State Authorization & Licensure
Professional Licensure Disclosures
Each state has unique authorization requirements for those professions that require you to obtain licensure or certification beyond your degree in order to hold a position in that field. UND must review each state’s laws to determine which programs, upon completion, would allow a UND graduate to be eligible for the licensure exam by determining whether our program meets the educational requirements for that license.
New as of July 1, 2024
Federal Regulations prohibit UND from enrolling a distance student into a program where our program curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure in the student’s home state. Should a student wish to enroll in that program they will be required to complete an Attestation Form where the student agrees to seek their licensure or certification in a selected state where the UND program does meet the educational requirements for licensure.
Example: A distance student with a home state of Alabama seeks admission into our online Master of Counseling Addiction track program. After submitting their application, the student will receive a licensure disclosure letter indicating our program does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in their home state and prompts the students to follow a link to complete our Attestation Form. The Attestation Form provides an opportunity for the student to indicate their intent to seek licensure in a state where our program does meet the educational requirements for licensure. The student is able to review the form and, should they wish to proceed, select a state in which they intend to seek licensure upon program completion and where our program meets the educational requirements for license or certification. The student application for the program can then be processed.
On-Campus Programs
Out-of-state students seeking admission into on-campus UND programs will not be required to complete the Attestation Form as all of our on-campus licensure/certification leading programs meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in North Dakota. On-campus program applicants may or may not receive a letter indicating we do not meet licensure requirements in their home state, as required by federal regulation.
Questions
If you have any questions or if you would like assistance in determining if your selected program is authorized in a particular state, please email UND.stateauthorization@UND.edu.
Additional Licensure/Certification Program Information
If you are planning to seek a professional license or certification in a state other than North Dakota, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency to determine all of the educational and other requirements for licensure or certification, before enrolling in a UND program. Additionally, licensing requirements vary by state and relocating could impact whether you will meet eligibility requirements for licensure. Check with the state licensing agency where you desire licensure before relocating to ensure that you will be eligible for licensure or reciprocity and please notify your Program Advisor of your relocation and licensure intent in the new state.
Other requirements in a particular state may include, but are not limited to, additional post-graduation examinations or experience, application and licensing fees, criminal background checks, reference checks, fingerprint submissions, etc. To inquire as to other requirements or ask any other questions regarding licensure in a particular state, please contact the licensing board in the state by clicking on the link to the agency in the disclosures listed at the bottom of this page. Please note, the successful completion of a program at UND does not guarantee licensure, certification, or employment in an occupation. UND shall not be held liable if a student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.
Licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although UND will attempt to confirm the licensure requirements on an annual basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the state board to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice.
UND currently offers the following accounting degree programs: Bachelor of Accountancy
(BAcc) and Master of Accountancy (MAcc). These programs are designed to help prepare
students for a variety of careers in accounting and may serve as an important step
in the pathway to CPA, or other, certification.
Graduates of the BAcc, a 120-credit degree program, who seek licensure will need to meet additional educational requirements imposed by their state. However,
credits and courses earned in this program will count toward fulfilling licensing
requirements in most states. Similarly, the MAcc degree does not specifically lead
to licensure, but the degree and/or specific courses taken will count toward licensing
requirements in most states.
If you are planning to seek licensure, you are strongly encouraged to seek information
and guidance regarding licensure requirements from the appropriate licensing board
in the state where you plan practice and work with your faculty and advisors to make
sure you take appropriate courses.
UND Engineering programs are designed to help prepare students for various careers in engineering and may serve as an important step in the pathway for licensure. Students enrolled in, and planning on graduating from, one of the College of Engineering & Mines’ ABET-accredited majors are invited to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, a multiple-choice, knowledge-based exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).
The FE Exam covers subject matter taught in a typical baccalaureate engineering program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Students may choose from computer-based exams in chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and other disciplines. Professional licensing in every U.S. state and territory requires, as the first step, that a student successfully pass the FE exam.
After passing the FE exam, in order to receive licensure in the field students must obtain at least four years of experience deemed acceptable to their licensing board and successfully pass a Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. The PE exams go beyond testing academic knowledge and require knowledge gained in engineering practice. If you are planning to seek professional licensure or certification in an engineering-related field, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state in which you are located or plan to locate to in order to seek information and guidance regarding additional licensure or certification requirements.
UND works to provide global access to its online degree and certificate programs. However, it is a student’s responsibility to understand requirements related to whether an online degree or certificate will be recognized in a country other than the United States. If you’re considering enrolling in an online program that leads to a professional license, contact the appropriate professional licensing board in your country of residence or the country where you intend to work in order to determine whether an online degree or certificate from UND will be recognized.
State Authorization
State authorization is the federal, state, and professional licensing board regulations that impact online and on-ground education offered across state lines. State authorization ensures that a UND degree will be recognized and that a student will be eligible to sit for licensure in states other than North Dakota. UND is currently authorized to offer programs in some states, depending on the program, but UND does not have state authorization for all programs in all states.
The University of North Dakota has been approved by the State of North Dakota and the North Dakota University System to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is voluntary agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offerings of postsecondary distance education. Visit NC-SARA for more information.
Adverse Actions Disclosure
As of June 1, 2024, the University of North Dakota online education programs have no previous, current or pending adverse actions initiated by any state agencies, the Higher Learning Commission, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, or by NC-SARA, for the past five years.
Complaint Procedures for Distance Learning Students
Students residing outside of North Dakota while attending UND must file all complaints through the standard procedure for resolution of student grievances and complaints. If the issue cannot be resolved through the institutional process, the complaint may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the North Dakota NC-SARA Portal Agency contact . The SARA portal entity in the state where the student is located will be notified that the complaint was received and may assist as needed. Grade appeals and student conduct appeals are not allowed under NC-SARA. The resolution of the complaint by the SARA portal entity in the institution's home state is final.
NC-SARA maintains a directory of SARA State Portal Entities.