Professional Licensure and Certification Program Approvals
Grand Canyon University (GCU) holds several state approvals from state licensing agencies. GCU has obtained these approvals for various reasons, including to ensure GCU can offer the program in the state or to ensure the program meets the educational requirements for licensure. Additionally, GCU maintains state authorizations and participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) to provide online education for students in other states. For a comprehensive look at GCU’s accreditation, visit our University Accreditation page.
GCU reviews state statutes, rules, and regulations regarding professional licensure on a recurring basis. To review a professional licensure disclosure for a specific program including information about whether the program meets educational requirements for licensure, any identified course deficiencies, and state agency contact information, please visit a program’s State Disclosures page. To view a State Disclosures page, make a program selection from the Degree Programs page and open the program’s page. Once on the page, hover over the Accreditation & Compliance label located on the toolbar beneath the program name and select the State Disclosures option. Once on the State Disclosures page, you may select to review the disclosure for the individual state or territory.
These state disclosures are program- and location-specific, which is why they must be accessed using the aforementioned path. An example of one of these program-specific URLs would be the state disclosures for the Master of Business Administration degree.
GCU's Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Science in Professional Counseling and Master of Science in Christian Counseling are approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as being consistent with the curriculum requirements for LAC or LPC licensure. GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse is approved by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners as being consistent with the curriculum requirements for LSAT licensure.
Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners
1740 W. Adams St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
azbbhe.us
GCU’s Colangelo College of Business is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education to offer institutional recommendations (credentials) for the certification of Bachelor of Science in Business for Secondary Education.
GCU's College of Education is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education and the Arizona Department of Education to offer institutional recommendations (credentials) for the certification of early childhood, elementary, secondary and special education teachers and administrators.
GCU’s College of Arts and Media is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education to offer institutional recommendations (credentials) for the certification of Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Education.
GCU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education to offer institutional recommendations (credentials) for the certification of Bachelor of Arts in History for Secondary Education, Bachelor of Arts in English for Secondary Education and Bachelor of Science in Math for Secondary Education.
GCU’s College of Natural Sciences is approved by the Arizona State Board of Education to offer institutional recommendations (credentials) for the certification of Bachelor of Science in Biology for Secondary Education and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry for Secondary Education.
Arizona State Board of Education
1700 W. Washington St.
Executive Tower, Suite 300
Phoenix, AZ 85007
azsbe.az.gov
Arizona Department of Education
1535 W. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
azed.gov
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Pre-licensure), Family Nurse Practitioner (Master’s and Post-Master’s options) and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with an Emphasis in Adult-Gerontology (Master’s and Post-Master’s options) are currently approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. For more information, go to the Arizona State Board of Nursing website at: azbn.gov
Arizona State Board of Nursing
1740 W. Adams St., Suite 2000
Phoenix, AZ 85007
azbn.gov
GCU has been approved as an Approved School/Program by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) for the following online programs: Master of Science in Addiction Counseling, Master of Science in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders. These programs are approved until Feb. 28, 2025.
GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse is an approved school/program by CCAPP. This program is approved until Sept. 30, 2023.
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals
2400 Marconi Ave., Suite C
Sacramento, CA 95821
P.O. Box 214127
ccapp.us
GCU’s Master of Science in Nursing: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with an Emphasis in Adult- Gerontology (ACNP-AG) program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. GCU is also approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing to offer the course: NRS-431N Public Health Nursing for California Nurses. Graduates from GCU's RN-BSN program who complete this course will meet the educational requirements for Public Health Nursing Certification in California.
For more information, visit California Board of Registered Nursing’s article on out-of-state nursing programs at: rn.ca.gov
California Board of Registered Nursing
1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834-1924
rn.ca.gov
GCU has been approved as an Education Provider by the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association (GACA) for the Master of Science in Addiction Counseling and Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse programs. These programs are approved until Dec. 31, 2023.
Georgia Addiction Counselors Association
4015 S. Cobb Drive, Suite 160
Smyrna, GA 30080
gaca.org
GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure, Accelerated (ABSN) program has received provisional approval from the Nevada State Board of Nursing and is listed on their website at the following link: nevadanursingboard.org
This level of approval is awarded to all new programs and allows the program to admit students.
Nevada State Board of Nursing
4220 S. Maryland Parkway. Building B, Suite 300
Las Vegas, NV 89119
nevadanursingboard.org
GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN), Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Public Health Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Informatics, Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Leadership in Health Care Systems, Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems, Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Education, Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety, Post-Master of Science in Nursing: Nursing Education Certificate, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Emphasis in Educational Leadership programs have satisfied the requirements for clinical placement of nursing students by programs located outside of the state of Utah.
GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Pre-Licensure, Accelerated (ABSN) program is currently approved by the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing – Nursing.
State of Utah Department of Commerce
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
160 E. 300 South
P.O. Box 146741
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
dopl.utah.gov
GCU is approved by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission to conduct practice experiences in the state of Washington for RN-BSN, MSN/Health Informatics, MSN/Nurse Educator, MSN/Nurse Leadership in Health Care Systems, MSN/Public Health, MBA-MSN: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems and Post Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education. For more information, visit the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission website at: nursing.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Health (Nursing)
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
GCU has been approved as a pre-certification education program for substance abuse counselors by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services for the following online programs: Master of Science in Addiction Counseling, Master of Science in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders and Bachelor of Science in Counseling with an Emphasis in Addiction, Chemical Dependency and Substance Abuse. These programs are approved through August 2026.
GCU’s RN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Business Administration/Master of Science in Nursing Leadership, Master of Science in Nursing in Health Care Informatics, Master of Science in Nursing in Health Informatics, Master of Science in Nursing in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety, Master of Science in Nursing in Public Health Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing in Leadership in Health Care Systems, Master of Science in Nursing in Nursing Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice and the Doctor of Nursing Practice in Educational Leadership programs have been approved by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Board of Nursing. For more information, visit their website at: dsps.wi.gov
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705
dsps.wi.gov
GCU encourages students to follow the appeals process outlined in the University Policy Handbook. However, Wisconsin residents enrolled in one of GCU’s nursing programs listed above may file a complaint with the Wisconsin Board of Nursing. The Board accepts online complaints at this link: dspscomplaintform.wi.gov or mailed to the following address:
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Division of Legal Services and Compliance
P.O. Box 7190
Madison, WI 53707