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Professional Licensure and Certification Disclosures

Universities are required by the federal government to identify the programs at their institutions that lead to licensure or certification and to provide information about licensure requirements. Western New England University offers a number of programs that lead to professional licensure or certification, and these programs are listed below. Please select the program from the list below to view specific information relating to licensure or certification in that discipline. In general, if you are either a prospective student or a current student who will be seeking licensure in a particular state, we highly recommend that you check the state licensure board in that state for the specific requirements that will need to be satisfied.

Doctor of Law (Juris Doctor)

WNE's Doctor of Law program is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and thereby meets the educational requirements for legal licensure. Other requirements often include, but are not limited to, pre-registration as a legal candidate; the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE); passing the state Bar exam; pro bono requirement; application and licensing fees; criminal background check; and reference checks.

It is important that you be aware of all such requirements and that you plan accordingly. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. For states in which you seek licensure, we highly recommend that you contact the individual state law licensing board listed below to determine any additional requirements for licensure:

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

WNE’s Occupational Therapy program prepares students to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) licensure exam and apply for licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  In order to obtain a license, individuals must:

  • Graduate from an accredited educational program
  • Complete the required fieldwork
  • Apply for and pass the NBCOT exam
  • Apply for a state license and pay a fee for each state/jurisdiction in which the individual wishes to practice or be licensed

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state occupational therapy regulatory agency. Provided below is a resource from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) about state-specific licensure information for OTD students.

AOTA's State Occupational Therapy Regulatory Authority webpage

Doctor of Pharmacy

WNE’s Doctor of Pharmacy program prepares students to take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) as well as the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) and to apply for licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  In order to obtain a license, individuals must:

  • Graduate from an accredited educational program
  • Complete the required experiential education
  • Apply for and pass the NAPLEX exam
  • Apply for and pass the MPJE exam
  • Apply for a state license and pay a fee for each state/jurisdiction in which the individual wishes to practice or be licensed

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state board of registration in pharmacy. Provided below is a resource from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) about state-specific licensure information for PharmD students.

NABP State Boards of Pharmacy

Master of Arts in English for Teachers

The Master of Arts in English for Teachers (MAET) program is ideal for students who possess the appropriate initial license in Massachusetts and are looking to satisfy the professional licensure requirements for Massachusetts.  For Massachusetts teachers who hold an initial teaching license and have a master’s degree in an area other than English, the state provides a “12-credit” option to obtain a professional license with subject matter knowledge in English. All of our MAET courses can count towards the 12 credits of content-based courses necessary to complete the master’s program requirement for professional licensure.  Individuals interested in professional licensure for teachers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can find our more information about the Massachusetts educator licensure types and requirements on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) webpage.

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to teach. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a professional license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state education licensure board. Provided below is a resource from the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) about state-specific licensure information for Education students.

NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory for Teacher Education

Master of Arts in Mathematics for Teachers

The online Master of Arts in Mathematics for Teachers (MAMT) program is designed primarily for secondary and middle school teachers who possess the appropriate initial teaching license and are looking to satisfy the professional licensure requirements.  The MAMT program is a mathematics content-based program, which provides an alternative to a traditional master’s degree in education. The content is linked to the Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework, when possible.  Individuals interested in professional licensure for teachers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can find our more information about the Massachusetts educator licensure types and requirements on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) webpage.

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to teach. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a professional license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state education licensure board. Provided below is a resource from the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) about state-specific licensure information for Education students.

NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory for Teacher Education

Master of Science in Accounting

The AACSB-accredited Master of Science in Accounting curriculum at Western New England University will enable students to satisfy the educational requirements to take the Uniform CPA Examination and become a licensed CPA in Massachusetts. In order to obtain a license, individuals must:

  • Complete 150 semester hours from a nationally or regionally accredited institution
  • Applicants must pass all 4 sections of the Uniform CPA Examination within a rolling 18 month window
  • Have full- or part-time experience in public accounting that extends over a period of no less than a year no more than 3 years, and includes no fewer than 2,000 hours of service  - or -
    Have full- or part-time experience in non-public accounting that extends over a period of no less than three years and no more than nine years, and includes no fewer than 2,000 hours of experience
  • Provide three character reference letters dated and addressed to the Board of Public Accountancy
  • Complete a CORI Permission form
  • Apply for a state license and pay a fee for each state/jurisdiction in which the individual wishes to practice or be licensed

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state board. 

It is important that you be aware of all such requirements and that you plan accordingly. For states in which you seek licensure, we highly recommend that you contact the individual state licensing board listed below to determine any additional requirements for licensure:

Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis

WNE's Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis program provides the coursework and experience to meet the Behavior Analysis Certification Board® (BACB) requirements for taking the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) Examination.

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Some states currently do not require licensure, but most do and may have additional licensure laws or requirements. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state licensure board. It is important that you be aware of all such requirements and that you plan accordingly. For states in which you seek licensure, we highly recommend that you contact the individual state licensure board.

Provided below is a resource from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB), which provides state-specific information about licensure for Applied Behavior Analysts in the states that require it:

BACB Licensure of Behavior Analysts webpage

Bachelor of Science in Education

While WNE’s Education programs prepare students to take the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensure (MTEL) exams, the requirements for initial licensure vary by the type of position you are interested in and where you are on your career path.  Individuals interested in teacher licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can find our more information about the Massachusetts educator licensure types and requirements on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) webpage.

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to teach. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state education licensure board. Provided below is a resource from the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) about state-specific licensure information for Education students.

NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory for Teacher Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Western New England University offers programs leading to B.S. degrees in Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering. WNE’s ABET-accredited Engineering programs prepare students to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, which is the first step to becoming a professional licensed engineer (PE).  The FE exam is offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). In Massachusetts, if you are a graduate from an engineering program approved by the MA state licensure board, you can become classified as an “engineer intern” (EI) or “engineer-in-training” (EIT) by successfully completing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Achieving EI or EIT status signals that you have mastered the fundamental requirements and taken the first step toward earning your PE licensure.  All states require that candidates complete four years of qualifying engineering experience, typically under the supervision of a professional engineer as the second step.   The third step is to learn the state’s licensure requirements. Each state (as well as the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories) has its own licensure board, administering its own exam and required qualifications.

As the requirements for licensure vary state by state, with some licensing boards require a separate application and application fee or have additional requirements for licensure, students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. For states in which you seek licensure, we highly recommend that you contact the individual state law licensing board listed below to determine any additional requirements for licensure:

Bachelor of Social Work

While WNE’s CSWE-accredited Bachelor of Social Work program prepares students to satisfy the educational requirement for a licensed social worker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the requirements for licensure vary by the type of position you are interested in and where you are on your career path.  Individuals interested in social work licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts can find our more information about the requirements for licensure on the Board of Registration of Social Work webpage.

Students who plan to practice their profession outside Massachusetts need to familiarize themselves with licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Some states have additional licensure laws or requirements. While the laws and procedures are similar in each state, they are not identical. Note also that licensure rules and regulations may change at any time. The process for obtaining a license in the state or states in which an individual may wish to work can be found through the state social work licensure board. Provided below is a resource from the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) about state-specific licensure information for Social Work students.

NC-SARA's Professional Licensure Directory for Social Work