(a) Any educational program that is intended to satisfy the educational requirement for licensure in a profession regulated under Title VIII of the Education Law or that leads to a degree or certificate at the subprofessional or postprofessional level in a professional area regulated under Title VIII shall have a curriculum that is adequate in breadth and depth to meet the objectives of the program and that is satisfactory to the commissioner. The department, in its discretion, may modify the educational program requirements set forth in this Title, to the extent authorized by law, including but not limited to supervised field experience, practicums or other such experience requirements if such requirements cannot be successfully completed due to the state of emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to an Executive Order for the COVID-19 crisis.

(b) In reviewing professional education programs the department may consider and use the standards of nationally recognized accrediting organizations in the professions to the extent such standards are satisfactory to the department.

(c) The definitions, standards and procedures contained in sections 50.1, 52.1 and 52.2 of this Subchapter shall apply to any educational program, regardless of its setting, that is intended to satisfy the educational requirement for licensure in a profession regulated under Title VIII of the Education Law or that leads to a degree or certificate at the subprofessional or postprofessional level in a professional area regulated under Title VIII. In addition, the standards set forth in this Part for specific professions shall apply to the educational programs for such professions.