Professional License Disclosures
Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) offers academic programs that may lead to professional licensure and/or certification. These programs are designed to meet or exceed the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Oklahoma and are aligned with the standards of relevant national accreditation and certification organizations.
Licensure and certification requirements vary significantly by state. While some states accept graduation from a nationally accredited program, others may require:
- Additional coursework
- State-specific exams
- Licensing fees
- Residency requirements
- Background checks
- Fieldwork or clinical hours
- Ongoing continuing education
Completing a program that leads to professional licensure at OBU and meeting the licensure or certification requirements in Oklahoma does not guarantee eligibility for licensure or certification in another state.
Students intending to pursue licensure or certification outside Oklahoma are strongly encouraged to:
- Review licensure/certification requirements in the state where they plan to practice.
- Contact the appropriate state licensing agency for current guidance.
- Monitor changes in state requirements throughout their academic program.
Responsibility for final licensure decisions lies with each state licensing agency, based on current laws and regulations at the time of application. Students may contact their academic advisor for assistance navigating state licensure and certification requirements.
State Authorization and Reciprocity
OBU is an approved member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). This allows OBU to offer distance learning programs and supervised clinical experiences to students residing in states other than Oklahoma.
However, this does not guarantee that academic programs meet licensure requirements in all states. Students are responsible for understanding the licensure and certification requirements of their state before enrolling. OBU is responsible for disclosing that professional licensure programs meet state licensure requirements.
- For more on SARA and participating states: https://nc-sara.org
- Students in non-SARA states should contact the university for assistance.
Student Responsibility
It is the student’s responsibility to:
- Understand all academic and clinical licensure and certification requirements
- Review background check expectations for clinical placements
- Monitor state licensure and certification requirements throughout the program
- Work with academic and clinical faculty to ensure all requirements are met
OBU is not liable if a student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any state or territory or is unable to complete a clinical placement in a specific location.
Relocation
At enrollment, students must declare their current state of residence and where they plan to practice after graduation. If a student relocates, OBU cannot guarantee that the program will meet licensure requirements in the new state.
Students who relocate must:
- Notify the Office of the Registrar and Program Director within 14 days.
- Verify eligibility with the state licensing agency before moving.
- Consult with their academic advisor before moving.
Relocation may impact a student’s ability to:
- Qualify for licensure.
- Complete required clinical placements.
- Maintain eligibility for financial aid.
- Complete the academic program.