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Northwestern licensure and certification programs
Northwestern College’s professional licensure programs are designed to prepare students for certification or licensure in the state of Iowa. Licensure requirements vary by state and territory and can often change. Students who either reside in another state or territory or who wish to obtain licensure in a state or territory other than Iowa may or may not have additional study, education or training requirements. More information about these programs and their associated licensures and certifications may be found below:
The Northwestern College accounting program meets all of the requirements for sitting for the CPA exam in Iowa. More information about licensure and exams is available on the National Association of State Boards of Accounting ( NASBA) website. Northwestern has not made a determination whether the curricula of the accounting program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in any states or territories other than Iowa.
For more information, contact:
Vonda Post
Professor of Accounting
712-707-7014
vonda@nwciowa.edu
Learn more about Northwestern’s accounting program and accreditation.
The Northwestern College Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Board of Certification (BOC) exam, a nationally recognized certification exam, during their final semester in the MSAT program. Upon successful completion of the BOC exam and graduation from the MSAT program, students are eligible to obtain their BOC Athletic Training Certification (ATC), which enables them to apply for individual state licensure, registration or certification to practice as an athletic trainer in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Note that at this time, California does not regulate the profession of athletic training, so no state license, registration or certification is required.
Learn more about Northwestern’s athletic training program and program accreditation.
MSAT Program Director
Rick Loutsch
rloutsch@nwciowa.edu
712-707-7319
| State Licensure Site | Does NWC MSAT program meeting licensure requirements? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes |
| Alaska | Yes |
| Arizona | Yes |
| Arkansas | Yes |
| California | Not applicable (no licensure in California) |
| Colorado | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes |
| Delaware | Yes |
| Florida | Yes |
| Georgia | Yes |
| Hawaii | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes |
| Illinois | Yes |
| Indiana | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes |
| Louisiana | Yes |
| Maine | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Yes |
| Michigan | Yes |
| Minnesota | Yes |
| Mississippi | Yes |
| Missouri | Yes |
| Montana | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes |
| Nevada | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes |
| New Jersey | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes |
| New York | Yes |
| North Carolina | Yes |
| North Dakota | Yes |
| Ohio | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Yes |
| Oregon | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Yes |
| Rhode Island | Yes |
| South Carolina | Yes |
| South Dakota | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes |
| Texas | Yes |
| Utah | Yes |
| Vermont | Yes |
| Virginia | Yes |
| Washington | Yes |
| West Virginia | Yes |
| Wisconsin | Yes |
| Wyoming | Yes |
The Northwestern College undergraduate education program leads to an Initial Teacher License in the state of Iowa. State education licensing and certification offices across the nation provide provisions of reciprocity for those teachers who have an out-of-state license. The following states have been identified as having reciprocity provisions beyond the requirements of an Iowa license:
| State Licensure Site | Does NWC program meet licensure requirements? | Reciprocity Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | ||
| Alaska | ||
| Arizona | ||
| Arkansas | ||
| California | Eligible for reciprocity for Initial License | NWC program verification; additional exam depending on endorsement |
| Colorado | Eligible for reciprocity for 3-year Initial License | NWC program verification |
| Connecticut | ||
| Delaware | ||
| Florida | ||
| Georgia | ||
| Hawaii | ||
| Idaho | ||
| Illinois | Eligible for reciprocity | NWC program verification |
| Indiana | ||
| Iowa | Yes | |
| Kansas | ||
| Kentucky | ||
| Louisiana | ||
| Maine | ||
| Maryland | ||
| Massachusetts | ||
| Michigan | ||
| Minnesota | Eligible for reciprocity, Tier 3 License | NWC program verification; passing score on MTLE Content & Pedagogy Exams |
| Mississippi | ||
| Missouri | Eligible for reciprocity, 5-year Initial License | |
| Montana | ||
| Nebraska | Eligible for reciprocity | NWC program verification |
| Nevada | ||
| New Hampshire | ||
| New Jersey | ||
| New Mexico | ||
| New York | ||
| North Carolina | ||
| North Dakota | ||
| Ohio | ||
| Oklahoma | ||
| Oregon | ||
| Pennsylvania | ||
| Rhode Island | ||
| South Carolina | ||
| South Dakota | Eligible for reciprocity | NWC program verification; South Dakota Indian Studies course; suicide awareness & prevention training; additional exam depending on endorsement |
| Tennessee | ||
| Texas | ||
| Utah | ||
| Vermont | ||
| Virginia | ||
| Washington | Eligible for reciprocity for Residency Teacher License | NWC program verification |
| West Virginia | ||
| Wisconsin | ||
| Wyoming |
To request specific teacher licensure information, please contact:
Carrie Thonstad
Licensure Official
carrie.thonstad@nwciowa.edu
712-707-7352
Learn more about Northwestern’s undergraduate education programs, graduate education programs, and program accreditation.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree awarded by Northwestern College is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing, and recognized in all 50 states.
Professional licensure/certification
Program graduates are eligible to take the national licensure examination for nurses (NCLEX-RN). Iowa is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), an agreement between states that allows nurses to have one license but the ability to practice in other states that are part of the agreement.
| State Board of Nursing Websites |
| Alabama |
| Alaska |
| Arizona |
| Arkansas |
| California |
| Colorado |
| Connecticut |
| Delaware |
| Florida |
| Georgia |
| Hawaii |
| Idaho |
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Iowa |
| Kansas |
| Kentucky |
| Louisiana |
| Maine |
| Maryland |
| Massachusetts |
| Michigan |
| Minnesota |
| Mississippi |
| Missouri |
| Montana (currently unavailable) |
| Nebraska |
| Nevada |
| New Hampshire |
| New Jersey |
| New Mexico |
| New York |
| North Carolina |
| North Dakota |
| Ohio |
| Oklahoma |
| Oregon |
| Pennsylvania |
| Rhode Island |
| South Carolina |
| South Dakota |
| Tennessee |
| Texas |
| Utah |
| Vermont |
| Virginia |
| Washington |
| West Virginia |
| Wisconsin |
| Wyoming |
Learn more about Northwestern’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program and online RN-to-BSN program accreditation.
State License
The Northwestern College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Successful completion of Northwestern's PA program fulfills the education requirements for licensure in all 50 states. The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) maintains a directory of state licensing boards, as well as a document summarizing the requirements for licensure in each state. Applicants and students are encouraged to review these sites to determine the eligibility requirements for the state license they wish to obtain upon graduation.
Learn more about Northwestern’s physician assistant program and program accreditation.
Questions about admission requirements or licensure as a PA can be emailed to physician.assistant@nwciowa.edu.
Professional certification
All graduates of the Northwestern College PA program are eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) upon successful graduation.
Accreditation
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Northwestern College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Northwestern College.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The Northwestern College social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education ( CSWE). To become a Licensed Baccalaureate Social Worker (LBSW) requires the completion of a bachelor's degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program, a state bachelor’s-level licensing examination, and in some states, additional post-degree supervised hours of experience. According to the CSWE, “Licensing of social work practitioners is under the authority of a designated office in each individual state. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that a social worker sitting for a licensing exam be a graduate of a CSWE-accredited program.”
Licensees may sit for a state licensure board exam upon graduation from a CSWE-accredited program. For any state requiring an Association of Social Work Boards ( ASWB) Social Work Licensing Exam, applicants must first complete a degree from a CSWE-accredited program.
Contact information for individual state licensing boards can be found on the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) website or through an internet search for a licensing board for a particular state.
According to ASWB’s website, some states do not offer a bachelor’s-level license in social work and instead require a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree. These states include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. The following states offer a registered or certificate in social work with no examination requirement: Louisiana, Nebraska and New Jersey.
Northwestern College has not made a determination of whether the curricula of the social work program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in any states or territories other than Iowa.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Valeries Stokes
Chair of the Social Work Department
712-707-7084
vonda@nwciowa.edu
Learn more about Northwestern’s social work program and program accreditation.
Distance education disclosures
Northwestern College has not made a determination of whether the curricula of its online licensure programs (education and nursing) meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in any states or territories other than Iowa. Students who intend to seek employment in one of these areas in a state or territory other than Iowa may or may not be subject to additional study, education, licensure or training requirements. Please see your state of residence or intended residence below for more information regarding our academic programs and how they apply to employment requirements for said state:
Education
Online endorsement programs offered by Northwestern College meet licensure requirements in the state of Iowa. Northwestern has not determined whether its online endorsement programs meet licensure requirements in Alabama. In compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, Northwestern’s licensure official will make every reasonable effort to determine whether an online endorsement program leads to licensure in Alabama for any prospective student. Contact online@nwciowa.edu to inquire.
Click here to review licensing regulations provided by [insert organization?].
Nursing
The online RN-to-BSN nursing program offered by Northwestern College meets licensure requirements in the state of Iowa. Northwestern has not determined whether this program meets licensure requirements in Alabama. In compliance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, Northwestern’s licensure official will make every reasonable effort to determine whether an online endorsement program leads to licensure in Alabama for any prospective student. Contact online@nwciowa.edu to inquire.
Click here to review licensing regulations provided by [insert organization?].
