State Authorization
State Authorization & Professional Licensure Information
State authorization is a longstanding requirement in the Higher Education Act that requires institutions to be authorized in the state in which they are located as a condition for eligibility to receive Title IV Federal student financial aid. Clarkson College is a participating institution in The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements ( NC-SARA) which Nebraska is a member, under the direction of the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education.
Clarkson College and its educational offerings are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Additionally, our graduates can sit for national licensure board examinations and certifications upon successful completion of their degree. However, because state licensure requirements vary by state, Clarkson College is unable to ascertain licensure requirements in every state. It is up to the individual student to be aware of and abide by licensure requirements in the states in which the student chooses to reside and obtain licensure and employment.
As a member of NC-SARA and other state authorizations, Clarkson College is currently authorized to offer online education in all 50 states, commonwealths, and territories. However, NC-SARA does not cover professional licensure. Based on the professional licensure guidelines, specific programs may not be allowed to offer education or educational experiences in certain states. For all programs that lead to a professional license/certification, we highly recommend that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency the state in which you reside or the state where you intend to work to seek the most up-to-date information about state licensure requirements before beginning a program.
State Authorization and Professional Licensure Document - Downloadable by PDF.
All professional licensure programs offered at Clarkson College are designed to meet the requirements of the state of Nebraska and all accrediting bodies for recommending candidates for licensure/certification. Students who wish to practice in a state other than Nebraska may or may not have additional requirements to complete prior to applying for a license in the state of their choice. See the State Authorization and Professional Licensure Document above for specific State by State authorization requirements, professional licensure, and contact information by program for each state. We have authorization in dozens of states and are optimistic about expanding our reach in the future. Please be aware that state board authorization is a fluid situation that is subject to change. If you reside in a state in which Clarkson College’s program is not authorized to offer a program and wish to apply, please contact us at 402-552-3100 and ask to speak with a program director for your program of interest prior to completing the application process.
Experiential Learning Notes:
Experiential learning components are considered distance education under NC-SARA. Experiential learning refers to situations where a student reports to a supervisor, mentor, faculty member, or other qualified professional located in the host state. This individual must have a direct or indirect reporting relationship to the institution, regardless of whether academic credit is awarded. Examples include clinicals, externships, fieldwork, internships, practicums, and similar placements. These experiences may require background checks, fingerprinting, or drug testing prior to participation.
Requirements may vary by state. Approval must be confirmed before placement, and students with a criminal background or felony conviction may not be able to secure an approved site.
Criminal Background Information
Some states and state licensing boards may require an additional criminal background check and may disqualify individuals from licensure based on certain convictions. Some convictions may make students ineligible to sit for licensing or certification examinations. Failure to complete required experiential learning will prevent successful program completion. If you have a criminal history, check with the state licensing board and the state requirements where you plan to work to understand your eligibility.
Please contact the Academic Program or [email protected] if you have any questions.
Relocation
Current and Prospective students who begin an online program while residing in a state in which Clarkson College is authorized to offer online programs need to be aware that moving to a state in which the College is not authorized to offer that program may have negative consequences. While the College attempts to obtain authorization everywhere students live, moving to a state in which the College is not authorized could result in the loss of eligibility for certain forms of financial aid and/or in the inability of the student to complete the academic program. Any student considering relocation should contact their program director for more information regarding authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.
Student location is the state where a student resides and is based on the permanent home address maintained in Clarkson College’s student information system (SIS) at the time of initial enrollment. This is as defined by our policy Student Location & Disclosures for Professional Licensure or Certification Disclosure (Policy OG-33). The student location designation will remain in effect unless and until a student changes the U.S. State or Territory listed as the student’s permanent address using MyCC. Once a student enters a new U.S. State or Territory, Clarkson College will consider that date of entry as the effective date of a student’s revised location for this policy.
International Applicants Information
Clarkson College works to provide global access to its online degree and certificate programs. We will carefully track issues related to international authorization and licensure, but it is a student’s responsibility to understand requirements related to whether an online degree or certificate will be recognized in a country other than the United States, how the collection of student data may be used in another country, and whether withholding taxes (in addition to the price of tuition) will apply.
Some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees and certificates, which may have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment with that country’s government or other employers requiring specific credentials.
If you’re considering enrolling in an online program that leads to a professional license, contact the appropriate professional licensing board in your country of residence or the country where you intend to work in order to determine whether an online degree or certificate from Clarkson College will be recognized.
Consumer Information Disclosures and Public Complaint Processes
Consumer Information
Public Complaint
The U.S Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education requires that we provide you with the contacts from other states who you can contact in case you were to have an issue. The list provides contact information for all 50 states, Commonwealths and Territories.