Professional Licensure

State authorization refers to federal, state, and professional licensing board regulations that impact online education offered across state lines. Compliance with these regulation ensures that a degree from BYU-Idaho will be recognized. However, the requirements for licensure vary from state to state.

BYU-Idaho offers some educational programs that are designed to meet the requirements for occupationally required professional licenses or certifications, such as teacher education or nursing. These programs are not available to fully online students but are only offered as on-campus programs. Although BYU-Idaho offers some fully online programs, none of those occupations require professional licensure or certification.

All of our educational programs are designed to meet the educational prerequisites for licensure in Idaho. For other U.S. states and territories, this may or may not be the case.

Students’ Responsibility

We highly recommend that students contact the applicable licensure board(s) 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 have additional requirements beyond 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 the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements. BYU-Idaho shall not be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction. 

Relocation

When you are taking courses online, your “location” is significant. Students who begin an academic program while residing in Idaho and then move to a different state to finish any remaining courses in an online format may have negative consequences affecting the eligibility for certain forms of financial aid and/or in the inability to complete the academic program. Students should ensure their current physical address and contact information is on file with BYU-Idaho by logging into my.byui.edu and navigating to the profile tab. 

International Students

Prior to enrolling in any program at BYU-Idaho, international students considering an academic program that leads to a professional license should first confirm with the appropriate professional licensing board in their country of residence or the country where they intend to work as to whether a BYU-Idaho degree will be recognized when seeking licensure. It is a student’s responsibility to understand requirements related to whether a particular degree from BYU-Idaho will be recognized in a country other than the United States.