an endorsement to their license. Although some or all of the program's coursework may count toward stand-alone licenses or endorsements in other states, this program is not an approved endorsement program in states other than Kentucky. Out-of-state students who intend to pursue licensure or an endorsement should check with their state licensing board before making a decision about whether this program will meet their needs. For Kentucky certified teachers, successful completion of the certificate leads to a teaching endorsement.
The University of Louisville’s online graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), non-educator track, is designed for bachelor’s degree holders who do not have a background in education but want to teach English language learners abroad and in other scenarios where a teaching license is not required. The graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) online program does not lead to any type of professional certification or licensure in any U.S. state, territory, jurisdiction or location.