Program Disclosures
Edna Jenkins Mann School of Nursing - Kentucky Only
The Pre-licensure BSN track will lead to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Upon graduation from Union College, pre-licensure students will be eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing licensure examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN). Graduates from Union College that reside out of state and wish to make application to their home state Board of Nursing can. It is the student’s responsibility to determine eligibility.
Any student that is in the RN-BSN track at Union College is for licensed nurses (registered nurses – RN). These students are not required to seek licensure after graduation. The initial RN licensure is retained, and it is only a change in degree status.
Educational Studies Unit - Kentucky Only
To seek certification, Union College undergraduate education students must complete a CA-1 form at the end of student teaching. Once the degree is conferred, a Union Certification Officer will process the CA-1 form and send it to Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) in Kentucky. Before the process can be completed, graduates of the Educational Studies Unit at Union College must log on to their Education Professional Standards Board account and pay the application processing fee. The applicant will be notified once their certificate is ready to download.
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology- Kentucky Only
The master’s degree plan is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and to prepare students for successful completion of the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), as required by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
Licensure as a Licensed Psychological Practitioner (LPP) requires additional graduate-level coursework beyond the Licensed Psychological Associate requirements, as specified by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology, as well as additional supervised professional experience. Courses meeting these advanced educational requirements are identified in the curriculum as endorsement courses.
In addition to educational preparation, all applicants for psychology licensure in Kentucky must complete board-approved supervised experience and meet examination and jurisprudence requirements. The type, amount, and duration of supervision required varies by license level and is determined by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
Students are advised that licensure requirements for psychology vary by state. Completion of this program does not guarantee licensure outside the state of Kentucky. Students intending to seek licensure in another state are strongly encouraged to review that state’s licensing requirements prior to enrollment or graduation.
Complete and current licensure requirements are established by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology and are available on the Board’s official website.
Licensure requirements are subject to change. Final determination of eligibility for licensure is made solely by the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology.
MS in Substance Abuse Counseling - Kentucky Only
This program is designed to align with Kentucky-specific educational and certification requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing and understanding licensure and certification requirements in any state other than Kentucky, as requirements vary by jurisdiction. Students who have completed the Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate or who have successfully completed a state-approved certification examination may be eligible to apply certain previously earned coursework toward the master’s degree, subject to program approval. Applicants to the MS in Substance Abuse Counseling must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5. Students currently enrolled in the Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate (21-credit-hour) program and in good academic standing with Union Commonwealth University may apply to transition into the MS in Substance Abuse Counseling program, subject to program admission requirements.
Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate - Kentucky Only
The Kentucky State Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors accepts both undergraduate and graduate coursework toward the educational requirements for certification, provided the coursework meets board-approved curriculum standards.
The Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate is designed to meet the 270 classroom (contact) hour requirement, including the required ethics training, as specified in Kentucky administrative regulations. Completion of the Chemical Dependency Counselor Certificate does not guarantee certification by the Kentucky State Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors. However, the certificate provides the academic preparation necessary to apply for certification and to sit for the IC&RC-approved Alcohol and Drug Counselor examination, contingent upon meeting all additional Board requirements.
Students are responsible for verifying reciprocity and credentialing requirements in other states, as certification standards and credential acceptance vary by jurisdiction.
Kentucky State Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors - Certification Requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and able to document the following:
- Education
- A baccalaureate degree (in any field), unless the applicant qualifies under an approved associate-level credential pathway (e.g., Associate Alcohol and Drug Counselor II).
- Supervised Work Experience
- Completion of the minimum work experience and supervision requirements established by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) for Alcohol and Drug Counselors.
- Supervised experience must be completed under a board-approved supervisor.
- Required work and supervision hours vary based on education level and allowable education-to-experience substitutions, as determined by Kentucky Board regulations and IC&RC standards.
- Classroom Education
- 270 hours of board-approved curriculum, which must cover required counseling competency areas.
- Examination
- A passing score on a written examination approved by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC).
- Professional Standards
- A signed agreement to abide by the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors’ standards of practice and code of ethics.
Certification requirements are subject to change. Final determination of eligibility for certification is made by the Kentucky State Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors, and applicants are encouraged to consult the Board directly for the most current requirements:
https://adc.ky.gov/
