State Authorization and Licensure – Wayne State College Nebraska

Compliance

State Authorization and Reciprocity

Federal and state regulations and professional licensing board regulations require that all institutions obtain authorization and/or approval to conduct educational activities across state lines for programs that lead to professional licensure or certification. Compliance with these regulations ensures that a degree from Wayne State College will be recognized, that WSC students will be eligible to sit for licensure in states other than Nebraska, and that WSC students have access to state licensure information. Authorization requirements vary by state and program and may impact college operations.

What is state authorization?

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

Wayne State College has been approved by Nebraska to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. It is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education.

For more information:
Brook Jech
Director of Education Services
Brandenburg Education 136
402-375-7373
[email protected]

Visit the NC-SARA website

In order to offer educational opportunities to students outside Nebraska, Wayne State College must be authorized where required in order for the institution to participate in federal financial aid programs. Authorization regulations protect a student from investing in a program that is not legitimate, or in a program that does not meet the professional license or certification requirements in a state the student was expecting.

Benefits for students of NC-SARA institutions:

Expanded access to educational offerings
Enhanced quality of distance education
Better resolution of complaints for students
Reduces institutional costs that are in one way or another passed along to students

NC-SARA approved states/institutions

WSC provides an opportunity for enrolled students and the public in general to submit non-academic complaints. The policy, process, and procedures for submitting complaints is outlined in the Student Complaint/Grievance Procedures section in the student handbook. Individuals may also submit complaints to Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education (CCPE), the NC-SARA portal agency. The complaint process is described on the CCPE website.

Visit the Nebraska CCPE website Student Handbook (PDF)

Disclosures

Professional licensure and certification programs

Wayne State educator preparation programs are designed to prepare students to apply for licensure or certification in Nebraska. Completion of a Wayne State program may not meet educational requirements for licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska.

Select your program below to review whether a Wayne State licensure or certification program meets educational requirements for licensure or certification in each state.

Teacher certification: If you need to get your initial Nebraska teacher certification or renew your existing one, learn how.

More information on states and licensure/certification
If candidates are eligible to receive a full or temporary/provisional license while completing state-specific educational requirements, that state will be listed as “meets requirements.” Some states require a background check that could disqualify a candidate from obtaining licensure. As such, it is the candidate’s responsibility to determine if their own circumstances pose any barriers.

Students declared to be pursuing a licensure program who enroll in an online class their first semester at WSC and will reside in a “not meets” state while taking classes will not be allowed to start the program, unless they attest they plan to seek licensure in a “meets” state or switch to a licensure program that “meets requirements” for their state. WSC utilizes the local address (if provided) or permanent address to determine student location upon enrollment and are notified via email prior to classes starting if their program “does not meet requirements” per their determined student location. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Director of Education with any location changes to another state at any point throughout the duration of their program at WSC.