Student Attestations for Professional Licensure Programs
Many professions and certifications are governed by state or territorial regulations. These regulations often dictate specific educational requirements for professional licensure or certification. For this reason, some of the University of Nevada, Reno's programs that lead to professional licensure and certification may not meet the educational requirements of all states and territories.
What is the purpose of an attestation?
If a student is located in a state where their chosen professional licensure program does not meet educational requirements for licensure at the time of the student’s initial enrollment in the program, federal regulation § 668.14(b)(32) prohibits the student from being enrolled in the program. However, the student may proceed to enroll in the program if they make a statement (or attestation) that they intend to seek licensure and employment in a specific state where the program does meet licensing requirements. The attestation serves as a crucial tool to ensure that students engage in the decision-making process with full awareness and consent.
The attestation requires students to:
- Describe their intentions and plans for professional licensure upon graduation from the University of Nevada, Reno, and outline educational goals and future plans for employment.
- Acknowledge that they have been informed by the University that the program for which they intend to enroll is not designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state where they are located.
- Attest to seek employment in a specific state for which the program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification.
- Confirm that the University has provided program advising and alternative options and resources related to their pursuit of professional licensure or certification.
The University is committed to complying with federal regulations and demonstrating transparency. The University has implemented a robust student attestation process to ensure that students are fully informed about how the University's professional licensure programs align with the educational standards of a state or territory, empowering them to make informed decisions about their education and future career paths.
Notification and student attestation process
The information below specifies the process and procedures to be followed regarding enrollment in distance education and obtaining student attestations from distance education students for the University of Nevada, Reno’s professional licensure programs that do not meet the educational requirements for the state or territory where a student is located.
Step 1: Notification
At the time of acceptance or change of major to a professional licensure program, the student is notified in writing whether the professional licensure program in which they intend to enroll meets the educational requirements for licensure in their home state.
Step 2: Advisement and registration
If the student is located in a state where their program does not meet educational requirements for licensure, their advisor informs them that they are ineligible to enroll in online classes during their first term in the program.
- Ineligible students registered through advanced registration are not enrolled in online classes.
- Ineligible students registering for themselves should refrain from registering for online classes.
Step 3: Attestation
If an ineligible student intends to seek employment in a different state from where they are located and for which their program meets licensing requirements, they may submit a Student Attestation for Professional Licensure Program Enrollment form.
- Students can access the Student Attestation form by talking with their academic advisor.
- The student’s academic advisor will determine if making an attestation is appropriate for the student’s circumstance.
The attestation must achieve the following:
- Clearly disclose the student’s plans for professional licensure upon graduation from the University.
- Identify a specific state in which the student’s program meets licensing requirements and the student intends to seek licensure.
Attestations will be reviewed initially by the student’s academic advisor and again by Admissions & Records. Students who submit attestations that achieve all of the criteria listed above will become eligible to enroll in online classes for their first term in the program. All submitted attestations will be stored following the appropriate records management protocols.
Step 4: Location determination and enrollment
Prior to the start of the semester, students’ schedules will be reviewed and locations determined. Ineligible students enrolled in online classes who have not yet submitted attestations will receive notice that they will be dropped from online classes and advised to enroll in alternative classes.
About 2 weeks prior to financial aid disbursement, Admissions & Records will remove any remaining ineligible students from online classes.