Disclosure Requirements for Institutions Receiving Federal Aid From the U.S. Department of Education

Effective July 1, 2020, all higher education institutions that receive federal financial aid are required to disclose to students whether or not an educational program is designed to meet requirements for professional licensure or certification for employment, which may vary by state. The requirement applies to both in-person and online learning formats. The change in regulations reflects efforts by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the higher education community to protect students when enrolling in university programs. 

Under the regulations, higher education institutions are required to present data in three categories outlined below, and must make this information readily available to both enrolled and prospective students: 

§668.43 Institutional information.

(5) The academic program of the institution, including—

(v) If an educational program is designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in an occupation, or is advertised as meeting such requirements, information regarding whether completion of that program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that occupation, including—

(A) A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;

(B) A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification; and

(C) A list of all States for which the institution has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification.

ASHA’s state-by-state webpages provide summaries of practice requirements and contact information for each state. Institutions may use these resources as a guide to help determine the states where its curriculum meets the educational requirements for professional credentials or licensure.

Institutions do not need to modify or adjust their curriculum to meet the requirements for all states and jurisdictions. These disclosures are meant to provide additional information for students to make an informed decision about their education.

Note: This regulation is not a requirement that is being implemented or monitored by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). It is tied to Title IV funding and reporting requirements of institutions andis outside of the scope of the CAA’s purview.