CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE, AND PRE-PROFESSIONAL FIELDS

Certain majors and minors lead to professional certification and licensure in specific fields. For example, students with majors or minors in the field of Education may secure the professional courses necessary for initial licensure as awarded by the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). Programs approved for licensure in Secondary Education (9-12) at Catawba College are Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Comprehensive Science, and Comprehensive Social Studies. Programs approved for licensure in Special Subject Areas (K-12) are Music and Theater Arts. Requirements for licensure in these fields as well as Birth-Kindergarten Education (available to students through Catawba Online), Elementary Education, Middle Grades Education and Special Education: General Curriculum are outlined in detail under the heading for the Department of Teacher Education. The Department also offers a program leading to add on licensure in Reading.

The Bachelor of Arts in Accounting prepares students to sit for the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination and the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination. The CPA Ready Program enables students to meet the educational requirement for licensure as a CPA. Students desiring licensure as a CPA should work closely with their academic advisor.

The Therapeutic Recreation Program prepares students to be eligible for certification by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation and licensure through the North Carolina Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure.

Students seeking to meet professional certification requirements in any field should consult with the Department Chair early in their program to ascertain that they are meeting all requirements.

Similarly, advice regarding preparation for the professions of law, medicine, and other specialties should be sought directly from the student’s first-year advisor who will put the student in contact with the person on campus best equipped to advise him or her in the specific field.