Some professions (e.g. speech pathologists, lawyers, accountants, psychologists, etc.) require that you obtain licensure or certification beyond your degree in order to hold a position in that field. Professional Licensure regulations and requirements vary from field to field, and from state to state. Each state and U.S. territory has an authority, be it public or private, that is responsible for overseeing the licensure requirements of the various professions in that state.
For students considering enrolling in a program that leads to professional licensure, CU Boulder strongly recommends you to contact the appropriate department or program to determine the educational requirements and whether or not the education provided at CU Boulder will allow you to sit for the applicable licensing exam. Below, you can review the list of professional licensure programs offered and the states/territories where, upon completion of your degree, you would be eligible for the licensure exam. Please note, the successful completion of a program at CU Boulder does not guarantee licensure, certification, or employment in an occupation. CU Boulder 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.
Current and prospective students will be notified directly via email should it be determined they are applying to or 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 CU Boulder students update their location should it change while completing their education. Students can change or update their location address in Buff Portal through their profile and should regularly review their location information for accuracy.
Students applying to, or currently enrolled in, professional licensure programs should contact the applicable licensing board to determine any additional requirements, beyond the degree program - including requirements for reciprocity - that may need to be fulfilled in order to obtain licensure in a particular state. Some licensing boards may require additional post-graduation examinations, acquire additional experience, pay application and/or licensing fees, undergo criminal background checks, submit fingerprints, or provide other information prior to obtaining licensure. Additionally, as licensing requirements are often evolving , CU Boulder encourages students to inquire with the appropriate licensing board in your state (or the state where you intend to practice or work) in order to ask any questions regarding licensure and to confirm that you understand the requirements for licensure or reciprocity.
If questions remain after reviewing the information provided by the respective state agency, please contact the program or your academic advisor at CU Boulder, and the faculty & staff will do our best to connect you with the information you need. While we can provide initial guidance - including whether or not the education you receive at CU Boulder will prepare you for the applicable licensing exam - it is ultimately your responsibility to check with the state licensing board where you intend to seek licensure and practice to confirm all licensing requirements. Make sure you understand and consider the implications of the additional requirements prior to enrolling in a program intended to lead to professional licensure.
Should you need further assistance or are unsure where to direct your questions, you can also contact the Assistant Director for Compliance and Authorization, Erika Swain at stateauth@colorado.edu.
Degree programs in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Audiology are designed to provide a theoretically and clinically rich learning experience for students planning to work as audiologists or speech-language pathologists in medical, educational, and private practice settings. States have varied requirements for practitioners of speech-language pathology and audiology (e.g. additional externship hours, earning the Certificate of Clinical Competence, etc.) and students are reminded to contact the applicable licensing board in the state where they are planning on looking for employment.
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Certificate
This certificate program provides the opportunity to meet the requirements for SLPA authorization in the state of Colorado only. The University of Colorado Boulder has determined that the education provided in the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Certificate program does not meet educational requirements for licensure in the following states:
Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology
Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Health (Speech-Language Pathologist & Audiologist)
Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Health (Speech-Language Pathologist & Audiologist)
The University of Colorado Boulder has determined that the education provided in the Au.D. or the Au.D./Ph.D dual degree programs does not meet educational requirements for licensure in the following territories:
American Samoa: Department of Human and Social Services
Northern Mariana Islands: n/a
U.S. Virgin Islands: The U.S. Virgin Islands does not have a Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Board. Practitioners must obtain a business license from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
In order to obtain a license to practice law, you must become admitted to the bar in the jurisdiction in which you plan to work. Each state's highest court sets the requirements for admission to practice law. The format of the bar exam will vary by jurisdiction, but may include one or more of the following: the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), the Multistate Performance Test (MPT), the Multistate Essay Exam (MEE), or the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE). Colorado Law maintains general information regarding the bar examination, the bar admission process, and reciprocity on its website. The application process for the bar exam typically requires submitting significant background information so your character and fitness to practice law can be assessed, earning a sufficient score on the bar exam, as well as other other requirements. The National Conference of Bar Examiners provides a Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which contains a synopsis of each state’s bar admission requirements - including those beyond the educational requirements - and relevant dates.
Currently, successful completion of the JD or the LLM at the University of Colorado Boulder, College of Law meets the educational requirements to sit for the bar exam in every state. Additional requirements beyond your education and application deadlines vary from state to state. You are encouraged to check the information for the state(s) you are interested in becoming licensed in as soon as possible.
State Office's of Attorney Admissions:
The PhD in Psychology at the University of Colorado Boulder offers doctoral education and training with an optional concentration in clinical psychology, the main goal of which is to train clinical scientists who will produce and apply scientific knowledge in understanding, assessing, preventing, and treating emotional and behavioral problems.
Students completing the PhD in Psychology (Clinical track) at the University of Colorado Boulder meet the educational requirements for licensure in the following states and territories:
The University of Colorado Boulder is unable to determine if the education provided in the Ph.D. in Psychology (Clinical track) meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following states/territories:
Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico Board of Psychologist Examiners (there is no website at this time)
P. O. Box 10200
Santurce, Puerto Rico 00908-0200
Phone: (787) 723-2885
BS in Business Administration, Accounting Emphasis; Master of Science in Accounting; Master of Science in Taxation
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure requirements are set state by state, but all states require a minimum total 150 credit hours. The Bachelor's degree in Business with the Accounting Area of Emphasis (120 credit hours) will not, by itself, meet the CPA education requirements of any state.
Because the educational requirements for each state to sit for the CPA exam differ greatly, can be extremely complex and detailed, and can change frequently, it is imperative that students investigate the requirements of the state(s) from which they wish to seek a CPA license. Each state has a board of accountancy that can provide this information.
Although the Master’s in Accounting and the Master’s in Taxation do not specifically lead to licensure as a CPA, it is possible that the degree and the specific courses taken might count toward licensing requirements in some states. If you are planning to seek professional licensure as a CPA, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity (in most cases the state board of accountancy) in the state in which you plan to practice in order to seek information and guidance regarding licensure requirements and work with your advisor to make sure you’re able to take the required courses. CPA licensing requirements, including the educational component of those requirements, are state specific and differ greatly from one state to another. Each state’s board of accountancy can be found by visiting the website of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy at: NASBA.org
The University of Colorado Boulder is unable to determine if the education provided in the M.S. in Accounting or the M.S. in Taxation programs meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following states/territories:
B.S. in Business Administration, Real Estate Emphasis; M.S. in Real Estate; MBA, Real Estate Pathway
Currently, the University of Colorado Boulder is unable to determine if the education provided in the B.S. in Business Administration, Real Estate, the M.S. in Real Estate, and the MBA, Real Estate Pathway meets the educational requirements for licensure in the following states/territories:
While students enrolled in, and planning on graduating from, one of the College of Engineering's ABET-accredited majors are invited to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, a multiple-choice, knowledge-based exam administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), several of the College’s baccalaureate academic programs (Architectural, Chemical, Chemical & Biological, and Mechanical) encourage students to take the exam. Students enrolled in the Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering programs take the FE exam as part of their degree requirements.
The FE Exam covers subject matter taught in a typical baccalaureate engineering program accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Students may choose from computer-based exams in chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, and other disciplines. Professional licensing in every U.S. state and territory requires, as the first step, that a student successfully pass the FE exam.
After passing the FE exam, in order to receive licensure in the field students must obtain at least four years of experience deemed acceptable to their licensing board and successfully pass a Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam. The PE exams go beyond testing academic knowledge and require knowledge gained in engineering practice. If you are planning to seek professional licensure or certification in an engineering-related field, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state in which you are located or plan to locate to in order to seek information and guidance regarding additional licensure or certification requirements.
State Engineer and Surveyor Boards:
The teacher education programs and endorsements at the University of Colorado Boulder do not prepare candidates for teacher licensure exams in states other than Colorado. If you are planning to seek professional licensure, certification, or an endorsement in a state other than Colorado, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state in which you are, or plan to be, located in order to seek information and guidance regarding licensure, certification, or endorsement requirements and how the Colorado license or endorsement may transfer in advance of program completion. If you will have to take an additional course or take a different licensure exam in order to transfer your license, then your contact the correct state agency will allow you to plan for that and avoid surprises.
The University of Colorado Boulder has determined that the education provided in the Teacher Licensure programs and the endorsement programs, does not meet educational requirements for licensure in the following states:
The Bachelors in Environmental Design (B-ENVD) at the University of Colorado Boulder is a pioneering and integrative approach to education and research that will shape the future of design. The B-ENVD program orients students to the creation of healthy and sustainable communities with attention to social justice and economic vitality. Built upon strong traditions within the design fields, including architecture and landscape architecture, we are an inclusive and creative community committed to enriching our built, social and natural environments.
While completing the B-ENVD at CU Boulder will not by itself meet the education requirements for professional licensure in either architecture or landscape architecture in any state, it is possible that the degree and the specific courses taken might count toward licensing requirements in some states. If you are planning to eventually seek professional licensure as an architect or landscape architect, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state in which you plan to practice in order to seek information and guidance regarding licensure requirements, including the educational component of those requirements. It is important to remember that licensing requirements are state specific, and differ greatly from one state to another.
The State of Colorado does not require individuals working in Geology or Geological Sciences to obtain Professional Geology Licensure, and the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder were not developed with the intention to meet other states’ professional licensure requirements.
If you are planning to seek professional licensure or certification for employment in a state other than Colorado, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state in which you are, or plan to be, located in order to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements and how the education you receive at the University of Colorado Boulder may assist you in your efforts to gain licensure in that state. Many states require professional geologists to pass the ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and/or Practice of Geology (PG) examinations. Information regarding ASBOG examination specifications can be found at www.ASBOG.org.