State Authorization & Professional Licensure Programs
States require that institutions of higher education obtain authorization before offering
activities within their borders.
The University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) operates in the state of Tennessee and participates
in the
State Authorization
Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)
.
Participation in SARA & professional licensure limitations
Participation in SARA does not provide exemption from state professional licensing requirements.
Certain professions require
that individuals obtain licensure or certification beyond their degree to be eligible for
employment. Programs at UTM that
lead to professional licensure meet Tennessee’s licensing requirements; however, these may not
be recognized as sufficient
to obtain a license in another state.
Required disclosures
In accordance with U.S. Federal Regulations 34 CFR § 668.43 (2019 Rules), 34 CFR § 668.14(b)(32) (2023 Rules), and as a SARA participating institution, UTM provides
public and direct disclosures
to students regarding its professional licensure programs and the states in which those programs
do and do not meet the
educational requirements for licensure.
UTM strives to provide accurate and current information about educational requirements for
professional licensure or
certification. However, states differ in which professions require licensure and how licensure
functions. State requirements
can change at the discretion of state licensing boards and may include professional
examinations, application fees, criminal
background checks, and more, in addition to educational prerequisites.
NC-SARA professional licensure directory
NC-SARA publishes and regularly updates a professional licensure directory that provides contact
information for state
licensing agencies in Counseling, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work, and Teacher Education.
Visit the NC-SARA directory.
Regulations for Online Programs Leading to Licensure
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulations prohibit institutions from enrolling a
student in an online/distance
education program leading to licensure or certification if the program’s curriculum does not
satisfy the educational
requirements for obtaining licensure in the state where the student is located at the time of
enrollment.
While all online programs at UTM leading to professional licensure meet Tennessee’s licensing
requirements, the same may not
be true for other states. Your eligibility to sit for a licensing exam after completing a
program may impact your ability to
find employment. It’s important to be aware of this when considering your educational options.
About these disclosures
The disclosures below are organized by department and/or program and do not guarantee that any
state licensure or
certification entity will approve or deny an application. Furthermore, they do not account for
changes in state laws or
regulations that may affect a licensure application after the disclosures have been made. If you
are a student located
outside of Tennessee, it is strongly recommended that you contact your state’s licensing office
or professional agency
for the most up-to-date information and to review specific requirements imposed by the state.
For On-Campus Programs
If you are a prospective or current student in an on-campus program, information about
individual states is for awareness
purposes and does not prohibit you from enrolling. On-campus programs leading to licensure are
delivered to students who
are physically located in Tennessee.
All on-campus licensure programs meet the educational
requirements for licensure in
the state of Tennessee.
For questions about licensure, please reach out to the academic
department. Contact information
can be found in the documents linked below.
Determining Student Location
For purposes of federal regulations and state authorization requirements, including
CFR 600.9, CFR 668.14, and
CFR 668.43, all student applicants to on-campus (non-distance education/KPV) programs at
the University of Tennessee,
Martin, including out-of-state applicants, will be considered located in the state of
Tennessee at the time of initial
enrollment.
The location at the time of initial enrollment for student applicants to distance
education/fully online programs will be
determined by the current/permanent address entered on their application to the university.
All other university policies that determine Tennessee residency for purposes of tuition
assessment will not be superseded
by this procedure.
Reporting a Change in Location
Distance education students who need to report a change in location after enrollment should
update their address in
MyUTM Portal.
For additional assistance pertaining to licensure, contact Erica Bell.
Interstate Licensure Reciprocity
Since professional licensure is generally regulated at the state level, it is usually necessary to obtain
a separate license for each State in which one wishes to practice. In some instances, reciprocity
agreements are in place to make it easier for someone who already holds a license in one state to obtain
a license in another State. However, the degree to which such reciprocity exists can vary widely
depending on the profession and the states involved. State licensing boards can provide detailed
information on the existence of any reciprocity agreements they have with other States.
To learn more, please review the licensure information provided for the program of interest.
Disclaimer
The hyperlinks above lead to websites created and maintained by other public and private organizations.
These links are provided for the user’s convenience. The University of Tennessee at Martin does not
control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information.
Furthermore, the inclusion of these hyperlinks is not intended to reflect their importance or to endorse
the organizations sponsoring the websites. The inclusion of these hyperlinks is also not intended to
endorse the views expressed, or the products or services offered, on the websites. Please note that
privacy policies on these websites may differ from the University of Tennessee at Martin’s.
