State Authorization & Professional Licensure Programs

States require that institutions of higher education obtain authorization before offering activities within their borders. The University of TN, Knoxville (UTK) operates in the state of Tennessee, and under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, commonly known as SARA. 

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 UTK 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.  

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, UTK 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.  

UTK 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 publishes and regularly updates a professional licensure directory which provides contact information for state licensing agencies in Counseling, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work and Teacher Education. 

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 UTK 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 thinking about your educational options. 

The disclosures below are organized by college 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: the status “has not been determined” is equivalent to “does not meet” since the requirements for licensure in those states has not been identified yet. 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 on the documents 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, Knoxville, 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 MyUTK (Banner Student Information System).