Professional Licensure Programs

Academic Affairs

Salve Regina University offers several programs leading to professional licensure within the state of Rhode Island.

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) allows Salve to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than Rhode Island.

NC-SARA membership does not grant reciprocity or exempt Salve from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in Rhode Island may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state.

States vary in what professions they require to be licensed and how licensure functions. Some states require an individual to graduate from an approved program, while others require an individual to meet the certification requirements of a national organization. A specific amount of training and/or passage of an examination may also be required. Often, licensed professionals must complete continuing education on an annual basis.

Student Responsibility

Students should review the specific requirements for their academic program, including those related to practicum/internships as well as pre-qualifications for licensure. Salve highly recommends that students contact the applicable licensure board(s) in their home state 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 practicum/internship.

Many licensure boards have additional requirements beyond successful degree completion, and state laws, regulations and policies may change at any time. Changes in requirements can impact a program's ability to meet educational requirements for licensure. It is the student's responsibility to check with the licensing board(s) in their home state or in the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements. Salve shall not be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.

International Students

Prior to enrolling in any program at Salve, prospective students living and/or working outside the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment, as to certain types of employment or for advanced/specialized educational programs.

Licensing Disclosures

Academic programs that lead to licensure have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in Rhode Island and prepare students to apply for licensure exams in Rhode Island. The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Students who intend to return or move to any state other than Rhode Island need to review the disclosures pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board. These boards make the ultimate decision whether an individual is eligible to sit for licensure based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits their application for licensure.

Programs Leading to Licensure

The disclosures listed here indicate one of three statuses for each state: The program meets the requirements for licensure, the program does not meet the requirements for licensure or the program requirements are undetermined because Salve has not determined whether the program leads to licensure in a state. For these purposes, states include the District of Columbia and U.S. protectorates.

Students who wish to enroll in an online program listed here and who reside in a state where the program does not meet or is undetermined must complete the student attestation of location form as part of the application process.

Department of Counseling, Leadership and Expressive Arts

Department of Education

Department of Nursing

Department of Psychology

Determination of a Student's Location

Federal regulations require Salve to directly notify prospective students or current students enrolled in degree programs leading to licensure when the program does not meet licensure requirements in the state in which they are located or when a determination has not been made for the state in which they are located. The procedures outlined here define how Salve determines the state in which a student is located as it relates to professional licensure notification requirements.

  • For prospective students applying to a campus-based program, their location will be considered Rhode Island.
  • For prospective students applying to an online, distance education program, their location will be considered the state listed on the application at the time of submission or the state provided by the applicant on the student attestation of location form.
  • For prospective students whose address does not include a U.S. state or territory (e.g., students living outside the United States), their location will be considered the state of Rhode Island.
  • For current students enrolled in a campus-based program, their location will be considered Rhode Island.
  • For current students enrolled in an online, distance education program, their location will be considered the state where they are physically located while engaging with the educational instruction. This location will be determined at the time of notification review assessment per the information on record in the University's student information system.
  • For students who are living in University-sponsored housing, their location will be considered Rhode Island.
  • For students who are not living in University-sponsored housing and have a current off-campus address on record, their location will be considered the state of their off-campus address.
  • For students who are not living in University-sponsored housing and have no current off-campus address on record, their location will be considered the state of their home/permanent address.
  • For students whose home/permanent address does not include a U.S. state or territory (e.g., students living outside the United States), their location will be considered Rhode Island. This only pertains to students who are not living in University-sponsored housing and have no off-campus address on record.

The Office of the Registrar maintains the student academic record, including address information, in the University's student information system.

  • Student location designations will remain in effect until a student officially notifies the University of an address change.
  • It is the responsibility of the student to officially notify the University of a change in their off-campus and/or permanent address.
  • Students may update their off-campus address in My Salve under "User Options."
  • Students may update their permanent address by submitting a change of address form.

Relocating to another state while in the course of a program may have impacts 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 advisor to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.