Professional Licensure Disclosure Requirements

MSU Denver offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the State of Colorado. States other than Colorado vary in what professions they require to be licensed and how licensure functions. Some states require an individual to graduate from an approved program. Others require an individual to meet the certification requirements of a national organization. A specific amount of training can also be required as well as passage of an exam based on a state requisite exam score. Often, licensed professionals must complete continuing education on an annual basis (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 2018).

Licensing requirements vary by state/territory and relocating could impact whether you will meet eligibility requirements for licensure. For any questions about relocation eligibility, contact the agency where you desire licensure before relocating to ensure that you will be eligible for licensure or reciprocity.

Carefully review the educational prerequisites for your intended state/territory of licensure and whether our program meets those requirements for licensure. Use the agency contact information provided below to clarify or confirm any requirements.

If questions remain after reviewing the information provided by the respective state licensing agency, contact your advisor or the program or department representative, and our faculty and staff will do their best to connect you with the information you need.

For a list of our academic programs traditionally leading to licensure, the contact information for state licensing boards, and MSU Denver’s determinations if the program curriculum meets or does not meet the requirements for licensure, please view our detailed disclosure document here:

Professional Licensure Disclosures by College and School

MSU Denver regularly reviews and updates this information. The date of last review is indicated at the bottom of this webpage.

Current and prospective students will be notified directly via email should it be determined they are enrolled in academic programs that do not meet the educational requirements for licensure in the state in which they are located at the time they receive their education. For this reason, it is important that MSU Denver students update their location should it change while completing your education. Students can notify the university of a change in location using Self-Service Banner in the Student Hub and should regularly review their location information for accuracy.

We encourage all students to become familiar with the state licensing board where you intend to seek licensure and practice to confirm any requirements and to make sure you understand and consider the implications of the additional requirements prior to enrolling in a program intended to lead to professional licensure. If questions remain after reviewing the information provided below, contact your program advisor. While the University can provide initial guidance, you should continually check with the state/territory where you intend to seek licensure to confirm all licensing/certification requirements.

MSU Denver is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than Colorado.  NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing requirements.  As a result, licensing requirements in Colorado may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state. The State of Colorado does not have reciprocity agreements for some professional licenses.

For example, MSU Denver’s Clinical Behavioral Health, M.S. program satisfies the educational requirements for professional licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado, but due to a lack of reciprocity agreements across state lines, additional steps will be required of you to achieve the equivalent credentials and authority to practice should you move outside the State of Colorado.

Students planning to pursue licensure within the United States and/or its territories, but outside the State of Colorado, should determine their state’s current examination and licensure as well as any additional requirements they may need to fulfill. Students living and/or working outside the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at MSU Denver will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment. Relocating during the course of a program to another state may impact if the student can remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements and/or continue to receive financial aid funding. Prior to considering relocation, please contact your program to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.

Students should review the specific academic requirements for the program in which they are enrolling, including those related to practicum/internship as well as pre-qualifications for licensure such as the need for a criminal background check. We highly recommend that students contact the applicable licensure board(s) in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning an academic program that results in licensure and prior to beginning any internship/practicum. Many licensure boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license. Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time. Changes in requirements can impact the program’s ability to meet educational requirements for licensure. It is the responsibility of the student completing the licensure program to check with the licensing board(s) in their state of residence or in the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements.

Note: For the purpose of disclosure requirements, a licensure program is defined as a program that is intended to lead to, or could be reasonably assumed to lead to, professional licensure. Those granted state licensure are typically granted legal authority to practice a profession within a designated scope of practice.

The successful completion of a program at MSU Denver does not guarantee licensure, certification, or employment in an occupation. MSU Denver 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. As licensing requirements are often evolving, MSU Denver does not guarantee nor confirm that any program that fulfill Colorado licensure requirements will satisfy the professional licensure boards standards/requirements in other states or territories. If you are a student applying to/admitted to a program that leads to professional licensure and intend to practice outside of the State of Colorado, please contact the appropriate licensing agency in your state of residence before beginning a course of study.