Professional Licensure

The curriculum for the Alcohol and Drug (post-grad) Certificate program leading to a certificate from NDMU has been designed to meet the academic requirements for certification in Maryland, as well as preparing students to apply for the certification exam in the State of Maryland. The licensure/certification boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Students who intend to return or move to any state other than Maryland need to review the professional licensure/certification requirements pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing/certification board from the links provided.

Disclaimer

Credentials in the professional field of art therapy are managed by the American Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).

The ATCB serves to protect the public by promoting the competent and ethical practice of art therapy. It manages the credentialing and testing processes of art therapists (in alignment with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA)) to ensure the professional and high-caliber practice of the profession. Nationally, the ATR or ATR-BC credential assures that an art therapist has a high-caliber of education, training, and experience. Registered Art Therapists (ATRs) have demonstrated a rigorous level of education and training. Board Certified Art Therapists (ATR-BCs) have the added credential if they pass a comprehensive national exam.

Beyond the national credentials of ATR and ATR-BC, some states and territories have additional state licensure options OR mandates for art therapy practice.  What follows is an assessment of current state licensure options OR mandates for art therapist practice by state.

Of the states that license art therapists, all but Connecticut and New Mexico seem to have alignment with NDMU’s curriculum, mandate that the applicant have graduated from a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) approved program or equivalent master’s program and either get the ATR-BC first before applying or use the ATCB exam as the licensing exam from the start.

To be clear, licensure in art therapy specifically or in an allied, “umbrella” field is not required in most states for practice. 

Master’s Degree training and some level of post-graduate credentialing (ATR or ATR-BC) through ATCB is generally required for practice nationwide.

Exception

• The Rule: The standard, normal scenario of a Licensure program would follow the regulations of professional licensure.
• The Exception: What is the specific, different, or excluded case? Notre Dame of Maryland University did not develop this program with the intention to meet Licensure requirements for a Certified Public Accountant
• The Purpose: Why is this being done? (students/parents have been confused about getting a Business Administration degree with a Concentration in Accounting, and trying to take a state licensure exam for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

The Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health program is designed to meet the educational requirements for nutrition licensure in Maryland, as well as for independent certification by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists.

The licensure/certification boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. For students who reside in a state other than Maryland, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity. Seeking information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before beginning an academic program or seeking employment will give you the most up-to-date information and answer most questions.

The table in the MS Nutrition and Integrative Health General Disclosures document (see below) represents the Nutrition Department’s evaluation of whether the MS Nutrition and Integrative Health program meets state-specific educational requirements for licensure or certification.

Additional requirements. Completing a program that meets educational requirements is typically only one part of the professional licensure requirements. Most states require individuals to meet additional requirements to qualify for licensure, including but not limited to supervised clinical experiences and passing of state or national exams. Other licensure requirements may include, but are not limited to, fees, background checks, references, etc.

Potential changes in requirements. Licensure information is reviewed and updated on a semi-annual basis. Students who plan to pursue licensure should be aware that state licensure requirements are subject to changes. All students are encouraged to routinely review and monitor licensing and certification requirements for the state where they intend to work/practice.

M.S. Nutrition and Integrative Health – General Disclosure

M.S. Nutrition and Integrative Health – Attestation Form 

All 50 states in the United States plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam require occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to be licensed to provide occupational therapy services. A license grants you the legal privilege to practice occupational therapy in the state in which you are licensed.

Your occupational therapy license is not the same as the certification that you earn by passing the exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Pennsylvania: Additional Curricular Requirements (Not Fully Covered Within the NDMU PA Studies Program Curriculum, as stipulated below):
1. (Child Abuse CE) – “All health-related licensees/certificate holders and funeral directors are considered “mandatory reporters” under section 6311 of the Child Protective Services Law (23 P.S. § 6311).
2. (Opioid CE) – “Section 9.1(a) of ABC-MAP* requires that all prescribers or dispensers, as defined in Section 3 of ABC-MAP, applying for licensure/approval complete at least 4 hours of Board-approved education consisting of 2 hours in pain management or the identification of addiction and 2 hours in the practices of prescribing or dispensing of opioids.

Michigan: “Human Trafficking Training – Beginning April 23, 2021, completion of a one-time training to identify victims of human trafficking is required for an individual seeking licensure that meets the standards of Administrative Rule 338.6103.Implicit Bias Training– Beginning June 1, 2022, completion of 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years immediately preceding issuance of the license or registration is required. This requirement does not apply to applicants for re-licensure.”

Louisiana: The required curriculum (below) is not included within the Notre Dame of Maryland University PA Studies Program Curriculum:
Online Education Course and Quiz
Take and successfully complete the Online Education Course and Quiz. This course will review the Rules pertaining to the practice of physician assistants in the state of Louisiana. Instructions and enrollment key will be provided upon receipt of application.

New York: For a program for the training of physician assistants to be determined substantially equivalent to a licensure qualifying or accredited program, it must include: at least 32 semester hours of classroom work; and 40 weeks (1,600 clock hours) of supervised clinical training.
Infection Control and Barrier Precautions:
Every practicing physician assistant must complete approved coursework or training appropriate to the professional’s practice in infection control and barrier precautions.

Puerto Rico: Current Laws in Puerto Rico Do Not Allow for PA Practice:
https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2017/02/puerto-rico-final-frontier-pa-licensure/

(Additional information may be obtained in the Physician Assistant academic program office)

Exception

• The Rule: The standard, normal scenario of a Licensure program would follow the regulations of professional licensure.
• The Exception: What is the specific, different, or excluded case? Notre Dame of Maryland University only offers an undergraduate degree in Psychology, and therefore, is NOT eligible for professional licensure.
• The Purpose: Why is this being done? (students/parents have been confused about getting an undergraduate degree and trying to take a State Psychologist licensure exam).

The Radiological Science BS program, in the Women’s College, has several partnerships to align BS coursework with the Radiological Science admissions requirements. Admission is not guaranteed, but we work to improve the chances for successful admission. Contact the School of Arts, Sciences & Business advising office for more information.

American Society for Radiologic Technologists

Teacher license reciprocity allows educators who hold a teaching license in one state to earn a license in another state, subject to meeting state-specific requirements. Most states have policies in place to extend reciprocity for certain teachers, and a few states provide full reciprocity for all fully licensed teachers from other states.

It is the student’s responsibility to check the state teaching licensure requirements for the state they wish to seek employment. Notre Dame of Maryland University has not determined each state, territory or the District of Columbia’s licensure reciprocity or alignment with its Maryland curriculum.

Below, we provide students links to each state’s teacher licensure profile and directory. Please use these resources to see a 50-state comparison of teacher licensure reciprocity and links to additional information.

• • Teacher License Reciprocity: State Profiles
  • Professional Education Licensure Directory for all 50 States

For additional information, visit the Education Commission of the States.

Guam: GCEC understands the importance of digitizing the modernizing the application process for convenience and efficiency.
We are glad to report that a new online application process is a work in progress and will be ready in the next couple months.
You may access all current forms, including the application, as PDFs at this time.

Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program is fully approved by the Maryland Board of Nursing. NDMU BSN graduates are eligible to take the National Council on Licensing Examination-RN (NCLEX-RN). Contact the School of Nursing if a specific State Board of Nursing requires documentation that you are eligible to register for the NCLEX-RN examination.

Notre Dame of Maryland University has not made a determination of whether the Nursing curriculum meets educational licensure requirements of other states, territories or the District of Columbia unless listed below.

A link to a list of all states/jurisdictions where the institution has not made a determination of whether the curriculum meets educational requirements is listed below through the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website. Students may use this online resource to check licensure requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in a Nursing occupation. A link to this resource is provided below, as well as a link to all 50 states licensure boards.

• National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
• Professional Nursing Licensure Directory for all 50 States

Notre Dame of Maryland has determined Registered Nurse licensure requirements align with the Notre Dame of Maryland’s School of Nursing’s program of study for the following states and the District of Columbia.

Delaware: The state of Delaware requires applicants to complete a board-approved registered nursing program.

District of Columbia: The District of Columbia requires applicants to complete a board-approved nursing program and to register for the NCLEX exam with Pearson Vue.

New Jersey: The state of New Jersey requires applicants to complete a board-approved registered nursing program.

Pennsylvania: The state of Pennsylvania requires applicants to complete a board-approved nursing program.

Virginia:The state of Virginia requires applicants to have a high school education or GED plus a degree or diploma from a state-approved nursing program.

West Virginia: The state of West Virginia requires applicants to complete a board-approved registered nursing program

Licensure Requirements Laws in all states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, require applicants for licensure to:

1. be of good moral character;
2. be 21 years of age;
3. have graduated from an ACPE-accredited first professional degree program of a University or school of pharmacy; and
4. have passed an examination given by the board of pharmacy.

All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands use the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). All jurisdictions require candidates for licensure to have a record of practical experience or internship training acquired under the supervision and instruction of a licensed practitioner. Some states, including Maryland, accept the training completed during a formal academic program.

Publications concerning the NAPLEX licensure examination and internship experience are available from NABP. For further information regarding licensure, please contact the Maryland Board of Pharmacy.

**Special compliance procedures for NAPLEX and/or MPJE licensure**

To be a licensed pharmacist, the graduate needs to take both NAPLEX (knowledge) and MPJE (law) at a minimum cost of $890. Below is a breakdown of the cost for both:

NAPLEX ($620 total)
A non-refundable $100 application fee
A $520 examination fee

Additional Fees:

• Jurisdiction Processing Fee: If you are seeking licensure in certain jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia, an additional non-refundable $85 processing fee applies.
• Score Transfer Fee: If you plan to transfer your NAPLEX score to additional states, the fee is $105 per jurisdiction starting June 2, 2025.

MJPE ($270 total minimum)

A non-refundable $100 fee per jurisdiction
A $170 fee per jurisdiction

Exception

• The Rule: The standard, normal scenario of a Licensure program would follow the regulations of professional licensure.
• The Exception: What is the specific, different, or excluded case? Notre Dame of Maryland University only offers a Minor study in Sociology and is therefore NOT eligible for professional Social Work licensure.
• The Purpose: Why is this being done? (students/parents have been confused about minor studies and trying to take a State Social Work licensure exam).

The Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program prepares advanced practice nurses to manage care for individuals of all ages in primary care settings. With caring at the center of nursing practice, the student will learn to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions with consideration for the whole person. Beyond managing disease, the program emphasizes wellness coaching to reduce the risk for chronic diseases linked to lifestyle choices.

**State Practice Environment**

Full Practice
State practice and licensure laws permit all NPs to evaluate patients; diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests; and initiate and manage treatments, including prescribing medications and controlled substances, under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing. This is the model recommended by the National Academy of Medicine, formerly called the Institute of Medicine, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Reduced Practice
State practice and licensure laws reduce the ability of NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice. State law requires a career-long regulated collaborative agreement with another health provider in order for the NP to provide patient care, or it limits the setting of one or more elements of NP practice.

Restricted Practice
State practice and licensure laws restrict the ability of NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice. State law requires career-long supervision, delegation or team management by another health provider in order for the NP to provide patient care.

State Practice Information
You need to know all the details about NP practice in your state—from signature authority to the number of CE hours required for licensure and beyond. With your AANP membership, you can access quick reference guides on your state to inform yourself and your patients.

The Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (A-GNP) program prepares advanced practice nurses to manage care for adolescents through older adults in primary care settings. With caring at the center of nursing practice, the student will learn to promote health, prevent illness, and manage acute and chronic conditions with consideration for the whole person. Beyond managing disease, the program emphasizes wellness coaching to reduce the risk for chronic diseases linked to lifestyle choices.

**State Practice Environment**

Full Practice
State practice and licensure laws permit all NPs to evaluate patients; diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests; and initiate and manage treatments, including prescribing medications and controlled substances, under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing. This is the model recommended by the National Academy of Medicine, formerly called the Institute of Medicine, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Reduced Practice
State practice and licensure laws reduce the ability of NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice. State law requires a career-long regulated collaborative agreement with another health provider in order for the NP to provide patient care, or it limits the setting of one or more elements of NP practice.

Restricted Practice
State practice and licensure laws restrict the ability of NPs to engage in at least one element of NP practice. State law requires career-long supervision, delegation or team management by another health provider in order for the NP to provide patient care.

State Practice Information
You need to know all the details about NP practice in your state—from signature authority to the number of CE hours required for licensure and beyond. With your AANP membership, you can access quick reference guides on your state to inform yourself and your patients.