Professional Licensure – Maryland

Licensing Agency

Maryland Higher Education Commission
Georgia Southern University is authorized to operate in Maryland through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). 

Athletic Training (on-campus)

Maryland

Maryland Board of Physicians, Athletic Trainers

National

Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer

Licensure Disclosure

Maryland requires graduation from an athletic training program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training (CAATE), and then passing the Board of Certification (BOC) Examination. Completion of Georgia Southern’s MS in Athletic Training program meets the educational requirement for certification as an athletic trainer.

Accounting (on-campus or distance education)

Maryland

Maryland Board of Public Accountancy

National

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

Distance Education Program

Georgia Southern University is authorized to deliver the WebMAcc program in Maryland through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). 

Licensure Disclosures

Applicants must have 150 total semester hours of education to apply. Coupled with an undergraduate accounting degree or an appropriate number of accounting courses, completion of Georgia Southern’s Master of Accounting (WebMAcc/MAcc) program meets the educational requirements to sit for the uniform CPA exam which is the first step towards CPA licensure in Maryland. 

Maryland requires the AICPA ethics exam to obtain a CPA license. Georgia Southern University’s Master of Accounting program meets the educational requirements for ethics education that prepare students to sit for the appropriate ethics exams.

Communication Sciences and Disorders (on-campus)

National

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Maryland

Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, Speech-Language Pathologists & Music Therapists

Licensure Disclosure

Applicants for a license as a Speech Language Pathologist must hold a master’s degree from an ASHA-accredited educational program. A current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) helps with reducing paperwork for your application but is not required. Applicants must have 36 weeks of full-time post-graduate professional employment experience. Applicants for a limited license must have a master’s degree from an ASHA-accredited educational program and must have a minimum of 300 hours of clinical experience. The Master of Science (M.S.) in speech-language pathology at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association with the appropriate number of supervised training hours, thus the program meets educational requirements for the state of Maryland.

No additional certification is required to practice in the educational setting.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Science in Communication Sciences Disorders meets the educational requirements for a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SPL-A) in Maryland.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders does not meet the educational requirements for a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SPL-A) in Maryland.

Education (on-campus or distance education)

Maryland State Department of Education

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in Ohio through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA): Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education in Curriculum Instruction – Accomplished Teaching, Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Education in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology, Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, Graduate Certificate in School Library Media

While authorized to deliver these programs by SARA, students residing in Maryland cannot enroll in these online programs if they do not sign an attestation indicating their plans to obtain licensure in GA or another authorized state. Students who reside in GA but wish to obtain licensure in Maryland after getting a GA license do not need an attestation to enroll but may need to complete additional requirements to obtain licensure in Maryland.

Licensure Disclosures

Generally, students must get their GA teacher certification before applying for a Maryland certification. Maryland is a member of the National Association Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) interstate agreement. Educators from other states seeking Maryland certification via reciprocity must hold the equivalent type and subject area/grade level out-of-state license. Assuming such equivalency, the following applies:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher; Completion of a teacher preparation program, including a clinical internship, that is approved to lead to licensure in another state or country in the license area being sought; 
• Passing score (159) on the Praxis 5205 Teaching Reading Elementary licensure assessment if applying for early childhood, elementary, generic special education, or ESOL licensure; 
• Beginning July 1, 2025:Passing score on a portfolio-based performance assessment; or A National Board Certificate; or an effective rating on a year-end evaluation if employed by a Maryland local school system, Maryland-operated school, or Maryland special education school

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education does NOT meet educational requirements for an Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) teaching certification in Maryland. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Health and Physical Education teaching (PK-12) certification in Maryland.  

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Middle Grades Education (4-9)  teaching certification in Maryland. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education does NOT meet educational requirements for Secondary Education teaching certification in Maryland. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Special Education does NOT meet educational requirements for a Special Education (1-8) and Special Education (6-adult) teaching certification in Maryland.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts, in Art Education does NOT meet the educational requirements for certification in Maryland.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Music in Music Education does NOT meet the educational requirements for certification in Maryland.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Arts in Teaching does NOT meet educational requirements for initial teaching certification in Maryland

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction – Accomplished Teaching does NOT meet educational requirements for Curriculum and Instruction teaching certification in Maryland.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for certification as a Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, or Principal in Maryland. Maryland requires a Master’s, or higher degree; 27 months of satisfactory teaching performance or satisfactory performance on a professional certificate or satisfactory performance as a certified specialist; An out-of-state program that leads to certification as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal, or principal in the state where it is located; Three semester hours or State-approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and 3 hours credit in special education coursework.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership does NOT meet educational requirements for Tier 1 teacher/leader certification in Maryland. 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in Maryland. Additional coursework in special education is required.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in Instructional Technology does NOT meet educational requirements for Instructional Technology teaching certification in Maryland.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Graduate Certificate in School Library Media does NOT meet educational requirements for School Library Media teacher/leader certification in Maryland. A master’s degree is required.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, Concentration in School Counseling does NOT meet educational requirements for School Counselor certification in Maryland 

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Master of Education in Counseling Education, with a Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, DOES NOT meet educational requirements for either National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification in Maryland. Additional coursework in special education is required.

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Education Specialist in School Psychology does NOT meet the educational requirements for School Psychologist certification in Maryland. Additional coursework in special education is required.

Geology (on-campus or distance education)

National

Association of State Boards of Geology

Maryland does not license or certify Professional Geologists

Engineering and Land Surveying (on-campus)

National

National Council of Examiners for Engineering & Surveying (NCEES)

Maryland

Maryland Board for Professional Engineers

Maryland Board for Professional Land Surveyors

State licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) is not required to work in the field of engineering. However, many employment opportunities require a PE license. 

Georgia Southern’s BS in Civil Engineering, BS in Computer Engineering, BS in Construction Engineering, BS in Electrical Engineering, BS in Manufacturing Engineering, BS in Mechanical Engineering, and BS in Software Engineering programs are EAC-ABET-accredited. 

The minimum requirements for a PE license include completion of a BS degree in Engineering from an EAC-ABET accredited engineering program; successful completion of the Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Exam; successful completion of the Professional Engineer (PE) Exam; and 4-years of work experience as specified by the state’s licensing board

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science Programs in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Manufacturing Engineering meet the educational requirements to begin the licensure process in Maryland, by providing the coursework necessary to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination. Software Engineering does not have a specific PE examination. It is typically recommended that candidates sit for their FE exam toward the end of their senior year, or soon after graduation.

Surveying-Geomatics

Licensure Disclosure

To apply for a professional land surveyor license (PLS) in Maryland you must:

Have a degree from an accredited four-year surveying program or a board-approved equivalent, pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam, and have four years of verifiable work experience under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor.

Georgia Southern’s embedded Surveying-Geomatics certificate meets the educational requirement to sit for the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) examination to become a land surveyor intern or land surveyor in training (LSIT) which is the first step in becoming a PLS in Maryland.

Interior Architecture and Design (on-campus)

National

National Council for Interior Design Qualification

Maryland

Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation

Licensure Disclosure

To become licensed as an interior designer in Maryland you must graduate from a Council for Interior Design Accredited (CIDA) program and pass the passing the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) examination.  Students graduating from a 4-year bachelor’s program need two years of interior design experience to apply for a license. Georgia Southern’s program is both CIDA and National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) accredited. The program meets the educational requirements to sit for the NCIDQ and apply for licensure in Maryland. Work requirements may occur after graduation.

Medical Laboratory Science (on-campus or distance education)

National

ASCP Board of Certification (BOC)

Online Program Disclosure
Georgia Southern University offers the online Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) degree program to students located in New Hampshire. The Medical Laboratory Science program at Georgia Southern offers an online track consisting of a Post-Baccalaureate option and a Career Track option. The Post-Baccalaureate option is for students with a BS in biology, chemistry, or related science. The Career Track option is for a certified MLT wishing to pursue a BS in MLS degree in addition to the traditional track, Georgia Southern offers online degree completion options for students currently working in the medical laboratory science field.

The MLS program will qualify a graduate of this program to sit for the exam for MLS ASCP Certification in all 50 United States through Route 1 (BS degree from a NAACLS-accredited MLS program)

Licensure Disclosure
Licensure or certification is not required to work in a medical laboratory in Maryland

Nursing (on-campus or distance education)

National

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Maryland

Maryland Board of Nursing

Distance Education Disclosure

Georgia Southern is authorized to offer the following online programs in Alaska through mutual participation in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA): RN-BSN, Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Post-BSN-DNP, and Post-MSN APRN Certificates. DNP and Post-MSN APRN Certificates are only authorized for the online didactic portion of the program in Alaska. All clinical work must occur in Georgia or South Carolina.

Licensure Disclosure

Completion of Georgia Southern University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program does meet the educational requirements for Registered Nurse licensure in Maryland.

Completion of the DNP, BSN to DNP, or Post-MSN APRN Certificate (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) programs meets educational requirements to sit for national specialty certifications in the chosen advanced practice specialty track and to apply for an APRN license (Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) in Maryland. Georgia and South Carolina residents with a valid Maryland RN license can apply for APRN licensure in Maryland upon graduation. 

Physical Therapy (on-campus)

Maryland

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

Licensure Disclosure

Maryland requires that applicants graduate from a doctoral program in physical therapy that is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).  Applicants must also pass the National Physical Therapist Examination (CAPTE). Georgia Southern’s doctoral program in physical therapy meets the educational requirement for licensure in Maryland as the program is accredited by CAPTE and prepares students to take the NPTE.

Psychology (on-campus)

Maryland

Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists

Maryland Department of Health, The Board of Examiners of Psychologists

Licensure Disclosure

To apply for board certification as an applied behavioral analyst earn a Master’s degree from an Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verified program, obtain 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork, and pass the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) BCBA Certification Exam. The MS – Psychology (Behavior Analysis Concentration) degree provides the Association of Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) verified coursework and thus meets the educational requirement leading to certification as an applied behavioral analyst. Through some elective course options, students could begin accruing supervised fieldwork hours, however, it is not guaranteed that 2,000 may be earned during enrollment. The BACB BCBA Certification Exam is taken after students complete the MS – Psychology (Behavior Analysis Concentration) degree. 

To apply for a license as a clinical psychologist, Maryland requires that you graduate from an accredited doctoral program in psychology, pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP, Parts 1 and 2), and obtain 2,000 hours of post-doctoral experience. Georgia Southern’s APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology meets the educational requirement for licensure.

Radiologic Science (on-campus or distance education)

National

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)

American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)

Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)

Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)

Maryland

Maryland Board of Physicians (Radiologic Science)

Online Program Disclosure
The Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences: Bridge program offers a degree completion program for radiographers, radiation therapists, sonographers, and nuclear medicine technologists. If you are certified by the ARRT, NMTCB, or RDMS, then you may qualify to complete this B.S. degree in Radiologic Sciences Bridge program.

Licensure Disclosures

Maryland grants licenses to Radiographers for those who hold certificates from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists ARRT. Maryland grants licenses to Radiation Therapists who hold certificates from the ARRT. Maryland grants licenses to Nuclear Medicine Technologists who hold certification from the ARRT or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). Georgia Southern’s BS in Radiologic Sciences program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology and the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) and prepares students to take any of the national certification exams (depending on the track), therefore, the program meets educational requirements.

MD is a non-licensure state for sonography and cardiovascular invasive specialists. 

Respiratory Therapy (on-campus)

Maryland

Maryland Board of Physicians

National

National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)

Licensure Disclosure

Maryland requires proof of completion of an educational program as a practitioner of respiratory care that is approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or its successor organization or the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CARC). Applicants must achieve a passing score on the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Exam. Georgia Southern’s Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CARC) and prepares students to take the NBRC; therefore the program meets the licensure/certification requirements as a Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) in Maryland.