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Professional Licensure

Find out about professional licensure before beginning an academic program at University of Maryland Global Campus.

Professional licensing requirements in fields like accounting, education, counseling, and nursing differ by state. Explore below to see if the identified University of Maryland Global Campus program is designed to help prepare you for licensure in a particular state.

Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, UMGC highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state's licensing requirements.

Completion of a UMGC degree program does not guarantee employment in any profession. Prior to enrollment, students are responsible for confirming all education, testing, and licensing requirements in their chosen field.

Criminal Background Information: Some states' laws require a criminal background check and may disqualify an individual from obtaining licensure if the individual has been convicted of certain crimes. If you have a criminal background, please check with the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to work for more information.

Accounting Programs

UMGC currently offers the following accounting programs: Bachelor of Science in accountingMaster of Science in accounting and financial managementMaster of Science in CyberAccounting, and Master of Science in management with an accounting specialization. These programs are designed to help prepare students to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam and/or obtain initial licensure as a Certified Public Accountant in Maryland. To sit for the CPA Exam in Maryland, a candidate is required to have successfully completed 120 credits toward an accounting degree. Many other states, however, require candidates to successfully complete 150 credits prior to sitting for the CPA Exam.

To obtain initial licensure as a CPA in Maryland and most other states, a candidate is required to have successfully completed 150 credits. Maryland has additional requirements to obtain initial licensure as a CPA, not all of which can be fulfilled through education. Learn more about Maryland's requirements for initial licensure. Students seeking licensure in another state are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in their state.

Degrees or Credits from Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions or Third Party Non-Educational Facilities/Businesses: UMGC may accept undergraduate degrees or transfer credit on a case-by-case basis from a non-regionally accredited institution that is accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or from third party non-educational facilities/business. The Maryland Board of Public Accountancy, however, may not accept such degrees or credit as meeting the education requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and/or to obtain initial licensure as a CPA in Maryland, including credits that were ACE-evaluated or accepted by another school or university. Contact the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy to learn more about Maryland's education requirements for initial licensure and credits that may not be accepted by the Board. Licensing boards in other states may not accept such credit or degrees. Please contact the appropriate state board for more information.

Degrees or Credits from Institutions Outside of the United States: UMGC may accept undergraduate degrees or transfer credit on a case-by-case basis from institutions outside of the United States. The Maryland Board of Public Accountancy, however, may not accept such degrees or credit as meeting the education requirements to sit for the CPA Exam and/or to obtain initial licensure as a CPA in Maryland. Contact the Maryland Board of Public Accountancy to determine how to seek evaluation of foreign transcripts. The Maryland Board of Public Accountancy only accepts evaluations of foreign transcripts from the NASBA International Evaluation Service. Licensing boards in other states may not accept such credit or degrees. Please contact the appropriate state board for more information regarding evaluation of foreign transcripts.

State Licensing Board Information

Master of Arts in Teaching

UMGC currently offers a Master of Arts in Teaching. This program is designed to help prepare students to obtain initial certification as a teacher in Maryland in the field of secondary education in a specific subject area. Learn more about Maryland's requirements for initial licensure. Students seeking licensure in another state are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in their state. In particular, students seeking licensure in another state should confirm that the specific subject area they wish to pursue is available for licensure in that state.

Degrees or Credits from Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions: For some programs, UMGC may accept undergraduate degrees or transfer credit on a case-by-case basis from a non-regionally accredited institution that is accredited by a national accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education or Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Maryland State Department of Education may not accept undergraduate degrees or credit from non-regionally accredited institutions as meeting the education requirements to obtain initial licensure as a teacher in Maryland. Licensing boards in other states may not accept such credit or degrees. Accordingly, UMGC does not accept undergraduate degrees or transfer credit from non-regionally accredited institutions for students enrolling in the Masters of Art in Teaching program. Contact the Maryland State Department of Education to learn more about Maryland's education requirements for initial licensure.

UMGC's Master of Arts in Teaching program is not open for enrollment to residents of Kentucky unless approved by UMGC on a case-by-case basis. Please e-mail us for further information regarding UMGC's MAT program.

Department of Defense Schools

If a student resides in a state in which UMGC is not currently accepting students and the student is eligible to complete the program's field and clinical requirements at a Department of Defense Education Activity school, the student may e-mail us to discuss options for enrollment in the MAT program.

State Licensing Board Information

Master of Education in Instructional Technology

UMGC currently offers the Master of Education in instructional technology program. This program does not lead to initial teacher certification in Maryland, but rather is designed to enhance skills in instructional technology. Students seeking initial teacher certification in Maryland or another state should consider enrolling in UMGC's Master of Arts in Teaching program.

Maryland does not offer additional licenses, certifications, or endorsements for graduates of the Master of Education in instructional technology program. Other states, however, may offer additional licenses, certifications, or endorsements for graduates of this type of program. Although UMGC is offering distance education in compliance with all states' laws, we cannot confirm whether this program meets other state's education requirements to obtain additional licensure. Students who wish to take this program to seek additional licensure in another state are advised to contact the appropriate licensing board in their state.

Currently, UMGC's Master of Education in instructional technology program is not open for enrollment to residents of Kentucky, unless approved by UMGC on a case-by-case basis.

Department of Defense Schools

If a student resides in a state in which UMGC is not currently accepting students and the student is eligible to complete the program's field and clinical requirements at a Department of Defense Education Activity school, the student may e-mail us to discuss options for enrollment in the MEd in instructional technology program.

State Licensing Board Information

Environmental Management & Public Safety Programs

Environmental Management Bachelor's Degree

Our undergraduate environmental management program does not lead to initial professional licensure in the field of professional engineering. Please consult with the applicable state board for information on education, work experience, and examinations for licensure as a professional engineer.

Environmental Management Master of Science Degree

Our graduate environmental management program does not lead to initial professional licensure in the field of professional engineering. Please consult with the applicable state board for information on education, work experience, and examinations for licensure as a professional engineer.

Public Safety Bachelor's Degree

Our undergraduate public safety program does not lead to initial professional licensure in the field of professional engineering. Please consult with the applicable state board for information on education, work experience, and examinations for licensure as a professional engineer.

Healthcare Programs

Master of Science in Clinical Professional Counseling

This program is structured to prepare you for the National Counselor Examination (NCE), administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. This exam is used by the state of Maryland and other states as a requirement for licensure as a professional mental health counselor. Each state also sets additional requirements related to post-degree supervised counseling experience as part of the licensing process.

The program is designed to prepare Maryland residents to meet the state’s requirements to become a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC). If you are a Maryland resident, you may apply to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) once you have completed a minimum of 2,000 post-graduation clinical hours toward the state-required total of 3,000.

For Maryland: Maryland is UMGC's home state. UMGC's Master of Science in Clinical Professional Counseling meets the education requirements to obtain initial licensure in this state.

For all other states, territories, and Washington, D.C.: Contact the licensing board where you reside for information regarding the requirements for licensure outside of the state of Maryland. You may also contact your state board to find out what academic program you should pursue if you are seeking to become a licensed clinical professional counselor in your state.

State Licensing Board Information

Nursing for Registered Nurses Bachelor's Degree

UMGC's nursing for registered nurses bachelor's degree program is only open to students who have an associate's degree in nursing or a diploma from a registered nursing education program that is recognized by the appropriate state board of nursing. In addition, students must reside in and have an active, unencumbered nursing license in one of the following approved states at the time of admission and throughout completion of the program: Arizona; Arkansas; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Michigan; Mississippi; Montana; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Texas; Vermont; Virginia; West Virginia; Wisconsin; and Washington, D.C.

Note: This program is not intended to lead to initial professional licensure.

State Licensing Board Information

Psychology Bachelor's Degree

Our undergraduate psychology program does not lead to initial professional licensure in the field of mental health. You must pursue a graduate or doctoral program or take additional coursework after obtaining a bachelor's degree to seek licensure. Please consult with the applicable state board for more information.

 

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