Distance Learning and State Authorization

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.

Elizabethtown College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE or the Commission). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education 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.

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. Currently, all states (excluding California) plus the District of Columbia are members of NC-SARA.

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.

Please note that SARA does not cover professional licensure or certification. For more information on SARA, please visit www.nc-sara.org.

• Activities covered by NC-SARA
• NC-SARA Members
• Elizabethtown College Complaint Procedures

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. The list of state agencies for each program is also included in the database.

These links are reviewed annually and may not represent the most current policies for the specified states. Always check with the specific state to verify current standards, policies, and requirements.

Completion of Elizabethtown College’s Bachelor of Science in Accounting program meets the educational requirements to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting (CPA) exam. State-specific information is located at nasba.org/stateboards.

There are no individual state certification requirements to be an actuary. All certifications are given at the national society level. The Elizabethtown College Actuarial Science program prepares students for the associate actuarial certification examinations of the Society of Actuaries and Casualty Actuarial Society, thereby meeting 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.

All educator preparation programs offered by Elizabethtown College are approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 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 member states and jurisdictions. Although receiving states may impose certain requirements, the Agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program in one state to earn a certificate or license in another.

• Education Commission of the States: Teacher License Reciprocity Comparison
• NASDTEC Interstate Agreement Requirements by State
• State Licensure Office Contact Information

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.

Elizabethtown College meets Pennsylvania regulations for the educational training requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor. Please note that additional requirements apply to obtaining licensure, including attaining post-graduate supervised training hours and passing a national certifying examination.

Please see the state-by-state disclosure to determine whether the educational requirements of Elizabethtown College’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program (as of the 2025–26 academic year) meet the current educational requirements of each state licensure board. Specific state information is available from the State Board | NBCC.

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.

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 U.S. state.

Students graduating from the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the NBCOT. All states require a license to practice occupational therapy. The primary criterion for obtaining a license in any state is passing the NBCOT examination. Students must complete all program requirements and all fieldwork within eighteen months of completion of didactic coursework to be eligible. For more information, please reach out to the state regulatory authority.

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) and is required for licensure in each U.S. state. There may be additional state-specific requirements. Please use this resource from the American Academy of Physician Assistants for state-by-state information.

Please see the Licensed Professional Counselor section above for information on state licensure disclosures related to the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program.

Licensing across the U.S. 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 aswb.org/licenses.

Under 34 CFR Sec. 668.43, federal regulations create disclosure requirements for professional licensure programs regardless of the mode of delivery — applying to both face-to-face and distance education programs. 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.

Please see the program-specific information in the Professional Licensures & Certifications section above if you are a prospective or current Etown student interested in pursuing professional licensure after graduation.

In compliance with U.S. Congressional House Rule (HR) 668.43(b) and U.S. Department of Education Federal Integrity Rules, Elizabethtown College provides students and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with each state licensing entity and any other relevant agency.

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.