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Licensure and Certification Disclosures

Professional Licensure Disclosures

Requirements for professional licensure in disciplines such as accounting, counseling, education and nursing vary among states. SNHU has provided state licensing guidance information below, and we make every effort to ensure licensure information is current. However, licensure regulations are frequently revised. Therefore, before beginning an academic program intended to educationally prepare students for professional licensure, SNHU strongly encourages you to contact the state licensing board where you intend to seek licensure to ensure the program will meet the state’s licensing requirements. 

Completion of an SNHU program does not guarantee employment or licensure in a given profession. Please note that some state laws require a criminal background check, which may disqualify an individual from obtaining licensure. Field experience sites may require background checks before accepting students for a practicum or internship position. As such, it is your responsibility to determine if your own circumstances pose any barriers. 

Accounting

SNHU offers accounting programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels designed to help students prepare to sit for the Uniform Certified Public Accounting Exam. Please note that students cannot earn CPA certification simply by earning a college degree. According to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), you’ll first need to determine where you plan to sit for the CPA exam, since the education requirements to sit for the CPA exam are different for every state. For example, some states require 120 total semester hours to qualify while others require 150 total semester hours.

Some state licensing board regulations include narrow educational requirements such as specific semester hours in accounting and business courses, and there are additional considerations like experience, age and residency that must be considered. As a result, SNHU strongly encourages that you review the requirements and criteria for the state in which you intend to sit for the CPA exam.

For licensing board contact information and preliminary guidance on whether a particular SNHU accounting program meets your state’s educational requirements to sit for the exam, see below: 

Counseling

SNHU’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare students to meet the educational requirements for licensure in most states with the exception of Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin. In addition to the 60 required academic credits, students must attend two 5-day residencies in New Hampshire and must complete at least a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships during the program. (Note: Some states require additional hours for licensure.)

For state licensing board contact information and preliminary guidance on whether SNHU’s program meets your state’s educational requirements, see below:

Education

SNHU offers a number of campus-based education programs approved by the New Hampshire State Department of Education (NHDE) for teacher certification as leading to an initial teacher license in New Hampshire. In addition, SNHU offers campus-based, NHED-approved advanced licensure programs for educators who already hold a teaching certificate. Initial and advanced licensure seeking students who meet all program requirements will be recommended by SNHU to the NHED upon conferral of program completion.

Once recommended to the NHED, students will have three years to meet any additional state requirements. This includes, for initial licensure, the successful completion of testing requirements that are aligned to the specific teacher certification area before the recommendation expires. 

Students interested in teaching outside of New Hampshire must successfully complete the campus-based program and achieve initial teacher certification in New Hampshire. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (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 state-specific 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 provided they meet state-specific conditions. The School of Arts, Sciences and Education provides support for students who earn their New Hampshire teaching license and wish to transfer that license to teach in another state. 

Please note that SNHU also offers online post-licensure Master of Education (MEd) programs for currently licensed individuals who are interested in furthering their professional development and enhancing their credentials. However, since state requirements for adding endorsements vary greatly, SNHU does not guarantee that the completion of those programs will result in rank and/or salary endorsements and strongly encourages interested individuals to contact their state licensure board prior to enrolling.

For state licensing board contact information and preliminary guidance on whether SNHU’s campus-based programs meet the NASDTEC requirements of your intended state for licensure, see below:

Nursing

SNHU nursing programs are for students who already hold a registered nurse (RN) license. SNHU offers post-licensure nursing programs. Our undergraduate programs include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and accelerated track option for RN to Master of Science in Nursing. Our graduate program tracks include Family Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Executive Leadership, Healthcare Quality and Safety, Nursing Education and Population Healthcare.  

The Master of Science in Nursing Population Healthcare, Nurse Executive Leadership, Healthcare Quality and Safety, and Nursing Education post-licensure tracks are open to students with an unencumbered nursing license in every state except Washington and the U.S. territories. Former MSN tracks including Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Clinical Nurse Leader MSN, Nurse Educator MSN and Patient Safety & Quality MSN post-licensure tracks are open to students with an unencumbered nursing license in every state and the District of Columbia except Washington state and the U.S. territories. Please note these tracks are no longer available to incoming students after term 21TW5 (July 26, 2021).

The Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner post-licensure track is open to students with an unencumbered nursing license living in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. Students must reside in one of these states while taking FNP courses at SNHU, and all practicum experiences must be completed in one of these states. SNHU expects students to complete their practicum experiences in their state of domicile, as reported by the student during the application/admission process. Any student looking to change their state of domicile and/or complete their practicum experience in a different state (listed herein) may face interruptions or delays in their program. Students are responsible for reporting any change to their state of domicile immediately to academic advising. Please note that the family nurse practitioner track accepts applications from a limited number of students per term. 

For licensing board contact information, see below:

Certification Program Disclosures

SNHU offers a variety of programs that help students meet the educational requirements for certain professional certifications. However, a professional certification is not always a requirement for graduates to be employed in a particular field. Students are encouraged to check the certification requirements routinely for any updates or changes.

Community Health Education

SNHU’s BS Community Health Education program meets the educational requirements to sit for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC).

Cybersecurity

SNHU’s BS in Cyber Security (a validated program of study by the NSA¹), BS in Information Technology – Cyber Security and MS in Cyber Security curriculums provide an educational foundation that, with further study and specific exam review, can help prepare students to pursue various cybersecurity certifications. In addition to successfully passing an exam, students may need to satisfy additional requirements such as certification fees and work experience. It is important to note that certification requirements are subject to change at any time, so students are encouraged to routinely check the certification board requirements.

Financial Planning

SNHU's CFP Board-registered online Bachelor of Science in Finance with a concentration in Financial Planning prepares students with required foundational knowledge in the main areas of financial planning including investments, retirement and estate planning, risk management and taxes. Graduates of this program meet the education coursework requirements needed to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) Exam. In addition to passing the exam, students must satisfy additional work experience and ethics requirements. Learn more about CFP® certification requirements.

Fraud Examination

SNHU’s MS in Accounting with a concentration in Forensic Accounting helps students prepare for the Certified Fraud Examiner professional certification exam. The CFE exam covers 4 major areas: financial transactions and fraud schemes; law; investigation; and fraud prevention and deterrence.

Certification requires that candidates be a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, complete a bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher learning (or complete 2 years of fraud-related experience for each year of academic study), have at least 2 years of professional experience in a field related to fraud detection or deterrence, successfully apply for the CFE exam and pass, and comply with the bylaws and ACFE Code of Professional Ethics. 

Health Information Management (HIM)

The SNHU BS in Health Information Management (HIM) program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) based on the competencies defined by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), which administers the Registered Health Information Management Administrator (RHIA) examination. Therefore, graduates of SNHU’s BS in Health Information Management program meet the educational requirements to sit for the RHIA certification exam. 

The Master of Science in Health Information Management (MS.HIM) program is in candidacy status pending accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The MS.HIM program candidacy status does not guarantee accreditation. In order to register for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), students must graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited program. Therefore, graduates of SNHU’s MS in Health Information Management program do not currently meet the educational requirements to sit for the RHIA certification exam. 

Note: Students in the MS in Health Information Management program who earned their undergraduate degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program are eligible to sit for the RHIA exam. For information regarding CAHIIM-accredited undergraduate programs, students can visit: https://www.cahiim.org/programs 

In addition, courses in SNHU’s BS in Health Information Management (HIM) program and the MS in Health Information Management (HIM) program may be counted toward the continuing education requirements for the Certified Associate in Healthcare Information & Management Systems (CAHIMS) or the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS) certifications, at HIMSS discretion. Both have additional certification requirements, and students are encouraged to explore the websites for more information. 

Human Resources

Southern New Hampshire University’s BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management, BS in Human Resource Management, Undergraduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and MS in Human Resource Management programs are aligned with the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM) Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge™ (SHRM BASK™). This body of knowledge supports the education of evolving knowledge areas and behavioral competencies essential to modern human resource professionals.  

Management Accounting

SNHU’s MS in Accounting with a concentration in Management Accounting offers focused studies in accounting as preparation for academic qualifications required for becoming a Certified Management Accountant (CMA®). The Certified Management Accountant (CMA®) professional certification exam covers 12 competencies: external financial reporting decisions; planning, budgeting, and forecasting; performance management; cost management; internal controls; technology and analytics; financial statement analysis; corporate finance; decision analysis; risk management; investment decision; and professional ethics.

Certification requires that candidates maintain active membership in the Institute of Management Accountants, complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (or professional accounting certification), pay the CMA certification fee, successfully complete all exam parts, have 2 years of continuous experience in management accounting and/or financial management and comply with IMA ethics statement.

Marketing

SNHU’s MS in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing program curriculum aligns with the Professional Certified Marketer (PCM®) Program standards set by American Marketing Association (AMA) as outlined in their downloadable Digital Marketing Body of Knowledge. 

Nursing Post-Licensure National Certifications

SNHU’s MSN - Family Nurse Practitioner track provides the educational requirements of the two nationally recognized FNP certifications. Successfully passing either the Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC) exam offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) exam offered by American Academy of Nurse Practitioners allows the FNP graduate to apply for their APRN (Advance Practice Registered Nurse) license from their state Board of Nursing.   

Students in the Family Nurse Practitioner track will need to complete their program within five years after completing the NUR 600, Advanced Pharmacology for the Prescriber, Immersion course.   

Two nurse leadership certification exams are available. The American Organization for Nursing Leadership offers both the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) exam and the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) exam.  

SNHU’s MSN - Nurse Educator and Nursing Education tracks meet the educational requirements to sit for the Academic Nurse Educator Novice (CNE®n), Academic Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE®cl) and/or Certified Nurse Educator (CNE®) exam offered by the National League for Nursing. Learn more about the certification options in Nursing Education from the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certification Division. 

Two patient safety and quality national certification exams are available — the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam, offered by The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), and the Certified Professional in Patient Safety exam, offered by The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Both exams require experience in addition to education, and students are encouraged to explore the certification exam websites for more information. 

SNHU’s MSN - Clinical Nurse Leader program is an Eligible CNL Education Program of the Commission on Nurse Certification. Graduates of this program meet the educational requirements to sit for the Clinical Nurse Leader certification exam. Please note this track is not available for incoming students after term 21TW5 (July 26, 2021).  

Project Management

PMI Authorized Training Partner SealIn early 2021, SNHU instructors responsible for facilitating QSO-645: Project Management for PMP® Certification completed the Authorized Training Partner Train the Trainer – PMP® exam prep program. This program equips select SNHU faculty with the authority to deliver PMP exam prep and training content to PMI’s quality standards for the revised exam, which went into effect Jan. 2, 2021. 

SNHU students who successfully complete QSO-645, whether enrolled in a certificate or master’s program or take QSO-645 as an elective, meet the 35 hours of project management training required to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. Students must also either hold a 4-year degree with 3 years of experience leading projects or have a high school diploma, associate degree or the global equivalent with 5 years of experience leading projects in order to qualify to take the exam. 

SNHU also offers the opportunity for students to prepare for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®. Students enrolled in SNHU’s online bachelor’s in operations management program can take QSO-345: Project Management for CAPM® Certification course, which can help prepare them to take PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® exam. 

Public Health

Students may be interested in the Certified Public Health (CPH) exam offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. In order to be eligible to sit for this exam, students must meet one of the following CPH eligibility requirements: graduate from a CEPH-accredited program; be alumni of a CEPH accredited program; have a bachelor’s degree with at least 5 subsequent years of public health work experience; or have a relevant graduate-level degree, and at least three subsequent years’ public health work experience.

SNHU offers a Master of Public Health program and is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The accreditation review will address the Master of Public Health and the Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health programs. Other degrees and areas of study offered by this institution will not be included in the unit of accreditation review. Additional information can be found on the CEPH website. 

The Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc. 

The PMI® Authorized Training Partner seal is a mark of the Project Management Institute, Inc. 

1Southern New Hampshire University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA). The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity is SNHU’s validated program of study.