Frequently Asked Questions

A professional licensure program is an academic program designed to prepare students for a career that requires a state-issued license or certification, such as teaching, nursing, or other regulated professions. Licensure requirements are set by state licensing boards and may vary by state.

State authorization determines whether a college is legally permitted to offer instruction to students located in a particular state. This includes online courses, internships, clinical placements, and other required learning experiences.

Professional licensure determines whether completing a program meets a state's educational requirements to pursue a license in a regulated profession. Authorization to offer a program in a state does not guarantee licensure eligibility in that state.

Example:

A student lives in Tennessee but enrolls in a KCTCS program.

Authorization Question
Can KCTCS educate this student while they are located in Tennessee?

Licensure Question
When they graduate, does Tennessee accept the KCTCS curriculum for initial licensure?

Licensure disclosures are required when a student enrolls in a program that leads to professional licensure and the student is located outside Kentucky. Disclosures are based on student location, not on how courses are delivered.

A program does not need to be offered online or remotely to require licensure disclosures. If out-of-state students enroll in a licensure program—including students in border states or those participating in required out-of-state experiences—state-specific licensure disclosures are required.

Licensure disclosure requirements are not based on instructional format. A licensure program may be offered in person, online, or in a hybrid format and still require disclosures if students are located outside Kentucky.

However, institutions may establish internal delivery or enrollment policies to ensure compliance with authorization and licensure requirements.

Yes. For programs that lead to professional licensure, federal financial aid eligibility depends on the institution's ability to certify that the program meets applicable licensure requirements based on the student's location.

If a student is located in a state where the program does not meet licensure requirements, the institution may not be able to disburse federal Title IV financial aid for that enrollment without violating its Program Participation Agreement (34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)).

State-specific licensure information is available through the institution's licensure disclosures. Advisors can help students locate and interpret this information based on their program and location.

Federal regulations require colleges to:

• Determine where students are physically located when they are enrolled (34 CFR 600.9),
• Ensure licensure programs meet the educational requirements of applicable states (34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)), and
• Inform students when a program does not meet licensure requirements in a particular state (34 CFR 668.43(c)).

Because licensure requirements vary by state, a change in student location can affect licensure eligibility and enrollment options.

If a student moves to another state while enrolled, the institution must reassess:

• State authorization,
• Licensure eligibility, and
• Required disclosures.

Relocating may affect a student's ability to continue enrollment, pursue licensure in that state, or receive federal financial aid. Students who relocate or plan to relocate should contact their program or advisor promptly.

Students are responsible for informing the college when their physical location changes. The institution is responsible for reassessing authorization, licensure eligibility, and required disclosures once it becomes aware of a location change.

No. A program may be authorized to be offered in a state but still not meet that state's licensure requirements. Authorization and licensure are separate determinations made by different authorities.

No. KCTCS Dual Credit offerings are limited to students who are physically located in Kentucky. As a result, Dual Credit does not trigger out-of-state authorization or licensure disclosure requirements related to student location.

No. Enrollment in individual courses or general education coursework at KCTCS for transfer to another institution does not, by itself, constitute enrollment in a licensure program and does not trigger professional licensure disclosures.

Students who plan to transfer should consult their home institution's articulation agreements, program requirements, and licensure disclosures to understand how transfer coursework applies to degree completion and licensure eligibility. Licensure determinations are based on the program completed at the degree-granting institution.

Colleges and universities determine whether credit can be applied toward degree completion. Licensing boards separately determine whether education meets licensure requirements. As a result, a course or credit that satisfies graduation requirements may still not meet licensure standards if a licensing board requires:

• A minimum number of institutionally delivered credits,
• Specific clock or contact hours,
• Designated courses completed within an approved program, or
• Supervised instruction completed under board-approved conditions.

No. Competency-based education is a method of earning academic credit, but it does not change licensure requirements. If a program leads to professional licensure, the same state authorization, licensure eligibility, and disclosure requirements apply regardless of how credit is earned.

Licensing boards set their own rules for what education counts toward licensure. Many boards require that a minimum number of credits or hours be completed directly through an approved academic program, sometimes referred to as institutional, residency, or in-program credit. Because of these requirements, credit earned through competency-based assessment may not be accepted toward licensure in some states or professions.

Not necessarily. While competency-based education may reduce the number of courses required to complete a degree, licensing boards may still require a specific amount of education to be completed through an approved program. Students should not assume that this option will shorten licensure timelines.

No. Licensure disclosures are based on whether a program leads to professional licensure and where the student is located, not on how credit is earned. Programs that lead to licensure remain subject to authorization and disclosure requirements regardless of whether students earn credit through competency-based education.

No. Credit for prior learning is a method of earning academic credit, but it does not change licensure requirements. If a program leads to professional licensure, the same state authorization, licensure eligibility, and disclosure requirements apply regardless of how credit is earned.

Licensing boards set their own rules for what education counts toward licensure. Many boards require that a minimum number of credits or hours be completed directly through an approved academic program, sometimes referred to as institutional, residency, or in-program credit. Because of these requirements, credit earned through prior learning evaluation may not be accepted toward licensure in some states or professions.

Not necessarily. While credit for prior learning may reduce the number of courses required to complete a degree, licensing boards may still require a specific amount of education to be completed through an approved program. Students should not assume that this option will shorten licensure timelines.

No. Licensure disclosures are based on whether a program leads to professional licensure and where the student is located, not on how credit is earned. Programs that lead to licensure remain subject to authorization and disclosure requirements regardless of whether students earn credit through prior learning.

A program is identified as prelicensure if:

• The profession requires initial licensure by the state for legal practice; and
• The program satisfies the educational requirements established by the state licensing board for initial licensure.

Both conditions must be met.

• License: A state-issued legal authorization required to practice a regulated profession.
• Certification: A credential issued by a third-party organization demonstrating competency.
• Certificate: An academic award granted upon completion of a program.
• Credential: A general term that may include licenses, certifications, or certificates.

Only programs that satisfy the educational requirements for a state-issued legal authorization required for practice are identified as prelicensure.

It means that completion of the KCTCS program satisfies the educational requirements established in statute, regulation, or published licensing authority guidance for initial licensure in that state, without requiring additional prelicensure coursework or clinical education beyond the KCTCS curriculum.

No. "Meets" refers only to the educational component required for initial licensure. Graduates must still complete any additional licensure requirements such as examinations, background checks, application fees, or other administrative steps required by the state.

No. The determination applies only to pathways for initial licensure. It does not apply to endorsement, reciprocity, or interstate compact pathways, which may have different requirements.

No. Differences in examination requirements do not affect whether the program meets a state's educational requirements. Exams are considered separate licensure requirements.

No. Administrative requirements such as fingerprinting, background checks, application fees, or jurisprudence exams do not affect whether the program meets educational requirements.

If the state requires additional prelicensure coursework or clinical education beyond the KCTCS curriculum, the KCTCS program does not meet that state's educational requirements.

No. Post-graduation supervised experience is considered a licensure requirement but not an educational requirement. It does not affect whether the program meets a state's educational criteria.

Yes. If another state changes its educational requirements or curriculum changes, the determination may be updated to reflect those changes.

"Does Not Meet" is used when KCTCS has reviewed a state's educational requirements for initial licensure and determined that the program does not satisfy those requirements. "Has Not Made a Determination" is used when KCTCS has not reviewed or evaluated that state's educational requirements for initial licensure.