Professional Licensure

Notification on Professional Licensure

If you plan to enroll in a program that may lead to professional licensure, Northern Illinois University strongly recommends that you inquire with the applicable licensing board in your state to determine all of the educational and other requirements for licensure before enrolling in the program. Other requirements may include, but are not limited to, additional post-graduation examinations or experience, application and licensing fees, criminal background checks, reference checks, fingerprint submissions, etc. To inquire as to other requirements, or ask any other questions regarding licensure, please contact the licensing board in your state by clicking on the link to the agency in the disclosures below.

Please note that licensure requirements are always subject to change. Although Northern Illinois University will confirm the licensure requirements on a routine basis, we strongly recommend that you inquire with the state board to confirm that you understand and will meet the requirements for licensure before enrolling in your program of choice.

Additionally, you should note that licensing requirements vary by state and relocating could impact whether you will meet eligibility requirements for licensure. Check with the state licensing board where you desire licensure before relocating to ensure that you will be eligible for licensure or reciprocity.

Online Undergraduate Certificates

• Certificate of Undergraduate Study: Leadership in Aging Services
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Undergraduate Study: Geographic Information Systems
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

Online Undergraduate Degree Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing for RNs
  • This program is not intended to meet any professional licensure requirements. The Northern Illinois University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing for RNs online program is designed for registered nurses who have already earned an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a nursing diploma. The RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing online program is a post-licensure program and does not lead to any advanced type of professional certification or licensure. If you are interested in pursuing initial licensure in the various nursing professions, please contact your nursing state licensing board.
• Bachelor of Science in Marketing
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Bachelor of Science is Applied Management: Instructional Technology, Training and Evaluation (degree completion)
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Bachelor of Science in Technology with an emphasis in Applied Manufacturing Technology (degree-completion)
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Post-Baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Technology with an emphasis in Applied Manufacturing Technology
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (degree-completion)
  • Illinois does not require professional licensure, and we have not determined if this program meets educational requirements of other states or territories for licensure or certification. You can find out more at the American Society for Clinical Pathology and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.  
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Post-Baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (degree- completion)
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences (degree-completion)
  • Illinois does not require professional licensure, and we have not determined if this program meets educational requirements of other states or territories for licensure or certification. You can find out more from the American Society for Clinical Pathology and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
• Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management (degree-completion)
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Post-Baccalaureate Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management (degree-completion)
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in Politics
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Bachelor of General Studies
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

Online Graduate Certificates

• Certificate of Graduate Study: Data Science for Business
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Postsecondary Developmental Literacy and Language Instruction
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Trauma-informed Counseling
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Eating Disorders and Obesity
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Family and Consumer Sciences Certificate of Graduate Study: Family and Child Development
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Gerontology
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Health Professions Education
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Interdisciplinary Homeland Security – Health Science Emphasis
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Post-Masters Certificate of Graduate Study in Nursing Education
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Public Health
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Geographic Information Analysis
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Certificate of Graduate Study: Public Management
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

Online Graduate Degree Programs

• Master of Public Health
  • This program does not explicitly lead to professional licensure. However, there are optional exams that can provide additional credentials for our graduates to seek employment. Northern Illinois University’s Master in Public Health (MPH) students are eligible to take the Certified Public Health exam.
    • The MPH with a health promotion specialization prepares students to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (C.H.E.S.) examination given by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. Find out more about this credential at org.
    • Illinois students who complete the MPH with a specialization in health services management are eligible to take the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Examination if certain electives have been completed. Out-of-State candidates should be advised that we cannot guarantee this program will meet eligibility requirements for the nursing home administrations in their state. For more information check out the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards.
    • Illinois students who complete the MPH with an interest in Environmental Health and obtain a position as a Sanitarian are required to successfully complete the Licensed Environmental Health Practitioners Exam for employment. Out-of-State candidate should be advised that we cannot guarantee this program will meet eligibility requirements for similar licenses in their state. For more information check out the National Environmental Health Association.
• Master of Accountancy
  • The Master of Accountancy (MAC) is an accredited program that builds on your accountancy skills and knowledge, and prepares you to take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in Illinois. For out-of-state students, each state’s Board of Accountancy has its own application and eligibility requirements to take the CPA exam, and academic and certification requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant in your home state. Eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board.
    
    Because no graduate program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as a Certified Public Account upon graduation, we encourage students to consult their state’s Board of Accountancy to determine specific certification exam and professional licensure requirements.
    
    The Northern Illinois University Master of Accountancy is currently developed to lead to professional licensure in Illinois only. NIU has not determined whether completion of this program will meet eligibility requirements for the CPA exam and certification in other states.
• Master of Science in Data Analytics
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Master of Science in Digital Marketing
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.
• Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Education or Family Nurse Practitioner specializations

  • The Master of Science in Nursing is an accredited program that prepares you for advanced practice or a nursing education role. The MS in Nursing specializations are designed to prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license to practice as nurse practitioners. However, each state’s Board of Nursing has its own academic and certification requirements and issues its own credential for an RN to be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. Eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board.

    The Northern Illinois University MS in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner specialization is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for national nurse practitioner certification exams, which are required for practice as a nurse practitioner in most states. Because no graduate program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner upon graduation, we encourage students to consult their state’s Board of Nursing to determine specific certification exam and professional licensure requirements.

    The Northern Illinois University MS in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner specialization is currently developed to lead to professional licensure in Illinois and Wisconsin only. Other out-of-state candidates should be advised this program currently will not meet eligibility requirements for the nursing professional licensure in their state.

• Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • The Doctor of Nursing is an accredited program that prepares registered nurses to practice in an advanced role in a specialization. Registered nurses who are qualified at the baccalaureate or masters level may be admitted. Eligible candidates must have current licensure with no encumbrances as a professional Registered Nurse (RN) in the U.S. Prior to beginning course work, students must hold or have applied for RN licensure in Illinois. See Doctor of Nursing Practice for other eligibility requirements for admission. This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Science in Education: Literacy Education
  • Bilingual and ESL Endorsement

    • The English as a Second Language (ESL) (P-12) Endorsement program at the Northern Illinois University is designed for Illinois teachers only who already have an Illinois Professional Educator License. Out-of-state candidates who are certified teachers should be advised that we cannot guarantee this program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in their state.

  • Reading Specialist Endorsement

    • The Reading Specialist (P-12) Endorsement program at the Northern Illinois University is designed for Illinois teachers only who already have an Illinois Professional Educator License. Out-of-state candidates who are certified teachers should be advised that we cannot guarantee this program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in their state. 

• Master of Science in Educational Research and Evaluation
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Science in Education: Instructional Technology
  • The Master of Science in Education: Instructional Technology program at the Northern Illinois University is designed for Illinois teachers only who already have an Illinois Professional Educator License. Out-of-state candidates who are certified teachers should be advised that we cannot guarantee this program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in their state. 

  • Illinois students, with an Illinois Professional Educator License, may be eligible for K-12 Technology Specialist Entitlement upon successful completion of ILTS-178 requirements.

• Doctor of Education in Higher Education with an emphasis in Community College Leadership
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Doctor of Philosophy: Instructional Technology
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Science in Engineering Management
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Science in Industrial Management
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Science in Health Sciences
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Public Administration: Local Government Management
  • This program is not intended to lead to professional licensure.

• Master of Science in Art and Design Education

  • The Master of Science in Art Education program at Northern Illinois University is designed for Illinois teachers. Out-of-state candidates should be advised that we cannot guarantee this program will meet licensure, salary, advancement or other requirements in their state. Northern Illinois University is currently working to confirm the state-specific prerequisites for licensure in all states and U.S. jurisdictions.