Distance Learning and State Authorization
Distance Learning
All credit-bearing courses and programs delivered through distance learning at Elizabethtown College must verify that a student registered is the student academically engaged in the course. Methods used by the college to verify student identification protect the privacy of student information by complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Students must provide complete and true information to comply with the Student Code of Conduct. Use of any disguise or technology to conceal identity or IP addresses while accessing and/or using college resources is forbidden and considered a violation of this policy. Please see the full policy and procedures for details.
Regional Authorization
Elizabethtown College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Middle States Association is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Elizabethtown College is committed to complying with all states’ regulations for its online programs.
State Authorization for Distance Education
Elizabethtown College is a participant of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), a voluntary, interstate agreement that establishes comparable standards for offering postsecondary distance education across state lines. Member states recognize participating institutions that are authorized in other member states. SARA establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
The
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offerings of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. Currently, all states (excluding California) plus the District of Columbia are members of NC-SARA.
Additional Information:
Please note that SARA does not cover professional licensure or certification (see below). For more information on SARA, please visit www.nc-sara.org.
Professional Licensures/Certifications
All jurisdictions have their own requirements for professional degrees that concern licensure/certification. Our degrees all fulfill the educational requirements for licensure in their respective fields for Pennsylvania. For other states, please view the database to find our alignment with other states to the best of our knowledge.
You may also wish to investigate licensure/certification with the appropriate licensing agency where you plan to practice before beginning your academic program with Elizabethtown College and the list of state agencies for each program is also in the database.
These links are reviewed annually. They may not represent the most current policies for the specified states. Always check with the specific state to verify current standards, policies, and requirements of that state.
- Actuarial Science
- Accounting
- Education
- Music Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Physician Assistant
- Psychology (MA)
- Social Work
Licensure Disclosures
Under 34 CFR Sec. 668.43, new federal regulations have been adopted that create new disclosure requirements for professional licensure programs regardless of the mode of delivery in that the rules apply to both face-to-face and distance education programs. Per the new rules, institutions are required to determine the states in which a student and prospective student are located for the purpose of disclosing state-specific professional licensure information to students based on the state in which a student is located.
Please see the information below if you are a prospective or current Etown student interested in pursuing professional licensure after graduation.
Actuarial Science
There are no individual state certification requirements to be an actuary. All certifications are given at the national society level. The Elizabethtown College in Actuarial Science program prepares students for the associate actuarial certification examinations of Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society, and thereby does meet the academic requirements for certification in all 50 states. For more information on actuarial credentials, please visit the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society.
Education
All educator preparation programs offered by Elizabethtown College are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The successful completion of an educator preparation program at Etown along with meeting all university and Pennsylvania requirements (minimum GPA, state testing, field experiences, student teaching, clinical internships, background clearances, etc.) will qualify candidates to receive a Professional Certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Pennsylvania is a member of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC). The NASDTEC Interstate Agreement facilitates the mobility of educators among the states and other jurisdictions that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Agreement. Although there may be conditions applicable to individual jurisdictions, the Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction. For example, a teacher who completed an approved teacher preparation program in Pennsylvania generally will be able to earn a certificate in another state. Receiving states may impose certain special requirements which must be met in a reasonable period of time. Most states require that educators who were prepared in another state complete at least one state-specific requirement (e.g., course, test). The one-year or other temporary license gives educators the opportunity to work in a school while they complete the requirement(s).
Although state licensure requirements are continually changing, sometimes without notice, there are two public resources that share important information related to license portability. First, the Education Commission of the States publishes a comparison of state policy on teacher license requirements, which is available here. Updated June 6, 2020, this informational site also links to each state’s specific licensure information for educators coming from outside the state. In addition, each state’s specific information regarding additional assessments required of out-of-state teachers is available here.
The other resource is the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) Interstate Agreement, which facilitates the mobility of educators among the 47 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Education Activity, and Guam, that have signed the Agreement. Pennsylvania signed this agreement. Licensure requirements for out-of-state educators are listed by state here, including an interactive map tool by state here.
It is very important that individuals seeking licensure in another state obtain the most recent certification/licensure information directly from the state in which they seek employment. You can find contact information on each state licensure office here.
Licensed Professional Counselor
We meet Pennsylvania regulations for Licensed Professional Counselor. Please see the above database to see whether the educational requirements of the Elizabethtown College Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program meets the current educational requirements of each state licensure board for a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Music Therapy
While not all states have music therapy licensure, as an AMTA-Approved School, a degree in music therapy from Etown will qualify you to sit for the board certification exam for the Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) credential. Specific state information is available from the Certification Board for Music Therapists.
Occupational Therapy
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and meets the educational requirements to become licensed in any US state. Students graduating from the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the NBCOT. For more information, please reach out to the state regulatory authority.
All states in the United States require a license to practice occupational therapy. Each state also has specific legislation describing the process for obtaining a license to practice and specific licensure application requirements. The primary criterion for obtaining a license in any state is passing the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy Examination (NBCOT). In order to be eligible to take the certification exam, students must complete all program requirements and all fieldwork must be satisfied within eighteen months of completion of didactic coursework.
Physician Assistant
The Elizabethtown College Physician Assistant Program has determined that its PA program curriculum and accreditation status meet the requirements for graduates to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) which is required to become certified and obtain a license in every U.S. state. Passing the PANCE exam is required to obtain a PA certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Successful completion of the PANCE exam is required for licensure in each U.S. state. There may be additional requirements for licensure which will vary by state for which you can use this resource from the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Social Work
Licensing across the US for social workers requires a BSW or MSW from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) accredited program. A bachelor’s in social work degree from Elizabethtown College meets this requirement; therefore, a social work degree obtained from Etown will meet the initial licensing requirements for all 50 states, if bachelor-level licensing is available in that state. Information by state is available at: https://www.aswb.org/licenses/.
Student Complaint Information
In compliance with U.S. Congressional House Rule (HR) 668.43(b) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) Federal Integrity Rules, Elizabethtown College must provide our students and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with each state licensing entity and any other relevant agency that would handle the complaint. Elizabethtown College strives to provide the highest quality of service and the best student experience possible. In the event that you have a serious complaint against the College, please review your options for filing a Distance Education Complaint.