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Professional Licensure

What Happens After Graduation

For many students, earning a degree is the final step before launching their career. But in certain fields like teaching and nursing, a license is required to enter the workforce.

Licensure requirements often include additional exams, fees, or supervised experience, and they vary not just by profession, but by state. Understanding the facts below will help students stay on track and make a successful transition into their professions.

At UNC Charlotte, programs that prepare for licensed careers are called Professional Licensure Programs, and these programs make important commitments to our students:

  1. Clear, accessible information. Licensure requirements vary widely by profession and by state. Charlotte’s Inventory of Professional Licensure Programs cuts through the confusion and confirms whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state.
  2. A smart, student-first start. Students cannot even begin a Professional Licensure Program unless we’re confident it meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state where the student intends to work. The student’s Future Professional Licensure Location is how we know which state to check, and a student can update this information at any time through a process called Attestation.
  3. Timely updates you can count on. Licensing requirements can change over time. While we can’t guarantee that a program that satisfies licensure requirements today will do so in the future, we do promise to notify students if something changes that could affect their ability to be licensed in their Future Professional Licensure Location.  If that happens, we’ll work with them to understand their options and help them make informed decisions about their next steps.

Additional Resources

Explore resources to help you navigate licensure-related advising, student support, and state-specific requirements.

FAQ for Students

What you need to know about licensure, program eligibility, and staying on track toward your career goals.

Location Attestation

Submit your licensure location so UNC Charlotte can ensure your program meets state-specific requirements.