Professional Licensure Disclosures
Professional Licensure Disclosures
State Authorization
The University of Southern Mississippi is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) thereby allowing us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than Mississippi. USM is not exempt from state professional licensure requirements. Hence, licensing and/or certification requirements in Mississippi may not be adequate to obtain a professional license in other states. NOTE- Please be sure to review the SARA page for additional information by going to the NC-SARA page.
Programs and Licensure
All University of Southern Mississippi professional licensure programs are designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements for the state of Mississippi including preparing students to apply for licensure examinations and/or certification within the State. However, each state and territory has different professional licensure and certification requirements. Additional licensure requirements may include professional examinations, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting requirements, etc. Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time thereby impacting the program's ability to meet educational requirements for licensure. Should USM become aware that a professional licensure determination of a program changes so that a program no longer leads to licensure in the state in which the student is located, USM will advise students within a program within 14 days of making such a determination.
Relocation
Students who intend to return or move to any state other than Mississippi need to review the professional licensure disclosures pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board since each state professional licensing board for each specific profession makes the ultimate decision as to the eligibility of an individual applying for licensure to sit for a license based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits their application for licensure.
International Students
Before you enroll in any program at USM, prospective students living and/or working outside of the United States should contact the appropriate certifying agency to confirm if successful completion of any degree program at USM will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment, as to certain types of employment or for advanced/specialized educational programs.
Professional Licensure Program
A Professional Licensure Program (PLP) or program customarily leading to licensure is an academic program offered by institutions of higher learning designed, marketed and/or advertised to meet educational requirements: (1) for a specific license or certification; and (2) is required for employment in an occupation.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
The U. S. Department of Education requires all colleges and university to communicate publicly and directly to prospective and current students by providing them with a professional licensure disclosure about: (1) academic programs that will not fulfill educational requirements for a specific professional licensure that is required for employment in that field; and (2) academic programs that do not meet the education requirements for licensure or for which an institution cannot determine if the program meet the educational requirements for each state and U.S. territory for all delivery modes of the program.
Purpose of The Professional Licensure Disclosure Page
This page helps connect prospective students, applicants, and current students to professional licensure information.
To view USM's PLP, review the table below and click on the link to the right of the program name. You will be redirected to the program’s webpage where you will find additional information about the preparation provided by the program including the following specific disclosure:
For these purposes, states include the District of Columbia and the US protectorates, as defined in 34 CFR §600.2.
The program webpage also has contact information for program personnel that can help answer specific questions in this regard and who will do their best to help connect you to the credentialing requirements of the state in which you aspire to practice.
Programs Not Listed- If you have questions regarding any program not listed on the Professional Licensure page, please contact the Director of the School within which the program resides.
Biological Sciences, (Licensure) B.S.
Child and Family Sciences (Child Development), BS
Educational Administration P-12, Ed.D.
Educational Administration P-12, Ed.S.
Educational Administration P-12, Ph.D.
Educational Administration and Supervision M.Ed.
Educational Curriculum and Instruction (Elementary Education) M.Ed.
Elementary Education, B.S. (Licensure) (Teacher's Assistant Pathway)
Elementary Education/Special Education (Dual Licensure) B.S.
History (Social Studies Licensure) B.A.
Music Education (Chorale Licensure) B.M.Ed.
Music Education (Instrumental Licensure) B.M.Ed.
Secondary Teacher Education Alternate Route MAT
Secondary Education and Teaching (Teach Mississippi Institute) Graduate Certificate
Science Education M.S. (specialties include Biological Science, Coastal Science, Earth Science, Marine Science, Mathematics, and Physics)
Science Education Ph.D. (specialties include- Biological SCiences, Chemistry, Coastal Science, Marine Science, Mathematics, Medical Laboratory Science, Physics, and Polymer Science and Engineering.
Nursing (Nurse Anesthesia), Ph.D.
Nursing Family Practitioner, MSN.
Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) Graduate Certificate
Nursing (BSN to DNP Family Nurse Practitioner) DNP
Nursing (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) Graduate Certificate
Nursing (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) MSN
Nursing (BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) DNP
The following individual disclosures are being sent out as indicated below:
Prior to prospective student enrollment, students are being advised as to what determination has been made in terms of whether the program meets the student's home state PLC pre-education requirements.
Each enrolled and prospective student is receiving a notice of any adverse actions filed against the institution by a state or accrediting agency: 30-day notification.
Each enrolled and prospective student is being advised is a program in which they are enrolled ceases to meet PLC pre-education requirements: 14-day notification.
The University of Southern Mississippi provides a process for enrolled students and the public to submit non-academic complaints. The process for such complaints is contained in the Student Grievance Policy. Student Complaints can be submitted electronically using the Maxient Student Complaint form.
Within two years of the incident regarding the complaint, individuals who are enrolled in distance education offerings (i.e. online courses and supervised field experiences) and who are unable to resolve the issue internally can also submit their complaints to the NC-SARA portal agent at the following address or by completing the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA) Student Complaint form, which should be mailed to the portal agent at the following address:
Menia Dykes
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211-6453
Additional contact information for the NC-SARA portal agent is as follows:
Telephone: 601.432.6372
Fax: 601.432.6225
Email: mdykes@mississippi.edu
Federal Program Integrity rules issued by the U.S. Department of Education require institutions to provide to all students including students and prospective students contact information needed to file a complaint with the accrediting agency and with relevant state agencies. To see the list that includes contact info for all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the protectorates, please see the SARA page.
For additional consumer disclosures see the Student Consumer Information Disclosures page.
Currently and for the previous five years, The University of Southern Mississippi has no previous, current or pending adverse actions initiated by any state agencies.
Currently and for the previous five years, The University of Southern Mississippi has no previous, current, or pending adverse actions initiated by any accrediting agencies.
The University of Southern Mississippi follows the refund policy published by the Mississippi Institutes of Higher Learning (IHL).
Due to state sovereignty, state professional licensing board have unique standards for occupations that require either licensure or certification. “Occupational licensing laws” establish these “standards” “which may include specific education or training, work experience, examinations, background checks and professional organization membership reequipments” (Smith, Michaluk, Hall & Kanode, 2018, p. 3). To become licensed, prospective licensees must “demonstrate that they meet all the requirement professional standards” and pay the “registration and licensing fees” (p. 3). Across the United States, “over 1,000 different occupations require “occupational licensing” (p. 3). After becoming licensed, those who obtain a license agree to “adhere to a strict professional code of conduct” and are monitored as well as typically required [to undertake] ongoing training [along with] reporting” (p. 4).
Several states require licensure- Oklahoma, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah
http://inform.alabama.gov/agencysearch.aspx
To search type in the term licensure in the agency box.
Accounting
https://www.asbpa.alabama.gov/laws.aspx
Counseling Professionals
Education Professions
https://www.alsde.edu/sec/ec/Pages/home.aspx#
General Licensure
http://www.alabama.gov/online-services/professional
Medical Professions
http://www.albme.org/index.html
Respiratory Care
asbrt.alabama.gov/Forms.aspx?sm=b_a
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/professionallicensing.aspx
Accounting-
Respiratory Care
Teacher Profession:
https://www.eed.state.ak.us/TeacherCertification/
https://elicense.az.gov/ARDC_Support
https://az.gov/professional-licenses
https://btr.az.gov/search-for-licensees
Accounting
https://www.azaccountancy.gov/
Arizona State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners – Counseling
Licensure
http://www.azbbhe.us/node/557
Arizona Medical Board - Medical Licensure
https://www.azmd.gov/Licensure/Licensure
Arizona Department of Education - Teaching Certification
http://www.azed.gov/educator-certification/
Arizona State Board of Technical Registration – Technical Licensure
https://btr.az.gov/licensing-exams
http://www.discover.arkansas.gov/Licensed-Occupations
Arkansas Department of Health
http://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programsservices/program/licensing_permits_plan_reviews
Arkansas State Board of Examiners in Counseling
http://abec.myarkansas.net/licensing
Arkansas State Medical Board
http://www.armedicalboard.org/
Arkansas Department of Education
http://www.arkansased.gov/divisions/human-resources-educator-effectivenessand-licensure/educator-licensure-unit
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/boards_programs
Medical Board:
https://www.colorado.gov/dora/Medical_Board
Teaching Professions:
https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof
https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Agency-Administration/About-Us/Boards-and-Commissions
Counseling Profession
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=396906
General Licensure
http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?q=273664
Medical Professions:
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3143&q=388902
Teaching Professions:
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2613&q=321230
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Professional Standards
http://dpr.delaware.gov/
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Professional Counselor of
mental Health Licensure
https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/profcounselors/newlicense/
Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Medical Licensure
and Discipline
https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/medicalpractice/
State of Delaware - National Board Certifications – Educators
https://deeds.doe.k12.de.us/certificate/deeds_nbct.aspx
https://dcra.dc.gov/professional-licensing
District of Columbia Department of Health (includes Medical and
Counseling Licensure)
http://doh.dc.gov/service/professional-license-applications
District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education -
Educator Certification
http://osse.dc.gov/ed-credentials
Florida Business and Professional Regulations - General Licensure
https://www.myfloridalicense.com/intentions2.asp
Florida Board of Medicine - Medical Licensure
http://flboardofmedicine.gov/licensing/
Florida Department of Education – Educator Licensure
http://fldoe.org/teaching/certification
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and
Mental Health Counseling – Licensure
http://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/
https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/online_licensure_applications
Georgia Secretary of State Professional Licensure
http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/online_licensure_applications
Georgia Professional Standards Commission - Educator Certification
https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/ApplicationProcedures.aspx
Georgia Composite Medical Board - Medical Licensure
https://medicalboard.georgia.gov/apply-renew-reinstate-or-manage-license
Teaching Professions:
http://www.htsb.org/
Medical Professions:
http://bom.idaho.gov/BOMPortal/Home.aspx
Teaching Professions:
https://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/teacher_certification/apply_cert_cred.htm
https://www.idfpr.com/profs/proflist.asp
Illinois State Board of Education:
http://www.isbe.net/Pages/Educator-Licensure-Requirements.aspx
https://www.in.gov/pla/boards.htm
Teaching Professions:
http://www.doe.in.gov/licensing
https://www.iowa.gov/business/licenses-and-permits
Counseling Profession:
http://idph.iowa.gov/Licensing
General Licensure:
https://plb.iowa.gov/about-us
Medical Professions:
https://medicalboard.iowa.gov/practitioners/physicians.html
Teaching Professions:
http://www.boee.iowa.gov/
Behavioral Professions
http://ksbsrb.ks.gov/
Education Professions
http://www.ksde.org/Agency/DivisionofLearningServices/TeacherLicensureandAccreditation.aspx
Medical Professions
http://www.ksbha.org/main.shtml
Technical Professions
https://www.ksbtp.ks.gov/
http://dop.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
Kentucky Department of Education Educator Certification
https://education.ky.gov/teachers/NxGenProf/Pages/Certification.aspx
https://www.louisiana.gov/licenses/
Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners -
Counselor Licensure
http://www.lpcboard.org/
Louisiana Department of Education - Educator Licensure
https://www.teachlouisiana.net/
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners - Medical Licensure
http://www.lsbme.la.gov/licensure/index
State of Louisiana Professional and Occupational Licenses - Professional
Licensure
http://louisiana.gov/Services/POLicenses/
https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions.html
State of Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine - Medical Licensure
http://www.maine.gov/md/
Maine Department of Education – Educator Licensure
http://www.maine.gov/doe/cert/
State of Maine Professional & Financial Regulation - Counseling Licensure https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/counselors/