Part 1: AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

1. U.S. Department of Education (ED) federal regulations 34 CFR 668.43 and [34 CFR 668.14] require NMSU, as a federally funded university and participant under Title IV HEA, to make public and readily available institutional and programmatic information, including the university’s determination regarding its ability to fulfill state licensure or certification educational requirements for Relevant Academic Programs.
2. Develop policy and procedures to determine and notify the students regarding the program's alignment with state licensure regulations. Establish a communication framework to implement the requirements of the regulation to provide direct and general communication notifying Prospective, Admitted and Enrolled Students of Relevant Academic Programs if the university is unable to meet state licensure or certification educational requirements for employment in an occupation in the state in which they are currently located. Ensure compliance with NC-SARA requirements.

Part 2: KEY POLICY STATEMENT(S)

NMSU strives to stay current with state licensure and certification requirements for Relevant Academic Programs in various occupations, by state. State agencies maintain the authority to determine if an academic program satisfies certification or licensure criteria, therefore NMSU is unable to guarantee the attainment of any license or certificate for individuals.

1. In accordance with U.S. Department of Education (ED) (34 CFR § 668.43) and 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)(ii), NMSU will make public and readily available to Prospective, Admitted, and Enrolled Students, information regarding whether each Relevant Academic Program is able to fulfill the applicable educational requirements for a specific occupation professional licensure or certification required for employment in each state, irrespective of the program’s mode of delivery, in-person or online. The Academic Licensure and Certification website provides a list by state identifying whether the applicable educational requirements for a specific Relevant Academic Program meets, does not meet, or a determination is not feasible, for licensure in each occupation.
2. When the Relevant Academic Program does not meet licensure or certification requirements in a particular state, individual disclosures are made directly to students based on the student’s location and in a timely manner via email or U.S. Postal Service as specified below.
   1. Prospective Student applying to an NMSU University Relevant Academic Program is notified prior to enrollment and prior to the Prospective Student making a financial commitment to the Clear guidance is included in the notification regarding potential challenges and alternative pathways to licensure or certification.
   2. Admitted Student notification includes the requirement to complete an attestation as part of the application process, prior to making a financial commitment to NMSU.
   3. Enrolled Students are informed within 14 calendar days of the University’s determination of its inability to meet requirements with information about the change in licensure requirements and potential next steps for the student. A change in status occurs when a current student:
      1. Changes their state location as identified in Banner to a state where the Relevant Academic Program does not meet licensure requirements, or
      2. Changes their major to a Relevant Academic Program.
3. When the educational requirements for a specific state have not been determined by NMSU, an individual notification will be provided to the student based on their location and status.
4. Student Location at Initial Enrollment: For distance education students, the location at initial enrollment is the state identified during the application process. For on-campus students, the location is the state where classes are physically offered.
5. Student Attestation: A formal notification by the student to NMSU certifying that they intend to seek licensure and employment in a state other than their location at initial enrollment.
6. NC-SARA Compliance: NMSU will adhere to NC-SARA requirements, including data reporting and physical presence considerations.

Part 3: KEY PROCESS ELEMENTS

1. State Location: As required by federal regulations, the University will determine the location of students who are enrolled in a Relevant Academic Program.
   1. State location for each Prospective and Admitted Student is determined based on the address provided on the program Prospective and Admitted Students with an application address outside of the United States will not have a State Location.
   2. State location for each Enrolled Student is based on the student’s permanent address as recorded in NMSU’s Enterprise System (Banner). Enrolled Students are responsible for updating their address information through NMSU’s online portal (Canvas). Students must update their location at the beginning of each term.
2. Disclosures: Professional licensure and certification disclosures for each Relevant Academic Program are listed by each program and the state determination as to whether NMSU’s curriculum meets, does not meet, or no determination has been made by the state regarding educational requirements for licensure or certification.
3. Notification: The University procedures used to periodically determine the location of all Prospective, Admitted, and Enrolled Students are outlined at the Academic Licensure and Certification website.
4. Change of address process:
   1. Current students must follow a documented process to report a change of address and notify the institution of any changes in academic program requirements due to relocating to a different
   2. A uniform application of these policies and procedures is ensured regarding student location for all students, including those enrolled in face-to-face programs.

Part 4: DEFINITIONS

1. Admitted Student: a person who has been accepted to a New Mexico State University Relevant Academic Program and is eligible to make a financial commitment to Financial commitment excludes any applicable application fee. Financial commitment is indicated by payment of a non- refundable enrollment deposit or is indicated when the individual completes registration for classes.
2. Attestation: required for any undergraduate or graduate student enrolling in a Relevant Academic Program at NMSU which does not meet educational requirements for a specific professional licensure or certification that is required for employment in an occupation. The student must attest that the Relevant Academic Program at New Mexico State University does not meet licensure requirements for their state location and plans to pursue licensure in a state that NMSU’s Relevant Academic Program does not meet licensure requirements, regardless.
3. Enrolled Student: includes any person registered or eligible to register in a New Mexico State University academic course for the current or upcoming academic term.
4. Prospective Student: a person who has applied to an NMSU Relevant Academic Program and has not made a financial commitment to NMSU. A financial commitment excludes any applicable application fee.
5. Relevant Academic Program: an undergraduate or graduate educational degree program at New Mexico State University designed to meet the educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation or is advertised as such.
6. State Location: the United States’ state of the permanent address provided by the Prospective, Admitted, or Enrolled student and as listed in NMSU’s student information system (Banner).

Supplemental and Related Information

Contact NMSU Global for additional information not covered in this policy and for corresponding procedures.

Email: licensure@nmsu.edu Telephone: (575) 646-1561

Cross References:

Administrative Procedures: N/A

Applicable Federal Laws/Regulations:

• U.S. Department of Education (ED) federal regulations 34 CFR 668.43
• U.S. Department of Education (ED) federal regulations 34 CFR 668.14
• National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
• WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET)
• Higher Education Licensure Pros LLC (HELP)
• Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC)

• New Mexico Higher Education NMHED

Revision History:

11/12/2025  Approved by President

Next Cyclic Review:

11/12/2028