Professional Licensure

What is professional licensure?

Many students attend colleges and universities to earn a degree that prepares them for a specific field: to become a doctor, nurse, teacher, psychologist, engineer, or one of the many other occupations regulated by state and/or other government entities. States and other government entities have established standards of practice for the occupations or professions they have chosen to regulate, and they provide legal permission to practice those professions only to individuals who meet those standards. This is called professional licensure: professions for which people need to meet certain criteria in order to practice in that field (Source: NC-SARA Professional Licensure).

What are professional licensures by State?

For licensing board information and contacts by state, please consult the NC-SARA Professional Licensure Directory. NC-SARA has worked with SARA State Portal Entities (SPEs) to develop a directory for the five most highly enrolled licensure programs as reported by their participating institutions. These include: Counseling, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work and Teacher Education. Note: The NC-SARA Professional Licensure Directory does NOT include professional licensure requirements.

What is a professional licensure disclosure?

A professional licensure disclosure is a requirement by the U.S. Department of Education for all institutions of higher education to communicate publicly and directly to prospective and current students about:

  1. academic programs that will or will not fulfill educational requirements for a specific professional licensure that is required for employment in that field; and
  2. academic programs that meet or do not meet the education requirements for licensure for each state and U.S. territory regardless of the delivery mode of the program.

The regulations are published in the Code of Federal Regulations, CFR §668.43, section (a)(5)(v) and section (b).

BGSU has done its due diligence in determining if the following programs meet the academic requirements of licensure in every state and territory. Note: Updates to this list are to be expected in an ongoing fashion. As states can change regulations regularly, it will be important for students to check with state licensure boards to see if there are any changes in requirements.  

Accounting - National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

No professional licensure determination has been made.

Architecture - National Council of Architectural Registration Boards

Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states.

Bowling Green State University’s Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program is for students who intend to become licensed architects. The two-year professional Master of Architecture degree builds on the four-year pre-professional B.S. in Architecture degree currently in operation—or its equivalent from other institutions.

Athletic Training - Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer

No professional licensure determination has been made.

Aviation - Federal Aviation Administration

Flight Technology & Operations - Airline Transport Pilot
Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states.

Institutions Authorized to Certify its Graduates for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with Reduced Aeronautical Experience:
Graduates of an institution of higher education that have received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization to certify graduates may be eligible to apply for a restricted privileges airline transport pilot (R-ATP) certificate. The total flight time requirements for a restricted privileges ATP Certificate based on a degree with an aviation major are found in Federal Aviation Regulation 61.160.
• 1,000 hours for a graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree with an aviation major and meets the remaining requirements of 61.160(b);
• 1,250 hours for a graduate who holds an associate’s degree with an aviation major and meets the remaining requirements of 61.160(c); and
• 1,250 hours for a graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree with aviation major and meets the remaining requirements of 61.160(d).
• Once an institution of higher education is issued its Letter of Authorization (LOA), the FAA will enter the institution of higher education on the list below, found at: http://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/atp/media/Institutional_Authority_List.pdf

Counseling - National Board of Certified Counselors
  • Clinical Mental Health Counseling - American Counseling Association
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for Ohio. No professional licensure determination for all other states.
  • School of Counseling and Special Education - Mild/Moderate and Moderate to Intensive K–12
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for Ohio. No professional licensure determination for all other states.
  • School of Counseling and Special Education - Transition to Work Endorsement
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for Ohio. No professional licensure determination for all other states.
  • School of Counseling and Special Education - American School Counselor Association
  • Fulfills professional licensure requirements for Ohio. No professional licensure determination for all other states.
Criminal Justice
  • BGSUs Criminal Justice program is not designed to fulfill any educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in criminal justice. Any sort of professional criminal justice licensure and/or certification in this field is most commonly granted through the completion of certified training academies (police) or criminal justice agencies themselves rather than institutions of higher education. BGSU's criminal Justice program does not offer any professional licensure or certification through coursework.
Diagnostic Medical Sonography - American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography - National Licensure ARDMS
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states.
Dietetics/Nutrition - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Dietetics - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all states except Arizona and Michigan.

Graduates who successfully complete the 4-year ACEND-accredited undergraduate didactic dietetics program at Bowling Green State University, which leads to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics, are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (also called a Dietetic Internship) after graduation. Currently, getting accepted into a dietetic internship is a very competitive process with a higher ratio of graduating students to internship sites. Graduates of the undergraduate dietetics program will want to consider opportunities to gain a master’s degree in order to be eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN by the year 2024. Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Once all requirements are met to become an RDN, a graduate can be eligible for licensure in states that require licensure. All U.S. states and territories with licensure and certification laws accept the RD/RDN credential for state licensure and certification purposes.

  • Dietetic Internship - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all states except Arizona and Michigan.

The BGSU Internship Program in Nutrition and Dietetics provides a pathway that allows you to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Upon successful completion of 1,000 hours of supervised practice and graduate classes, which will enhance your knowledge base and critical thinking skills, you will receive a Dietetic Internship (DI) Verification Statement. This establishes your eligibility to sit for the national Registration Exam administered by the Commission of Dietetics Registration. Once you pass the exam, you are considered an RDN and are eligible to apply for licensure in states that require it. All U.S. states and territories with licensure and certification laws accept the RD/RDN credential for state licensure and certification purposes. For the most current licensure changes or updates, students should consult the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)'s website. 

Education - National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
Engineering - National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
  • Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology - Professional Engineer (PE)
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states. This program is an ABET-ETAC accredited program that prepares graduates for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Professionals with several years (varies from state to state) of relevant experience, and who have passed the FE exam, are qualified for the Professional Engineer (PE) license.
  • Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology - Professional Engineer (PE)
    This program is an ABET-ETAC accredited program that prepares graduates for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Professionals with several years (varies from state to state) of relevant experience, and who have passed the FE exam, are qualified for the Professional Engineer (PE) license. Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology program at BGSU does not lead to professional licensure.
  • Mechatronics Engineering Technology - Professional Engineer (PE)
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states. This program is an ABET-ETAC accredited program that prepares graduates for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Professionals with several years (varies from state to state) of relevant experience, and who have passed the FE exam, are qualified for the Professional Engineer (PE) license.
  • Quality Systems - Professional Engineer (PE)
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states. This program is an ABET-ETAC accredited program that prepares graduates for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Professionals with several years (varies from state to state) of relevant experience, and who have passed the FE exam, are qualified for the Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Geology - National Association of State Boards of Geology

No professional licensure determination has been made. Ohio does not have a Geology licensure. 

Gerontology - National Association for Professional Gerontologists

No professional licensure determination has been made.

Medical Technology/Laboratory Science - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification

Medical Laboratory Sciences - Medical Laboratory Scientist
Fulfills professional licensure requirements in the following states and territories: California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS) need to be board certified at most clinical sites; rarely will they hire someone not certified. Licensure is required for a few states, but not nationwide or in Ohio. BGSU students take their boards through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)’s Board of Certification (BOC).

Nursing - National Council of State Boards of Nursing

BSN graduates are eligible for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories.

Occupational Therapy - National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

No professional licensure determination has been made.

Physical Education Health Education - National Health Education Standards and Ohio Academic Content for Physical Education

The PEHE program prepares students for professional licensure so upon graduation students are eligible for their teaching license in both Physical Education and Health Education. Currently the licensure certification involves completion of the following external professional assessments:

1. Teacher candidates are required to achieve acceptable levels of academic content knowledge in the Ohio Assessment for Educators tests in Physical Education and Health Education. These tests are prerequisites to the Student Teaching Internship.

2. During the Student Teaching Internship Teacher Candidates complete the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) which is a nationally scored performance assessment of student teaching performance.

Physical Therapy - Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy

School of Physical Therapy - Physical Therapy License
Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states.

All states require that students obtain a doctorate in physical therapy from an accredited university. Each student will still need to apply to the state board of PT to take the national licensure exam and receive a license in their state.

Psychology - Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards

BGSU's B.A./B.S. programs in Psychology do not meet requirements for professional licensure in Psychology, which requires a doctoral degree in Ohio (and all states). The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program contains all of the elements needed for licensing in Ohio (as well as most other states) and can be found on the program's licensing eligibility webpage.

Public Health - National Board of Public Health Examiners

No professional licensure determination has been made.

Radiologic Technology - American Registry of Radiologic Technologists

Radiologic Technology - ARRT Radiologic Technologist license
Fulfills professional licensure requirements for Ohio. No professional licensure determination for all other states.

Respiratory Care Technology - National Board for Respiratory Care and American Association for Respiratory Care
  • Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care Technology - State Licensure
    Fulfills professional licensure requirements for all 50 states. Professional licensure requires the completion of the Associate degree, not the Bachelor's. The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care is a degree completion program which is not required for licensure. 
Social Work - Association of Social Work Boards

Students who graduate from the MSW are eligible in all 50 states to apply for licensure as a professional social worker. Students who graduate from the BSSW program are eligible for licensure in any state that licenses social workers at the undergraduate level (not all do). They still have other requirements for the license, but the educational requirements are met.

Speech Language Pathology - American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Communication Sciences & Disorders - Ohio License & National Certification for Speech Language Pathology
Fulfills professional licensure requirements for Ohio. No professional licensure determination for all other states.

Updated: 06/05/2023 12:04PM