Professional Licensure Information
Westmoreland County Community College offers a variety of associate degree and certificate programs that prepare students for professional licensure or certification within Pennsylvania. Some programs require all requirements to be fulfilled, while others only need specific prep courses for licensure/certification examinations.
Interested students can review the Catalog and contact Admissions to learn more about the criteria for admissions and program-specific application procedures.
Notice to Out-of-State Students
Westmoreland County Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Professional licensure and certification requirements may vary from state to state, and additional education requirements or special authorization from the professional licensing or certification agency may be needed.
Non-Pennsylvania residents seeking to enroll in a professional licensure or certification course or program at Westmoreland will be contacted upon submission of a completed Application for Admission form to provide additional information and resources.
Applicants may also contact the professional licensing and certification agency in their state of residence to determine whether Westmoreland’s course or program meets the requirements in that state. You can learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting CareerOneStop License Finder.
Programs
The following programs meet the state requirements for Pennsylvania; other states may vary. Successful completion of the programs may lead to professional licensure or certification.
School of Culinary Arts
The Baking and Pastry AAS, Culinary Arts Program, and Restaurant/Culinary Management program are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accreditation Commission (ACFEFAC), a specialized accreditation agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education (CHEA).
This program requires students to complete the National Restaurant Association ServSafe Sanitation Certification to complete the program requirements. Guidelines for the acceptance of prior certification can be obtained from the Office of Records and Registration.
Students looking to obtain food safety/sanitation certification in a state other than Pennsylvania, please contact the Department of Health or agency that governs approved food safety education programs within your state for more information on certification requirements specific to your state.
School of Health Professions
Upon successful completion of DAS 105, students are eligible to apply to take the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) Exam. Upon successful completion of the Dental Assisting Program, national DANB certification may be earned as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) upon successful completion of the DANB Infection Control (ICE) Exam and General Chairside (GC) Exam. The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. The commission is a special accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Students who seek to practice Dental Assisting in states other than Pennsylvania must go to the State Board of Dentistry website of the state for which they are seeking to obtain licensure. Each state has criteria for licensure that must be met in order to obtain a license.
School of Health Professions
The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. The Commission is a specialized accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Students who seek to obtain licensure in states other than Pennsylvania must go to the State Board of Dentistry website of the state for which they are seeking to obtain licensure. Each state has criteria for licensure that must be met in order to obtain a license.
School of Health Professions
The Expanded Functions Dental Assisting (EFDA) provides students with training in advanced skills recognized by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry as legal functions for the Expanded Functions Dental Assistant. Graduates of the EFDA program are qualified to take the Pennsylvania Certification Exam for EFDA. The program includes lab experience in the college campus facility and clinical experience in a dental office. Students are responsible to secure a clinical site to complete the clinical portion of the curriculum.
Students who seek to practice as an Expanded Function Dental Assistant (EFDA) in states other than Pennsylvania are advised to go to the State Board of Dentistry website of the state for which they are seeking to practice. Not all states recognize EFDA as a separate and distinct credential.
School of Health Professions
This program is accredited through CAAHEP, 1361 Park St. , Clearwater, FL 33756; 727-21002350; www.caahep.org with Joint Review Committee on Education in Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS), 6021 University Boulevard, Suite 500, Ellicott City, MD 21043; 442-973-3251; www.jrcdms.org. Students who successfully complete all requirements of the program are eligible to apply to take the American Registry in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) Exam. Upon passing the ARDMS exam, students earn the Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) credential.
Students who seek to practice Diagnostic Medical Sonography in states other than Pennsylvania are advised to check the state for which they are seeking to practice. Not all states require licensure or the ARDMS credential to practice sonography.
School of Arts, Humanities, Social Science and Public Service
The Early Childhood PreK-Grade 4 (ECE) program prepares AAS graduates for entry into baccalaureate level, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) approved teacher education certification programs for grades PreK-4. The ECE program also offers courses that are approved for the educational components for credentials that are offered by external agencies. Students interested in completing their educational requirements for external credentials should arrange to speak with the program director who can advise on the courses that will meet the requirements for their chosen credentials.
Those who are interested in obtaining the Pennsylvania Early Childhood Director Credential should review the information found at the PA Keys website in the Degrees & Credentials section under Career Development. The program director will advise students on which courses they need to complete based on prior work and academic experience.
Those who wish to further their career and professional development can complete the educational requirements for the nationally recognized CDA Credential. The program director will advise students on the courses they need to complete based on the CDA setting they choose to pursue. Those interested in pursuing the CDA should review the additional experience, portfolio, and professional requirements they must complete as a portion of their candidacy through the national CDA program. These requirements can be found at the Council for Professional Recognition website at www.CDACouncil.org.
Students looking to obtain teaching certification credentials in a state other than Pennsylvania should contact the Department of Education or agency that governs teacher preparation within your state for more information on certification requirements specific to your state.
School of Health Professions
The Medical Assisting program prepares the graduate to assist the physician with the care and treatment of patients in administrative and clinical procedures. The Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Graduates apply for the national Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination. Students are also eligible for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and the Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) credentials.
Students who seek employment as a Medical Assistant in states other than Pennsylvania are advised to check the state for which they are seeking to practice. Not all states require a license or credential to be employed as a Medical Assistant.
Associate in Applied Science Degrees
This program is fully approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates are required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) in order to practice as a Registered Nurse.
Students will be required to attend clinical, in person, at our affiliated clinical agencies in Pennsylvania. Students looking to obtain licensure in a state other than Pennsylvania, please visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website at https://www.ncsbn.org and use the search feature to find the licensing board information specific to your state.
School of Health Professions
The Radiology Technology program offers the academic preparation and clinical training needed for a career as a Radiologic Technologist (radiographer). Students who complete the Radiology technology program satisfactorily are eligible to apply to take the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national certification exam. Applicants to the radiology technology program should review ARRT rules and regulations and the ARRT standard of ethics prior to submitting their application. Information can be found on the ARRT website, http://www.arrt.org.
The ARRT certification is nationwide, not state specific, and recognized in most states. Individual states may also require a state license. More information can be found at ARRT.org under the “about the profession” tab.