Professional Licensure & Certification
The University of Georgia makes every effort to ensure information about requirements for licensure or certification of approved programs is current; however, state and territory requirements might change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards might require applicants to complete professional examinations, background checks, years of professional experience, residency requirements, other specific training, or other relevant professional tasks to prepare the student for transition to career or employment.
Students interested in professional licensure or certification related to their employment in a specific field of study in a state/territory other than Georgia are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing entity in that state/territory to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements for professional practice prior to enrolling in a preparation program at the University of Georgia.
Students should review the information provided below about the University’s programs to see which program(s) meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the associated career or professional practice in the student’s state of residence (or state where the student intends to work). If the University of Georgia has not determined whether completion of a licensure program meets educational requirements for licensure or certification in a state, students should contact the state licensing entity to determine whether completion of the University of Georgia licensure program meets educational requirements for licensure in the state.
The University is continuing to work to confirm whether its programs meet the educational requirement for licensure or certification in states outside Georgia. Additional information will be added to this resource as available.
Accounting – BBA
The Accounting – BBA Program by itself does not meet the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia because it does not meet the 150 credit hours requirement and includes only 24 hours of upper-level accounting. An applicant must either (1) complete a MAcc program or (2) otherwise complete 6 additional hours in accounting subjects as well as completing additional semester hours necessary to reach 150 total credit hours. For additional information about the Accounting – BBA program, please contact Jennifer Chapman (jennchap@uga.edu).
You can find additional information about accounting licensure and certification in states other than Georgia at the following site: https://nasba.org/stateboards/
Accounting – MAcc
The Accounting – MAcc Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Accounting – MAcc program, please contact Jennifer Chapman (jennchap@uga.edu).
You can find additional information about accounting licensure and certification in states other than Georgia at the following site: https://nasba.org/stateboards/
Child Life – MS
The Master of Science in Child Life Program meets all requirements for certification in all 50 states, except successful completion of the child life certification exam. When students complete their child life internship and graduate from the MS in Child Life program, they are eligible to sit for the exam. For additional information about the Master of Science in Child Life Program, please contact Diane Bales (dbales@uga.edu).
More information can be found at: https://www.childlife.org/certification/becoming-certified
Dietetics – BSFCS
The Dietetics – BSFCS Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Dietetics – BSFCS Program, please contact Emma Laing (emonk@uga.edu).
Specific state information can be found here: https://www.cdrnet.org/LicensureMap
Graduate MS/PhD Dietetic Internship
The Graduate MS/PhD Dietetic Internship Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Lauren Housley (lhousley@uga.edu).
Human Development and Family Science – PhD
The Human Development and Family Science – PhD Program with an emphasis on Couple and Family Therapy meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Elizabeth Wieling (ewieling@uga.edu).
Information about certification and licensure requirements in other states can be found here: http://gamft.org/licensure-requirements/
Landscape Architecture – BLA
The Landscape Architecture – BLA Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in all 50 states. For additional information about the Program, please contact Donnie Longenecker (longneck@uga.edu).
Additional information about state certification and licensure can be found at the
following links:
https://www.asla.org/stategovtaffairslicensure.aspx
https://www.clarb.org/apply-for-licensure/view-licensure-requirements
Landscape Architecture – MLA
The Landscape Architecture – MLA Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in all 50 states. For additional information about the Program, please contact Brad Davis (bdavis@uga.edu).
Additional information about state certification and licensure can be found at the
following links:
https://www.asla.org/stategovtaffairslicensure.aspx
https://www.clarb.org/apply-for-licensure/view-licensure-requirements
Law – JD
The Law – JD Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia.
Specific information about other states can be found at: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/flh-home/flh-lawyer-licensing/
Law – LLM
The Law – LLM Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Laura Kagel (lkagel@uga.edu).
Specific information about other states can be found at: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_services/flh-home/flh-lawyer-licensing/
Music Education – BMUS
The Music Education – BMUS Program meets the requirements for Georgia Initial Certification in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Johanna Royo (musied@uga.edu).
Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission has reciprocity with all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Reciprocity does not mean that there may not be additional requirements for certification. You can visit the Georgia Professional Standards Commission’s website for more information: https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Home.aspx
Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). GACE exams are required for certification for some programs but are not required for UGA graduation. You can visit the GACE website for more information: https://www.gace.ets.org/
Specific information about other states can be found at: https://nafme.org/careers/music-educator-certification/
Music Therapy – BMUS and Music Therapy – Equivalency Program
The Music Therapy – BMUS Program and the Music Therapy – Equivalency Program each meet the certification requirements to become a music therapist in the State of Georgia, subject to the additional disclosures below.
In order to become a music therapist, students in these Programs must pass the national certification exam given by the Certification Board for Music Therapists. One of the requirements to sit for the board exam is to complete a music therapy program approved by the American Music Therapy Association. These Programs are approved music therapy programs by the American Music Therapy Association. To become licensed in the State of Georgia, students must show proof of holding the MT-BC credential that is given after passing the Certification Board for Music Therapists’ board examination. Additional information can be found at the Georgia Board of Music Therapy’s website: https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-board-music-therapy
For additional information about these Programs, please contact Ellyn Evans (e.evans@uga.edu).
Specific information about other states can be found at: https://www.cbmt.org/candidates/certification/
Pharmacy – PharmD
The Pharmacy – PharmD Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Andrew Darley (badarley@uga.edu).
The UGA College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and therefore the degree program itself meets each state’s requirement of “graduation from an accredited PharmD program” in order to be eligible to take licensing exams. However, the College of Pharmacy has not made determinations regarding other factors related to licensure in states other than Georgia, such as state-specific internship hours.
Specific information about other states can be found at: https://nabp.pharmacy/about/boards-of-pharmacy/
Clinical Psychology – PhD
The Clinical Psychology – PhD Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Emily Mouilso (emouilso@uga.edu).
Specific information about other states can be found at the website of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, here: https://www.asppb.net/page/psybook
Social Work – MSW
The Social Work – MSW Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Jennifer Elkins (jelkins@uga.edu).
Veterinary Medicine – DVM
The Veterinary Medicine – DVM Program meets the professional licensure and certification requirements in the State of Georgia. For additional information about the Program, please contact Michelle Henry Barton (bartonmh@uga.edu).
Specific information about other states can be found at: https://www.icva.net/licensing-boards/
Education Programs – Doctoral Programs
The following University of Georgia Mary Francis Early College of Education Doctoral Programs lead to Initial Certification in the State of Georgia:
- Educational Leadership – EDD or PhD
- Education – PhD with an area of emphasis in Counselor Education and Supervision
- Educational Psychology – PhD with an area of emphasis in School Psychology Counseling
Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission has reciprocity with all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Reciprocity does not mean that there might not be additional requirements for certification. Visit the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for more information: https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Home.aspx.
Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). GACE exams are required for certification for some programs but are not required for UGA graduation. You can visit the GACE website for more information: https://www.gace.ets.org/.
Education Programs – Specialist Programs
The following University of Georgia Mary Francis Early College of Education Specialist Programs lead to Initial Certification in the State of Georgia:
- Education – EDS with a concentration Art, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Elementary, English, Literacy Specialist, Middle Grades, Reading, Social Studies, Special Education, TESOL/World Language Education, Workforce Education
- Educational Psychology – EDS with a concentration in School Psychology or Gifted Education
- Professional Counseling/Professional School Counseling MED/EDS Dual Degree Program
- Educational Administration and Policy – EDS
- Learning, Design and Technology – EDS with a concentration in P-12 Instructional Technology
- Mathematics Education
- Science Education
Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission has reciprocity with all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Reciprocity does not mean that there might not be additional requirements for certification. Visit the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for more information: https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Home.aspx.
Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). GACE exams are required for certification for some programs but are not required for UGA graduation. You can visit the GACE website for more information: https://www.gace.ets.org/.
Education Programs – Masters Programs
The following University of Georgia Mary Francis Early College of Education Masters Programs lead to Initial Certification in the State of Georgia:
- Communication Sciences and Disorders – MA & MED
- Educational Administration and Policy – MED
- Elementary Education – MAT
- English Education – MAT
- Learning, Design and Technology – MED with a concentration in Instructional Technology
- Social Studies Education – MAT
- Kinesiology – MS with a concentration in Physical Education
- Mathematics Education – MAT
- Middle Grades Education – MAT with concentrations:
- Mathematics and Language Arts
- Mathematics and Science
- Mathematics and Social Studies
- Science and Language Arts
- Social Studies and Language Arts
- Social Studies and Science
- Special Education – MAT with concentrations:
- Birth through Five/Preschool Special Education
- Special Education Adapted Curriculum and Autism
- General Curriculum
- Workforce Education – MAT with concentrations:
- Business Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences Education
- Engineering and Technology Education
- Healthcare Science and Technology Education
- Marketing Education
- Technology Education
- Trade and Industrial Education
- TESOL and World Language Education – MAT
- Science Education – MAT
A note regarding additional concentrations: The Mary Francis Early College of Education partners with Agricultural Education, Art Education, Dance, Music Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education, and School Nutrition in providing initial certification for candidates seeking certification in those areas.
Georgia Professional Standards Commission. The Georgia Professional Standards Commission has reciprocity with all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Reciprocity does not mean that there might not be additional requirements for certification. Visit the Georgia Professional Standards Commission for more information: https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Home.aspx.
Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE). GACE exams are required for certification for some programs but are not required for UGA graduation. You can visit the GACE website for more information: https://www.gace.ets.org/.
Education Programs – Certificate Programs
The following University of Georgia Mary Francis Early College of Education Certificate Programs lead to Initial or Advanced Certification in the State of Georgia:
- Certificate in Dyslexia (Online)
- Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- Coaching Endorsement and Certificate (Griffin Campus)
- Elementary Agriculture Education Endorsement and Certificate
- Financial Literacy Endorsement and Certificate
- Gifted In-Field Endorsement and Certificate
- K-5 Mathematics Endorsement and Certificate (Griffin Campus)
- Online Teaching Endorsement and Certificate
- Preschool Special Education Endorsement and Certificate
- Reading Education Endorsement and Certificate
