State Authorization & Professional Licensure

Professional Licensure

There are certain careers or fields which require a professional license in order to be employed in that occupation. Licensure requirements for a given profession may vary by state. Samuel Merritt University’s professional licensure programs are designed to prepare students for licensure in the State of California. For students who wish to practice/be employed in a state other than California, there may or may not be additional requirements graduates must complete prior to applying for licensure in their state of choice.

How will I know if the program I’m interested in meets professional licensure requirements in my state?

Since licensure requirements vary by state and can often change, click the link(s) below corresponding to the program(s) for which you intend to apply to see the states for which SMU meets the educational requirements for the professional licensure program you are interested in. Though there may be states in which SMU's licensure programs do not meet educational requirements, we are committed to helping students explore available options in their academic plan in order to meet requirements in a different state and guiding current students through the licensure requirements of other states. We recommend prospective and current students speak directly with the respective dean, program director, or department chair for additional information or if they have specific questions or concerns.

Professional Licensure Program Information

See below for licensure information specific to each of SMU's professional licensure programs:

Nursing

*Pre-licensure component

Health Sciences

Podiatric Medicine

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Program (DPM)

State Authorization

Federal and State regulations require that all institutions obtain the necessary authorizations and/or approvals from a state in order to conduct what are called “educational activities” within the state. Examples of educational activities include—but are not limited to—online courses and experiential learning (including field placements, for-credit practicums, clinical rotations/preceptorships, and internships). Holding such state authorization allows Samuel Merritt University (SMU) and other institutions to conduct these educational activities outside of its home state. SMU is physically located in the State of California. See below for information on authorizations/approvals by state. Please contact the Office of Academic Affairs if you have any questions.

Related Information

Institutional Complaint Process (Online Complaint Form)
Physical Location Disclosure Policy (coming soon)

State Authorization Status by State & FAQ

State Authorization Status by State

The following document indicates the states in which SMU is currently permitted to enroll online students and the states in which SMU students can participate in field placements (for-credit practicums, clinical rotations/preceptorships, etc.)

To determine the appropriate category for your program, please reach out to the Admissions Department.

Distance Learning Only	Distance Learning w/Field Experience	Campus Based Program w/Field Experience
Arizona	Arizona	Alabama
California	California	Arizona
Colorado	Colorado	California
Florida	Florida	Colorado
Hawaii	Hawaii	Connecticut
Idaho	Idaho	District of Columbia
Illinois	Illinois	Florida
Kentucky	Missouri	Georgia
Louisiana	Nebraska	Hawaii
Maine	South Dakota	Idaho
Missouri	Texas	Illinois
Nebraska	Vermont	Indiana
Nevada		Iowa
Ohio		Maryland ( DPM only)
South Carolina		Massachusetts
South Dakota		Michigan
Tennessee		Minnesota
Texas		Missouri
Vermont		Montana
Washington		Nebraska
		Nevada
		New Mexico
		New York (OTD,DPT, DPM only)
		Ohio (DPM, OTD, DPT only)
		Pennsylvania
		Rhode Island
		South Dakota
		Tennessee
		Texas
		Utah
		Vermont
		Washington
		Wisconsin

What is State Authorization?

With regards to State Authorization, the State Authorization Network (SAN) notes:

"Institutions must follow the state laws of the state where an institution's activity takes place...For any activity that occurs outside of the home state of the institution, the institution has the responsibility to determine if the activity causes the institution to incur legal obligations in the other state."

For more information visit the "State Authorization 101" page on the SAN website.

Why Does it Matter?

According to the State Authorization Network (SAN) "States maintain the authority to regulate out-of-state post-secondary institutions that offer or participate in activities located in their state to protect students as consumers, the general public, and other interests of the state. Institutions must follow the State laws and regulations of the state where an institution's activity takes place."