Federal regulations require Harding University to disclose whether its degree programs meet U.S. jurisdictions’ educational requirements for licensure (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6) & 34 CFR 668.72(n)).
Professional licensure is a state-issue authorization permitting individuals to practice a designated profession within a defined scope, ensuring public safety and practicioner competency. Because each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements, which may include professional examinations, background checks, work experience, fingerprinting, and more, students must verify specific requirements with the appropriate licensing board or agency in the state where they intend to practice. Harding University conducts biennial reviews of out-of-state licensure requirements for all academic programs that lead to professional licensure, with Health Science programs reviewed in odd-numbered years, and all other licensure-related programs evaluated in even-numbered years. Required webpage disclosures will be updated as needed following these reviews or as changes to state licensure requirements become known.
The Harding University academic programs listed below are designed to prepare students for a career in a licensed profession upon completion of the program. A professional license is typically required for graduates of these programs to practice and/or gain employment in these fields.
Prospective and current students should also keep in mind that licensing and authorization requirements vary by state and that relocating during the course of a program to another state could impact whether they can continue in the course, meet the eligibility requirements of that state and/or receive financial aid funding. Students considering relocation during their academic program are encouraged to communicate with the program contact listed below to check for authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.
In the United States, most registration boards require a degree from an accredited professional degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture offered by institutions with U.S. regional accreditation, recognizes three types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecture, the Master of Architecture, and the Doctor of Architecture. A program may be granted an eight-year term, an eight-year term with conditions, or a two-year term of continuing accreditation, or a three-year term of initial accreditation, depending on the extent of its conformance with established education standards. Doctor of Architecture and Master of Architecture degree programs may require a non-accredited undergraduate degree in architecture for admission. However, the non-accredited degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.
The Architecture Program in the Department of Art, Architecture and Design of Harding University is currently in candidacy and pursuing NAAB accreditation for the Master of Architecture (M. Arch) degree. The M.Arch degree consists of 134 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and 34 hours of graduate coursework for a total of 168 credit hours. The NAAB grants candidacy status to new programs that have developed viable plans for achieving initial accreditation. Candidacy status indicates that a program expects to achieve initial accreditation within six years of achieving candidacy, if its plan is properly implemented. In order to meet the education requirement, set forth by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, an applicant for an NCARB Certificate must hold a professional degree in architecture from a program accredited by the NAAB; the degree must have been awarded not more than two years prior to initial accreditation. However, meeting the education requirement for the NCARB Certificate may not be equivalent to meeting the education requirement for registration in a specific jurisdiction. Please contact NCARB for more information.
The Architecture Program in the Department of Art, Architecture and Design at Harding University was granted candidacy status in 2024 for the Master of Architecture (M.Arch) degree consisting of 134 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and 34 hours of graduate coursework for a total of 168 credit hours. The next site visit for Continuation of Candidacy will be in 2025. The projected year to achieve initial accreditation is 2028. The earliest graduation date projected to meet NCARB education requirements is 2027.
For additional information, please contact the Architecture program by emailing art@harding.edu.
The Harding University Bachelor of Social Work degree program meets the educational requirements for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Social Work Guide provides information about the Social Work field and the licensing requirements for each state.
For additional information, please contact the Behavioral Science Department by emailing behavsci@harding.edu.
The Counseling Compact Commission provides information regarding states that provide a privilege to practice in other member states. Arkansas is a member of the Counseling Compact. Information and a map of states that have passed legislation, have legislation pending and who have not yet joined the compact can be found at the resource provided. The following states are not a part of the compact: Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Alaska, New Mexico, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, and Massachusetts.
The Harding University Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Counseling programs meet educational requirements for licensure in the state of Arkansas and are CACREP accredited. Students interested in obtaining a license in another state should check with the applicable licensing authority in that state to ensure that Harding’s program meets the state's education requirements for eligibility for licensure. Students may visit the American Counseling Association for licensure requirements by state.
For additional information, you may contact the Counseling program by emailing mhw@harding.edu.
Requirements for educator licensure vary by state and may involve more than successful degree completion. Graduates who apply for licensure may need to satisfy other requirements, such as completing an application, paying a fee, and passing associated state licensure exams. Completion of an education licensure program offered through an Arkansas institution will not in itself qualify a graduate to obtain a teaching license in any other state.
All of Harding's teacher preparation programs are approved by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education and Arkansas Department of Education. Students who successfully complete the programs and pass all associated state licensure exams are eligible to be recommended for Arkansas Educator Licensure. The National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) recommends completing licensure requirements and obtaining teaching credentials in the state in which you complete your program requirements.
Students interested in obtaining a teaching license in another state should check with the applicable licensing authority in that state to ensure that Harding’s program meets the state's education requirements for eligibility for licensure. First obtaining a license in Arkansas will increase likelihood of meeting eligibility requirements in another state. Contact information for state departments of education can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Please note, students enrolled in Harding’s educator preparation programs are only approved to participate in field experiences and/or student teaching within the state of Arkansas.
Questions about licensure and reciprocity may be directed to the Assistant to the Dean for Licensure by emailing education@harding.edu.
The Harding University Engineering programs; Biomedical, Computer, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical, meet the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additional testing or work experience may also be required to qualify for licensure.
For additional information, please contact the Engineering program by emailing engineering@harding.edu.
The Harding University Carr College of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Masters Entry into Professional degree programs meet the educational requirements for nursing licensure in all 50 states, US territories and the District of Columbia. Background clearance is necessary for licensure. Additional testing may be required to qualify for licensure according to state regulations. It is recommended that potential students who may live outside of Arkansas after graduation should understand the regulations and requirements for licensure in their home state prior to enrollment into Harding's nursing programs.
For additional information, please contact the Nursing program by emailing bsn@harding.edu or mepn@harding.edu.
The Harding University Master of Science in Applied Dietetics Practice Program meets the educational requirements to become licensed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U. S. Virgin Islands.
Graduates of this program of study are eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) examination for dietitians to become credentialed as an RDN. Additional requirements may be needed to qualify for licensure depending on the graduate's home state or country.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics maintains an up-to-date Licensure Map with information for each state’s and Puerto Rico’s licensure boards, statutes, rules, and regulations.
For additional information, please contact the Applied Dietetics program by emailing dietetics@harding.edu.
The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The Harding University College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy degree program meets the educational requirements for pharmacist licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additional testing or work experience may also be required to qualify for licensure.
From the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy website, applicants and students can connect with pharmacy licensing boards in each state to obtain the most current licensure requirements.
For additional information, please contact the Pharmacy program by emailing pharmacy@harding.edu.
The Harding University Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program meets the educational requirements for physical therapy licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additional testing or work experience may also be required to qualify for licensure.
From the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website, applicants and students can review the additional requirements for physical therapy licensure in each state.
For additional information, please contact the Physical Therapy program by emailing pt@harding.edu.
The Harding University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree program meets the educational requirements for physician assistant licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additional testing or work experience may also be required to qualify for licensure.
From the American Academy of Physician Associates website, applications and students can review additional requirements for physician assistants licensure in each state.
For additional information, please contact the Physician Assistant program by emailing PAprogram@harding.edu.
The Harding University Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathologist degree program meets the educational requirements for speech-language pathology licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additional testing or work experience may also be required to qualify for licensure. From the American Speech-Language-Hearing Assocation website, applications and students can review additional requirements for physician assistants licensure in each state. For additional information, please contact the Speech-Language Pathology program by emailing csd@harding.edu.
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