U.S. states: school, college and licensing rules
Education and licensing are run by each state. Every state page links the boards that license lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses there, and that state's colleges. The full pages also give the high school diploma requirements and state tests, public university and community college systems, the in-state tuition rule, state grants, civil service hiring and the apprenticeship office, each copied from the state's own pages.
All 50 states and DC: licensing boards
The board that admits lawyers, licenses physicians, CPAs and registered nurses in each state, from the national directories of state boards. Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.FSMB
NASBA
Census
Compare school and college rules
The headline rule from the 51 full state pages, largest first; open the state for the detail and its sources.
| State | State test | Diploma | State grant | Apprenticeship office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | CAASPP | Courses of one school year each (not credits); the district decides how many local credits a year is worth. | Cal Grant; Middle Class Scholarship | State agency and U.S. DOL |
| Texas | STAAR | 22 credits minimum (Foundation); 26 with an endorsement. Districts do not have to offer every endorsement. | TEXAS Grant (Toward EXcellence, Access, & Success) | U.S. DOL office |
| Florida | FAST | 24 credits and a 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The 18-credit ACCEL option drops PE and the online course and needs 3 electives instead of 8. | Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program | State agency |
| New York | New York State Testing Program | 22 credits in total. | Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) | State agency |
| Pennsylvania | PSSA and Keystone Exams | Set locally; see the state page | PA State Grant | State agency |
| Illinois | IAR, ISA and the ACT | Years of study; the ISBE chart lists the state minimum for each entering class. | Monetary Award Program (MAP) | U.S. DOL office |
| Ohio | Ohio achievement tests | 20 units in grades 9–12. | Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) | State agency |
| Georgia | Georgia Milestones | 23 units minimum. | HOPE Scholarship | U.S. DOL office |
| North Carolina | North Carolina EOG and EOC tests | 22 credits. Districts may recommend more. The Occupational Course of Study (for identified students with disabilities) also needs 22 credits. | Next NC Scholarship | State agency |
| Michigan | M-STEP and the MME | 18 credits. | Michigan Achievement Scholarship; Community College Guarantee | U.S. DOL office |
| New Jersey | NJSLA and NJGPA | 120 credits minimum. Technological literacy is built into the curriculum rather than counted as its own credits. | Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) | U.S. DOL office |
| Virginia | SOL tests | 22 standard credits and 5 verified credits. No more than one locally awarded verified credit may count. | Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program (VGAP); Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) | State agency |
| Washington | Smarter Balanced and WCAS | 24 credits: 17 core and 7 flexible. A district may waive up to two flexible credits for a student, who can then graduate with 22. | Washington College Grant (WA Grant) | State agency |
| Arizona | AASA, AzSCI and ACT | 22 credits minimum. | Arizona Promise Program | State agency |
| Tennessee | TCAP | 22 credits. A computer science credit can replace the fourth math or third lab science credit. | Tennessee HOPE Scholarship; Tennessee Promise | State agency |
| Massachusetts | MCAS | No statewide credit total: each district sets its own course and credit requirements. | MASSGrant; MassEducate (free community college) | State agency |
| Indiana | ILEARN | 40 state credits. Schools may add local requirements (not for students with an IEP). Academic and Technical Honors need at least 47. | Frank O'Bannon Grant | U.S. DOL office |
| Missouri | MAP | 24 units of credit. | Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program | U.S. DOL office |
| Maryland | MSTAR and MCAP | 22 credits minimum. | Howard P. Rawlings Educational Assistance (EA) Grant | State agency |
| Colorado | CMAS and PSAT/SAT | No statewide credit total: each district sets its own. | Colorado Student Grant | State agency |
| Wisconsin | Forward Exam and the ACT suite | 15.5 state minimum credits; the State Superintendent encourages boards to require 8.5 more from vocational education, world languages, fine arts and other courses. | Wisconsin Grant | State agency |
| Minnesota | MCA | 21.5 listed credits, plus physical education (and health once the state adopts health standards rules). | Minnesota State Grant; North Star Promise | State agency |
| South Carolina | SC READY and EOCEP | 24 units. One unit is a standards-based course of at least 120 hours, or credit through a proficiency-based system. | LIFE Scholarship | U.S. DOL office |
| Alabama | ACAP and the ACT | 24 credits. | Alabama Student Assistance Program (ASAP); Alabama Student Grant Program | State agency |
| Louisiana | LEAP 2025 | TOPS University: 24 units. Jump Start TOPS Tech: 23 units (4 English, 4 math, 2 science, 2 social studies, 1.5 physical education, 0.5 health and 9 units of Jump Start courses, workplace experience and credentials). | TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students); Louisiana GO Grant | State agency |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Summative Assessment (KSA) | 22 credits: 10 foundational and 12 personalized. | Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) | State agency |
| Oregon | OSAS | 24 credits. | Oregon Opportunity Grant | State agency |
| Oklahoma | OSTP | 23 units or sets of competencies. | Oklahoma's Promise | U.S. DOL office |
| Connecticut | Mastery examinations (Smarter Balanced, NGSS science and the SAT) | 25 credits minimum. A credit is at least the equivalent of a 40-minute class period every school day for a school year. | Roberta B. Willis Scholarship: Need and Merit-Based; Roberta B. Willis Scholarship: Need-Based Grant | State agency |
| Utah | RISE, Utah Aspire Plus and the ACT | 24 units of credit. | Opportunity Scholarship; Utah Promise Grant | U.S. DOL office |
| Nevada | Smarter Balanced, Nevada Science and the grade 11 ACT | 23 credit units for the Standard Diploma; 24 with a 3.25 GPA for the Advanced and CCR diplomas. | Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship; Silver State Opportunity Grant | State agency |
| Iowa | ISASP | State subject minimums plus CPR and the civics test; each district sets its own total credits. | Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship; All Iowa Opportunity Scholarship (AIOS) | State agency |
| Arkansas | ATLAS and the grade 11 ACT | 22 credits. | Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship; Academic Challenge PLUS | U.S. DOL office |
| Kansas | Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) | 21 units minimum, set by each local board. | Kansas Promise Act Scholarship; Kansas Comprehensive Grant | State agency |
| Mississippi | MAAP and the grade 11 ACT | 24 Carnegie units (26 for the Career and Technical or Academic endorsement, 28 for the Distinguished Academic endorsement). | Higher Education Legislative Plan (HELP); Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG); Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant (MESG) | U.S. DOL office |
| New Mexico | MSSA, ASR and the grade 11 SAT | 24 units. | New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship; Legislative Lottery Scholarship | State agency |
| Idaho | ISAT | 46 credits, 29 in core subjects (30 with digital literacy). | Idaho LAUNCH; Idaho Opportunity Scholarship | U.S. DOL office |
| Nebraska | NSCAS and the ACT | 200 credit hours. | Nebraska Opportunity Grant (NOG) | U.S. DOL office |
| West Virginia | WVGSA and the SAT School Day | 23 credits from the 2024-25 freshman cohort (22 for earlier cohorts). | PROMISE Scholarship; West Virginia Higher Education Grant; WV Invests Grant | U.S. DOL office |
| Hawaii | Smarter Balanced and HSA Science | 24.0 credits. | Hawaii Promise Program | State agency |
| New Hampshire | NH SAS and the SAT | 20 credits. | Governor's Scholarship Program; UNIQUE Annual Allocation Program (UAAP) | U.S. DOL office |
| Maine | Maine Through Year Assessment and Maine Science Assessment | Years of study or the equivalent in standards achievement; credit totals are set by each school administrative unit. | Maine State Grant Program; Free College Scholarship | State agency |
| Montana | MAST and the ACT | 20 units (13 required, 7 elective or local). | MUS Honor Scholarship (MUSHS) | State agency |
| Rhode Island | RICAS, PSAT 10 and SAT | 20 credits. | Rhode Island Promise | State agency |
| Delaware | DeSSA and the SAT | 24 credits. | Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP); SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) Scholarship | State agency |
| South Dakota | SD ELA and Math Assessments and the SD-ACT | 22 units of credit. | South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship (SDOS) | U.S. DOL office |
| North Dakota | State assessment and the ACT or WorkKeys | 22 units. | North Dakota State Grant (Student Financial Assistance Program); North Dakota Scholarship | U.S. DOL office |
| Alaska | AK STAR and the Alaska Science Assessment | 21 units of credit (districts set the rest). | Alaska Performance Scholarship (APS); Alaska Education Grant (AEG) | U.S. DOL office |
| District of Columbia | DC CAPE | 24 Carnegie units. | DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) | State agency |
| Vermont | VTCAP | Proficiency-based; credit totals, if any, are set locally. | Vermont Grants (Vermont Incentive Grant and Advancement Grant) | State agency |
| Wyoming | WY-TOPP and the ACT | Years of coursework in four subjects; each district sets its total credits and other requirements in policy. | Hathaway Scholarship; Hathaway Need Grant | U.S. DOL office |
"U.S. DOL office" means registered apprenticeships in that state are run by the Department of Labor's Office of Apprenticeship; "State agency" means a recognized State Apprenticeship Agency. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- State Minimum High School Graduation Requirements · California Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) · California Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- 2025 Graduation Toolkit: Information for Planning High School Years and Beyond (PDF) · Texas Education Agency checked 2026-10-21
- Assessment: STAAR and Scoring (families and students) · Texas Education Agency checked 2026-10-21
- Standard Diploma Requirements: Academic Advisement, What Students and Parents Need to Know (PDF) · Florida Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- 2026-27 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Fact Sheet, Grades 3-10 ELA Reading and Grades 3-8 Mathematics (PDF, August 2026) · Florida Department of Education, Bureau of K-12 Student Assessment checked 2026-10-21
- Graduation Requirements (diploma credit and assessment requirements) · New York State Education Department checked 2026-10-21
- Office of State Assessment: New York State Testing Program · New York State Education Department checked 2026-10-21
- Graduation Requirements (Pathways to Graduation) · Pennsylvania Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) · Pennsylvania Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Illinois graduation requirements, 105 ILCS 5/27-22, 27-22.05, 27-22.10 (PDF, March 2025) · Illinois State Board of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) · Illinois State Board of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Ohio Revised Code 3313.603: Requirements for high school graduation (effective 30 Sept 2025) · Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Ohio Laws) checked 2026-10-21
- Ohio Revised Code 3301.0710: Statewide achievement assessments · Ohio Legislative Service Commission (Ohio Laws) checked 2026-10-21
- State Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.48: High School Graduation Requirements (students entering grade 9 in 2008-09 and later; PDF) · Georgia Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Georgia Milestones Assessment System · Georgia Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- High School Graduation Requirements (Future-Ready Course of Study) · North Carolina Department of Public Instruction checked 2026-10-21
- State Tests · North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Office of Accountability and Testing checked 2026-10-21
- Michigan Merit Curriculum: Michigan High School Graduation Requirements (18 credits) (PDF) · Michigan Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) · Michigan Department of Education checked 2026-10-21
- N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1, Graduation requirements (Standards and Assessment chapter, PDF) · New Jersey Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Assessment: statewide assessments administered each year · New Jersey Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 8VAC20-132-51. Requirements for graduation (effective for students who enter the ninth grade in the 2018-2019 school year) · Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Administrative Code (State Board of Education) checked 2026-10-22
- Virginia SOL Assessment Program · Virginia Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- WAC 180-51-210, High school graduation requirements: students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2017 · Washington State Legislature (State Board of Education rule) checked 2026-10-22
- State Testing · Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) checked 2026-10-22
- Arizona Administrative Code R7-2-302, Minimum Course of Study and Competency Requirements for Graduation from High School (Title 7, Chapter 2, Supp. 25-4, PDF) · Arizona Secretary of State, Administrative Code (State Board of Education rule) checked 2026-10-22
- A.R.S. 15-741, Assessment of pupils · Arizona State Legislature checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Requirements · Tennessee Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) · Tennessee Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 603 CMR 30.00: Standards for Competency Determination and Local Graduation Requirements (amended 20 May 2025) · Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System · Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Requirements · Indiana Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- ILEARN · Indiana Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 5 CSR 20-100.190, Graduation Requirements for Students in Public High Schools (Code of State Regulations, PDF) · Missouri Secretary of State, Code of State Regulations checked 2026-10-22
- Guide To The Missouri Assessment Program · Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- COMAR 13A.03.02.03, Enrollment and Credit Requirements (and .05 Student Service, .06 Maryland Comprehensive Assessments) · Library of Maryland Regulations (Division of State Documents) checked 2026-10-22
- State MCAP Scores Reach Five-Year High in English Language Arts and Mathematics (news release, 28 July 2026) · Maryland State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Guidelines · Colorado Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- CDE Assessment · Colorado Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Wis. Stat. § 118.33, High school graduation standards; criteria for promotion · Wisconsin State Legislature checked 2026-10-22
- Assessment in Wisconsin: the Wisconsin Student Assessment System · Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction checked 2026-10-22
- Minn. Stat. § 120B.024, Graduation requirements; course credits · Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes checked 2026-10-22
- Minnesota's Academic Standards-Based Assessments (MCA and MTAS) · Minnesota Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code of Regulations, R. 43-234, Defined Program, Grades 9-12 and Graduation Requirements (Chapter 43, PDF) · South Carolina Legislature (State Board of Education regulations) checked 2026-10-22
- S.C. Code Title 59, Chapter 18 (Education Accountability Act): §§ 59-18-310, -320 and -325 · South Carolina Legislature checked 2026-10-22
- Alabama High School Graduation Requirements, graduating class of 2028 and beyond, Option A (Ala. Admin. Code 290-3-1-.02(8), PDF) · Alabama State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- ACAP Summative and ACAP Alternate · Alabama State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Individual Graduation Plan (IGP), with TOPS University and TOPS Tech diploma course requirements (PDF, revised 2026-08-05) · Louisiana Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Parent Guide to LEAP 2025 Tests (PDF, revised 2024-11-22) · Louisiana Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 704 KAR 3:305, Minimum requirements for high school graduation (effective 2026-07-06) · Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (Kentucky Administrative Regulations) checked 2026-10-22
- Assessments: state assessments, grades and subjects · Kentucky Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Oregon Diploma: high school graduation requirements · Oregon Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Assessment Students and Families Resources: Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) · Oregon Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 2028 College Preparatory/Work Ready Curriculum Graduation Requirements (70 O.S. § 11-103.6; OAC 210:35-25-2, PDF) · Oklahoma State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- State Testing Resources: Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP) and CCRA · Oklahoma State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- C.G.S. § 10-221a, High school graduation requirements (General Statutes chapter 170) · Connecticut General Assembly checked 2026-10-22
- C.G.S. § 10-14n, Mastery examination (General Statutes chapter 163c) · Connecticut General Assembly checked 2026-10-22
- Rule R277-700, The Elementary and Secondary School General Core (R277-700-6 High School Requirements; R277-700-9 math competency), effective 2026-04-07 · Utah State Board of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment (RISE) · Utah State Board of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Nevada Diploma Requirements for the 2025-2028 Classes and for the 2029 Class and Beyond (re-printed 18 March 2026) · Nevada Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Office of Assessments · Nevada Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- High School Education Program and Graduation Requirements (frequently asked questions, 22 June 2026) · Iowa Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Summative Assessment (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) · Iowa Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Arkansas Graduation Requirements (handout, last updated 2024-04-04, and the Arkansas Graduation Requirements page) · Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education checked 2026-10-22
- Commissioner's Memo COM-25-054, Preliminary Testing Calendar 2025-2026 · Arkansas Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Kansas Graduation Requirements (classes of 2025, 2026, 2027) fact sheet · Kansas State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 2026-2027 Kansas Assessment Program Overview · Kansas State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards, 2025 (Standard 14; Appendix A-5 and Appendix A-6 Traditional Diploma) · Mississippi Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) · Mississippi Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Requirements Beginning with Cohort 2029 (flyer, May 2025) · New Mexico Public Education Department checked 2026-10-22
- Assessment · New Mexico Public Education Department, Assessment Bureau checked 2026-10-22
- IDAPA 08.02.03, Rules Governing Thoroughness (105 High School Graduation Requirements; 111 Assessment in the Public Schools) · Idaho State Board of Education (Idaho Administrative Code) checked 2026-10-22
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-729, High school students; graduation requirements; exceptions · Nebraska Legislature checked 2026-10-22
- NSCAS General Summative Assessment · Nebraska Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- High School Policy 2510 Best Practices (September 2025) · West Virginia Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Assessment (Office of Assessment) · West Virginia Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Board Policy 102-15, High School Graduation Requirements and Commencement (amended 2026-02-12) · Hawaii State Board of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Types of Testing · Hawaii State Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- N.H. Code Admin. R. Ed 306.23, Graduation Requirements (Tables 306-1 and 306-2) · New Hampshire General Court (Office of Legislative Services), rules of the Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Office of Assessment (statewide assessments) · New Hampshire Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 20-A M.R.S. § 4722, High school diploma standards · Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes checked 2026-10-22
- Maine Assessment Calendar (2026-27) · Maine Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- ARM 10.55.905, Graduation Requirements · Montana Secretary of State, Administrative Rules of Montana (Board of Public Education) checked 2026-10-22
- Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) · Montana Office of Public Instruction checked 2026-10-22
- 200-RICR-20-10-2, Secondary Design: Middle and High School Learning Environments and the Rhode Island Diploma System · Rhode Island Department of State, Rhode Island Code of Regulations (Council on Elementary and Secondary Education) checked 2026-10-22
- RICAS Assessments · Rhode Island Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- 14 DE Admin. Code 505, High School Graduation Requirements and Diplomas · State of Delaware, Registrar of Regulations (Department of Education) checked 2026-10-22
- DeSSA and State-mandated Testing Calendar (2025-26) · Delaware Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- ARSD 24:43:11:02, General requirements for high school graduation · South Dakota Legislature, Administrative Rules of South Dakota (Board of Education Standards) checked 2026-10-22
- Assessment (required assessments and 2026-27 test windows) · South Dakota Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- N.D. Century Code chapter 15.1-21, Curriculum and Testing (15.1-21-02.1, -02.2, -02.6, -02.10, -08, -19, -21, -27) · North Dakota Legislative Branch checked 2026-10-22
- 4 AAC 06.075, High school graduation requirements (filed regulation, Register 213) · State of Alaska, Lieutenant Governor (filed regulations), Department of Education and Early Development checked 2026-10-22
- AK STAR: Alaska System of Academic Readiness · Alaska Department of Education and Early Development checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Requirements (5-A DCMR § 2203) · Office of the State Superintendent of Education checked 2026-10-22
- DC CAPE (District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education) · Office of the State Superintendent of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Series 2000, Education Quality Standards (effective July 1, 2025), §§ 2120.6 and 2120.8 · Vermont State Board of Education / Agency of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Statewide Assessments (Vermont Comprehensive Assessment System) · Vermont Agency of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Chapter 31, Wyoming Graduation Requirements (State Board of Education rules) · Wyoming Department of Education checked 2026-10-22
- Wyoming Statewide Assessment Guide for Non-Public and Charter Schools (2025) · Wyoming Department of Education checked 2026-10-22