Alcorn State University (ASU) seeks to offer distance education to students in all states and territories. To do so, ASU secured approval through the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), an agreement among member states, territories, and districts of the United States of America that establishes national standards for authorizing distance education programs across participating states. Through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), ASU is authorized to offer online education and out-of-state supervised experiences to students residing in other SARA member states, in accordance with its home state’s policies and requirements and SARA guidelines. SARA is overseen by the National Council (NC-SARA) and administered by four regional education compacts.

SARA does not cover all aspects of state authorization. Certain programs, particularly those leading to professional licensure or certification, may have additional state-specific requirements. Students are responsible for verifying whether a program meets the licensure requirements in their state of residence.

For more information about SARA and its policies, students may contact [email protected] or visit the appropriate SARA resources.

Complaints

Students residing in SARA member states who have concerns or complaints about distance education programs should first follow ASU’s Internal Student Complaint Process. If the issue is not resolved, students may escalate the complaint to ASU’s home-state SARA Portal Entity, the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA), using the MCCA Student Complaint Form for further review under the SARA Student Complaint Process within two years of the incident. If the complaint falls outside MCCA’s jurisdiction, it may be directed to another agency authorized to address the concerns, if appropriate. Note: This process does not apply to student grades or discipline/conduct matters.

Professional Licensure

SARA approval does not extend to programs that lead to professional licensure. If you live outside the state of Mississippi and are considering a program that leads to licensure, then you should contact the appropriate licensing board in your home state before you apply to Alcorn State University. We make every effort to stay current with state laws, but it is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate licensing board in their home state to confirm whether the Alcorn State University program will meet the state’s licensure requirements.

  • Requirements for licensure vary from one profession to another and from state to state.
  • Each state has professional licensing boards that set the criteria for licensure within the state.
  • Many careers require you to meet specific licensing, training, and other requirements.
  • Additional education may be required, including, but not limited to, state-specific content such as additional coursework or supervised field experience hours.
  • Boards may also require background checks.
  • Some boards require an individual to be a resident to obtain a license in certain professions.
  • Some states require that an individual obtain a driver’s license in that state, thereby confirming residency in the state prior to considering a licensure application.
  • Licensure requirements are governed by the states, not by the Federal government, and the criteria for licensure vary significantly from state to state.
  • Rules in place when the individual applies for licensure determine what the licensing requirements apply. The Board determines how the rules and regulations are interpreted and applied during the licensure application process.
CLINICAL AND FIELD EXPERIENCES

Although the University will make reasonable efforts to place admitted students in clinicals, field experiences, and internships, it will be up to the host facility to determine whether a student may work there. Students should be further aware that a criminal record may jeopardize licensure by the state certification body. For more details, students may consult the certification body corresponding to their intended occupation. Successful completion of a program of study at Alcorn State University does not guarantee licensure, certification, or employment in the relevant occupation.

LICENSURE INFORMATION

Typically, state licensing boards will have added requirements, including generally a criminal background check, added fees, and specifically, the following types of requirements based on the type of license:

  • Nursing – Mississippi is part of the enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (e-NLC) along with the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. For additional information about the e-NLC, see the following website: e-NLC Implementation
  • Teacher Education – additional coursework (i.e., a state history and state culture course) and distinct test scores. Those seeking a license as an administrator may need a specific number of years of experience. Additional qualifications and/or disqualifications may apply to work as a teacher with any local, state, or federal entity.
STUDENT OBLIGATIONS RELATIVE TO LICENSURE
  • Students intending to practice a licensed profession outside of Mississippi who plan to enroll in any Alcorn State University education course(s), degree, and/or certificate program leading to advanced licensure need to understand that the state in which they will be working will likely have specific requirements in terms of additional courses that are needed to become licensed in their state. Please use the SARA Licensure Directory to find contact information for professional licensure requirements in the state where you intend to practice.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
  • Students who are pursuing degrees related to professional licensure or certification and/or who will be participating in clinical placements, internships, or practice through their degree program should be aware that their host facility may require any or all of the following:
    • criminal background check
    • fingerprinting or
    • drug screening
  • In such situations, each student is responsible for obtaining and paying for the background check or other screening process and delivering the required documentation to the facility.
  • Although the University will make reasonable efforts to place admitted students in clinicals, field experiences, and internships, it will be up to the host facility to determine whether a student may work there.
  • Students should be aware that a criminal record may jeopardize licensure by the state certification body.
  • Students may consult the certification body corresponding to their intended occupation for more details.
  • Successful completion of a program of study at Alcorn State University does not guarantee licensure, certification, or employment in the relevant occupation.
Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP)

Upon completing the program of study, graduates are eligible to take a national certification examination for Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP). The program of study is designed to be completed in five (5) semesters (including one summer) and 49 semester hours of full-time continuous study.

Nurse Educator (NE)

Upon completing the program of study, graduates are eligible to take a national certification examination for Nurse Educators (CNE). The program of study is designed to be completed in four (4) semesters (including one summer) and 35 semester hours of full-time continuous study.

Post-Master’s Certificate

The post-master’s certificate option is a special studies program for Master’s prepared nurses pursuing certification in a specialty area or seeking a program of study that may lead to a change in role (e.g., a CNS seeking an FNP specialty certificate). Alcorn offers post-master’s certificate options for specialized study as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Nurse Educator (NE). Upon completion of the program of study, applicants are eligible to take a national certification examination.

Contact Information

Mississippi Board of Nursing
https://www.msbn.ms.gov/

National Accreditation Sites

Schools of Nursing in Mississippi are not regulated by the Mississippi Board of Nursing. They are regulated by Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
https://www.acenursing.org/

Institutions of Higher Learning
http://www.mississippi.edu/nursing/