Alcorn State University is an institutional participant in SARA. As such, Alcorn State University can offer distance education both online and through out-of-state supervised experiences. Alcorn State University seeks to resolve concerns and complaints in a fair and prompt manner. After having exhausted your institutional remedies (please see student complaint portal and student complaint section on the Provost Guidance page), a student taking distance education courses from a state outside of Mississippi may file a complaint with the SARA portal agent with all matters other than conduct and grade related complaints.

In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be resolved through the Alcorn State University Complaint process, students may file a complaint with the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation using the MCCA Student Complaint Form within two years of the incident. If the complaint is outside of MCCA’s jurisdiction, it may be directed to another agency that is authorized to address the concerns, if appropriate. Note: This process is not applicable for matters related to student grades or discipline/conduct matters.

Students may also send concerns to Alcorn State University’s regional accrediting agency, SACSCOC in the unlikely event a complaint is not resolved after all university avenues have been exhausted.

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. While every attempt is made to stay abreast of the laws in each state, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate licensing board in his or her home state to confirm whether or not 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 in place to regulate the criteria that need to be met to qualify for licensure within a state.
  • Many careers require you to meet specific licensing, training as well as other requirements.
  • Additional education may be required, including but not limited to, state-specific content such as additional coursework or additional supervised field experience hours.
  • Boards may also require background checks.
  • Some boards require an individual to be a resident in order to obtain a license in certain professions.
  • Some states require that an individual obtain a drivers’ license in the state thereby confirming residency in the state prior to considering a licensure application.
  • Licensure requires are governed by the states, not by the Federal government, and the criteria for licensure vary significantly from state to state.
  • Rules in place at the time the individual applies for licensure determine what the licensing requirements apply. The Board determines how the rules and regulations in place are interpreted and applied at the time the licensure application is processed.
FIELD EXPERIENCES

Although the University will make reasonable efforts to place admitted students in field experiences and internships, it will be up to the host facility to determine whether a student will be allowed to work at that facility. Students should further 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.

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
  • Teaching- additional coursework (i.e. a state history and state culture course), and distinct test scores. Those seeking a license as an administrator may need to have a specific number of years of experience. There may be additional qualifications and/or disqualifications applicable in order 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 that they are going to be working in will likely have specific requirements in terms of additional courses that are needed to become licensed in their state.
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 for delivering required documentation to the facility.
  • Although the University will make reasonable efforts to place admitted students in field experiences and internships, it will be up to the host facility to determine whether a student will be allowed to work at that facility.
  • Students should further 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 completion of the program of study, graduates are eligible to write 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 44 semester hours of full-time continuous study.

Nurse Educator (NE)

Upon completion of the program of study, graduates are eligible to write 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 write 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/acen-home/

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