Professional Licensure Disclosures - NCSARA
Onondaga Community College Professional Licensure and Certification Disclosures - NCSARA
Public Protection and NYS Standards
The State of New York maintains rigorous educational, clinical, and ethical standards for licensed and certified professionals to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its residents. The associate degree, certificate, and workforce development programs offered by Onondaga Community College (OCC) that lead to professional licensure or certification are carefully designed and registered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) or aligned with recognized industry and national standards to meet or exceed these high requirements.
Federal and SARA Regulatory Compliance Statement
In compliance with U.S. Federal Regulations, 34 CFR § 668.14(b)(32) and 34 CFR § 668.43, as well as Section 5.2 of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) Policy Manual, Onondaga Community College provides the following disclosures regarding whether its academic and workforce programs meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in various U.S. states and territories.
These requirements apply to all program modalities (including in-person, hybrid, and fully online programs) and encompass both credit-bearing academic majors and non-credit, continuing education, or workforce development credentials designed or advertised to prepare students for state-regulated occupations.
Important Distinction: Professional State Licensure vs. Voluntary Professional Certification
Prospective and enrolled students must understand the legal distinction between state-mandated licensure and voluntary, national professional certification:
- State Licensure: A mandatory legal credential issued by a state government licensing board (such as the NYS Board of Nursing or state Board of Physical Therapy) that is legally required to practice the profession within that state's borders. Practice without a state-issued license is a violation of state law.
- National Professional Certification: A voluntary credential issued by an independent professional organization (such as AHIMA, NHA, or the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting). While many employers require or prefer certification for employment, it is a non-governmental professional credential rather than a legal license to practice. Unlicensed professions rely on national credential eligibility rather than state government licensing regimes.
Strict Scope and Limitations of Institutional Determinations
This disclosure is strictly limited to OCC’s institutional determination of whether successfully completing the curriculum of a specified academic or workforce program is sufficient to meet the educational and curricular prerequisites for professional licensure or certification in a given state or territory.
The successful completion of an OCC academic or workforce curriculum establishes eligibility to sit for applicable licensure or certification examinations, but the College does not guarantee, and assumes no responsibility or liability for, a student's examination scores, pass rates, or final licensure outcomes.
Onondaga Community College is not a licensing authority and cannot grant professional licenses or certifications. The final authority to approve or deny an application for professional licensure rests solely with the respective state licensing boards, and such determinations are highly fact-specific.
OCC cannot verify or guarantee an individual's ability to satisfy non-educational licensing requirements. These external requirements typically include, but are not limited to:
- Passing state-specific or national professional licensing examinations.
- Passing state-specific Jurisprudence Examinations.
- Completing post-graduation clinical, field, or residency hours.
- Fulfilling character and fitness criteria, including criminal background checks, child abuse recognition certifications, and fingerprint clearances.
- Submitting official licensing applications and paying required state licensing fees.
- The programmatic determinations listed on this page are based on current state standards as of the date of publication. OCC does not account for changes in state laws or licensing board regulations that may occur after these determinations are published. Enrolled and prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact the professional licensing board in their state of choice to review all applicable licensing requirements before enrolling.
Official Student Location Policy
To comply with federal state authorization rules (34 CFR § 600.9) and disclosure regulations (34 CFR § 668.43), OCC determines a student's physical location using the following criteria:
- Prospective Students: A prospective student's physical location is determined at the time of application to the College, based on the permanent physical address provided on their admissions application. For applicants whose permanent address is located outside of the United States, New York is designated as the default state of location.
- Enrolled Students: An enrolled student's location is determined based on the physical address associated with their local address as reported to the College. This location remains in effect unless and until the student formally submits a change of address through the Student Portal. The date the address change is submitted serves as the official effective date of the student's revised location.
- Impact of Relocation: If an enrolled student relocates to a state where OCC's curriculum does not meet the educational requirements, or where the college has not made a determination, it may impact their ability to remain in the program, secure clinical placements, satisfy state licensure standards, or receive Title IV financial aid. Students planning to relocate must contact their Program Coordinator prior to moving to assess licensure eligibility.
Mandatory Attestation Requirements for Enrollment
Under 34 CFR § 668.14(b)(32), OCC is legally prohibited from enrolling a student who physically resides in a state where the curriculum does not meet educational licensing standards, or where the college has not yet finalized a compliance determination, unless a formal exception is established.
To qualify for an exception, the applicant must execute and submit a signed Student Professional Licensure Program Attestation Form to the Office of Admissions prior to enrollment. This form verifies that the student intends to seek post-graduation employment and licensure in New York State or another jurisdiction where OCC’s program has been verified to meet the educational requirements.
If an applicant residing in an unapproved state fails to submit the required attestation, or if the state of intended licensure does not align with the registered curriculum, the student will be deemed inadmissible to the professional licensure program.
New York State Licensed Professions
| State | Licensure contact |
|---|---|
| New York | https://www.op.nysed.gov/ |
Student Professional Licensure Disclosures: State-by-State Determinations
| Program | Accrediting Body / Governing Standard | States Where Program MEETS Licensure Requirements | States Where Program DOES NOT MEET Licensure Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Information Technology/Medical Records, A.A.S. | Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) | 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, 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, and all U.S. Territories (Graduates eligible for national RHIT certification via AHIMA; no independent state boards) | None |
| Nursing, A.A.S. | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) | Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (requires additional form), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming (Eligible to take NCLEX-RN) | Alaska, California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania (acceptable for endorsement but not initial exam due to child abuse CE), Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin (Curriculum does not meet initial exam requirements due to clinical/course variations) |
| Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), A.A.S. | Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming (Meets educational prerequisites for NPTE) | None |
| Surgical Technology, A.A.S. | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) | 10 Regulated States: Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas. 37 Unregulated States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. 3 Registry States: Colorado, North Dakota, Washington. | None |
| Medical Assistant (A.A.S. & Workforce/Accelerated Training) | Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) / NHA Alignment | 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, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and all U.S. Territories. (Most states do not require a state license or specific certification to work as a medical assistant.) | New Jersey, North Dakota, Washington |
| Phlebotomy (Workforce / Accelerated Training) | National Healthcareer Association (NHA) / Industry Standard Frameworks | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, 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, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and all U.S. Territories. (Unregulated at the state level; standard national certification via NHA/CPT satisfies employer and industry standards.) | California: Requires a state-specific Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT I or CPT II) license through the California Department of Public Health, which mandates specific state-approved training provider lists and localized clinical hour filings. Louisiana: Requires a license for clinical laboratory personnel through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Nevada: Requires a state laboratory assistant license/classification. Washington: Regulated under the Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist (MA-P) state credential framework, requiring specific state board alignment paths. |
| Early Childhood, A.A.S. | NAEYC Commission on Early Childhood Higher Education Programs | New York State (Meets qualifications for head of group for preschoolers/school-aged under NYS DSS Day Care regulations and CDA coursework requirements) | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and all U.S. Territories (Does not lead to initial public school teacher certification) |
| EMT - Paramedic, A.A.S., Certificate, & Workforce Training | CoAEMSP / CAAHEP / NYS Department of Health | New York State (Registered with NYS Dept of Health, qualifies graduates to sit for NYS paramedic/EMT exams) | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and all U.S. Territories (Due to localized clinical hour rules) |
| Teaching Assistant, Certificate | Registered and approved by NYSED | New York State (Mapped strictly to NYS ATAS exam and child safety workshops) | Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and all U.S. Territories |
Note: For any program where a state is listed under the "Does Not Meet" column, out-of-state applicants residing in that jurisdiction are subject to an automated admissions registration hold. Course registration and enrollment cannot be finalized until the student signs and submits the Student Professional Licensure Program Attestation Form verifying their intent to seek post-graduation licensure and employment in New York State or another approved jurisdiction.
Institutional Disclaimer & Limitation of Liability
Onondaga Community College makes every effort to ensure that the state-by-state professional licensure determinations published on this page are accurate and up to date. However, state laws, regulations, and licensing board policies are subject to change without notice. The final authority for granting professional licensure or certification rests solely with individual state licensing boards. The College assumes no liability for changes in state laws or regulations that occur after these determinations are published, nor does it guarantee that a student's completion of an OCC program will result in licensure in any jurisdiction outside of New York State. Prospective and enrolled students are strongly advised to contact their specific state licensing board directly to verify all current educational and non-educational requirements prior to enrollment or relocation.
Reviewed Annually for Compliance