My Unexpected Love Affair with State Licensure and Certification
EduCred Services is excited to introduce Deb Maeder, Ed.D., as the newest member of our team. Much like Susan, Deb’s journey through education has been anything but conventional (which is exactly how we like it). She started her career in elementary education, took a detour into higher education, and somehow found herself falling head over heels for accreditation, policy, and compliance. A true love story like the rest of the EduCred Team members. She’s the kind of expert who enjoys untangling regulatory red tape, making her a lifesaver for institutions navigating the ever-changing world of state licensure and certification.
With experience spanning curriculum development, accreditation, and educational leadership, Deb brings a unique blend of strategic vision and a sharp eye for detail. She’s also a strong advocate for distance education—not just in theory, but through lived experience, having earned both her master’s and doctoral degrees through nontraditional programs.
We thought there is no better way to introduce Deb, than through her unexpected love affair with state licensure and certification (it is February after all). If you’ve ever felt like regulatory compliance is an endless maze of swiping left, she’s here to help—and, at the very least, provide some much-needed comic relief along the way.
Please join us in welcoming Deb to EduCred Services. We look forward to the collaboration and insights she will bring to our organization and yours.
My Unexpected Love Affair with State Licensure and Certification
If you had told me years ago that I’d develop a passion for state licensure and certification approvals, I probably would have laughed—hard. After all, who wakes up one day and says, You know what sounds fun? Regulatory compliance! But here I am, knee-deep in the ever-evolving world of licensure, and dare I say it, actually enjoying the challenge.
My work in healthcare education and teacher education has brought me face-to-face with the complexities of state approvals, national accreditation requirements, and the delightful (read: mind numbing) nuances of compliance. It’s a world where the rules are constantly shifting, the terminology is enough to make your head spin, and just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a new policy drops that changes everything.
And yet, I love it.
The Beautiful Chaos of State Licensure
In healthcare and education, licensure isn’t just a piece of paper—it’s the bridge between education and professional practice. Whether it’s nursing, counseling, teaching, or physical therapy, professionals can’t just waltz out of a degree program and into a job without proving they meet state-specific standards.
But here’s where it gets fun (or, as I call it, a bureaucratic scavenger hunt). Every state has its own set of rules, requirements, and application processes. Some states want additional coursework, others require extra clinical hours, and a few seem to enjoy inventing creative hurdles just to keep us on our toes. It’s like playing an endless game of regulatory bingo, except instead of winning a prize, you get to rewrite curriculum maps for the third time this year.
For institutions that offer online programs, the challenge multiplies. If a student in California enrolls in a nursing program based in Ohio, whose rules apply? The answer: It depends. (And if that phrase doesn’t send shivers down your spine, you haven’t spent enough time in state authorization.) Keeping up with which states require what—and making sure students know the requirements before they enroll—is an ongoing, ever-changing, and slightly masochistic endeavor.
Why National State Authorization Networks Keep Me (Mostly) Sane
One of the smartest things higher education has done in the last decade is create national networks to help institutions navigate this madness. Organizations like NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) offer some relief by streamlining approvals for distance education. Instead of getting state-by-state approval for online programs, participating (and accredited) institutions can follow a more standardized process (with some exceptions, because of course there are exceptions).
Then there are organizations like NASDTEC (National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification) and NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing), and WCET-SAN (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies - State Authorization Network) which provide valuable guidance and insight into national trends in licensure. These groups are a lifeline when you’re trying to figure out why State A suddenly requires fingerprinting but only if the applicant has lived in a bordering state within the last five years (yes, that’s a real example).
Engaging with these networks has given me access to experts, policy updates, and the occasional moment of shared commiseration with others in the trenches. Because if there’s one thing people working in licensure approvals understand, it’s the deep, existential sigh that comes when a new regulatory bulletin drops at 4:59 PM on a Friday.
Lessons Learned (or, Why I Haven’t Run Screaming Yet)
Despite its challenges, working in licensure approvals has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve seen firsthand how institutions can help students navigate these requirements so they don’t hit roadblocks after graduation. I’ve learned that compliance isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about making sure students can actually use their degrees in the careers they’ve worked so hard to enter.
A few takeaways I’ve picked up along the way:
Never assume anything – Just because a state used to accept a particular credential doesn’t mean they still do. Always verify. Always.
Get comfortable with gray areas – In the world of licensure, “It depends” is a valid answer to almost everything.
Find your people – Having a network of professionals who understand the pain of ever-changing regulations is invaluable (feel free to call EduCred Services, we got you).
Keep students informed – The last thing you want is for a graduate to realize they can’t get licensed in their home state because no one told them about an obscure requirement.
At the end of the day, I’ve come to appreciate the strange, frustrating, and oddly satisfying world of state licensure and certification. It may not be glamorous, but it’s essential. And if nothing else, it gives me plenty of material for professional venting sessions.
If you’re in the trenches of licensure approvals, let’s connect. We can swap war stories, share tips, and maybe—just maybe—find new ways to make this work just a little easier.