Students living outside of Arkansas have some special considerations.

Accreditation

NWACC is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is one of several institutional accreditors in the United States. The Higher Learning Commission accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions. This means that college credits earned at NWACC will transfer to other colleges and universities, and makes benefits such as federal financial aid available to NWACC students.

NWACC is a member of NC-SARA, a national organization that establishes a state-level reciprocity process for online students. The SARA agreement establishes necessary and reasonable standards of practice, as well as an enhanced grievance process for students who live in SARA states.

Programs Leading to Licensure

The academic programs listed below are designed to prepare students for a career in a licensed profession upon completion of the program. A professional license is typically required for graduates of these programs to practice and/or gain employment in these fields.

Each state and territory may have different professional licensure and certification requirements. Other licensure requirements may include professional examinations, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting requirements, etc. If you are a student from outside the state of Arkansas who is considering a program of study that may lead to professional licensure, be sure to contact the appropriate licensing agency in your state of residence before beginning your course of study.

In compliance with federal regulations 34 CFR 600.9(c), 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) and 34 CFR 668.43(c). Northwest Arkansas Community college provides the following resources for students enrolling in a program that leads to professional Licensure or certification who may reside in a state outside of Arkansas.

Health Professions

Programs within the Center for Health Professions at Northwest Arkansas Community College may lead to either national or state licensure and/or certification. These programs are designed to meet the standards for their respective national licensure board and all meet the qualifications to receive licensure and/or certification in the State of Arkansas.

Click on the arrow to the left of the heading for more information

CNA/PCA

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Programs at Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) are accredited by the Arkansas Office of Long Term Care under Arkansas Code 20-10-701 and Federal law 100-203 Section 4211 Students who complete the program in Arkansas are qualified to take the CNA exam under Arkansas State guidelines.

NWACC has not determined if the CNA program meets the state requirements in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Island, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Nursing

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Associate Degree of Nursing at NorthWest Arkansas is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and is approved as meeting the Arkansas state educational requirements for licensure as a nurse to prepare the graduate to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse licensing exam (NCLEX). Arkansas is also part of the Enhanced Nursing Licensure Compact (eNLC). Under this agreement, students who successfully pass the NCLEX exam meet the eligibility requirements for nursing practice in the agreement states. Students must apply for a state license in order to practice in a state other than Arkansas. States in the eNLC are as follows: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio (starting in January of 2023), Oklahoma, Pennsylvania (Law passed and awaiting implementation), South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Virgin Islands, West Virginia (Law passed and awaiting implementation), Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Although NorthWest Arkansas Community College makes every effort to disclose and provide resources for licensure requirements for each state, it is important that students also inquire with their state licensing board where they intend to apply for licensure to determine the requirements for licensure.

If you are considering relocating, please check licensure eligibility requirements. State Board of Nursing contacts and resources can be found at this site: State Board of Nursing Contact

Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Community Paramedicine

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The EMS programs at Northwest Arkansas Community College is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of Education Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Profession. and approved by the Arkansas State Board of Emergency Medical Services as meeting the Arkansas state educational requirements for licensure as a Paramedic or EMT.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the National Registry of EMT Certification exam (NREMT) and must pass the NREMT certification exam to receive a license to practice.

The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification or reciprocity in all states secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Emergency Medical Service Education, based on the following:

CoAEMSP accreditation of the Paramedic program satisfies state educational requirements in all states. Thus, students graduating from CoAEMSP-accredited Paramedic education program are eligible to take the National Registry of EMT Examination and apply for licensure in all states. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure or reciprocity requirements, refer to the Registry of EMT website: State EMS Agencies for licensure information can be found here.

Health Information Management

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Health Information Management program at Northwest Arkansas Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and approved by the State of Arkansas for an Associate of Applied Science Degree. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technology (RHIT) examination and the AHIMA Professional HIM Certification Exam.

The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, based on the following:

CAHIIM accreditation of a health information management program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAHIIM-accredited health information management education programs are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technology exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Physical Therapy Assistant

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Physical Therapy Assistant program at Northwest Arkansas Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and approved by the State of Arkansas for an Associate of Applied Science Degree. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTE) and must pass the NPTE to receive a license to practice.

The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following:

CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.

Respiratory Therapy

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Respiratory Therapy program at Northwest Arkansas Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care and approved by the State of Arkansas for an Associate of Applied Science Degree. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), Therapist Multiple-Choice Exam and must pass the exam to earn national credentialing and obtain a license to practice Respiratory Care in the United States of America.

The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all 49 states, including the District of Columbia, that regulate the practice of Respiratory Care by virtue of its accreditation by the CoARC, the awarding of an Associate of Applied Science degree, and the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice Examination admissions requirements. Alaska does not require a license to practice, and the requirements of US territories are unknown. According to the NBRC:

The first examination for earning the RRT is the Therapist Multiple-Choice (TMC) Examination. The TMC Examination evaluates the abilities required of respiratory therapists at entry into practice and determines eligibility for the Clinical Simulation Examination (CSE). The CRT and/or RRT credentials are used as the basis for the licensure in all 49 states that regulate the practice of respiratory care. https://www.nbrc.org/examinations/rrt/

According to the NBRC:

The TMC Examination has two cut scores. You must achieve the high cut score to become eligible for the CSE, and a passing score on the CSE is required for earning the RRT credential. The low-cut score earns credentials as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).

A complete listing of state licensing contacts can be found at https://www.aarc.org/advocacy/state-society-resources/state-licensure-contacts/

Fire Science

Professional Licensure Disclosure

The Fire Science Administration and Technology Program at Northwest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) is degree assembly accredited by the international Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC). The following is their website: https://ifsac.org/IFSAC is recognized in many states, however, not all program in each state are recognized. It is undetermined if the NWAC Fire Science Program meets the state requirements to be certified/licensed as a firefighter in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Island, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Grievance and Complaint Process

NWACC encourages students to resolve concerns that affect their college experience as informally as possible. In some cases, students may discuss a concern with the staff member, instructor, program coordinator, department chairperson, or division dean. Often, such concerns can be resolved informally. However, if resolution is not obtained, the student should proceed with the Student Complaint and Grievance Procedure.

Out-of-State students who live in a SARA state and have exhausted the NWACC procedure above and who remain unsatisfied may file a complaint with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education [ADHE] Note that complaints must follow the institution's customary resolution procedure prior to being referred to the state under SARA procedures. Grade appeals and student conduct appeals are not allowed under SARA.

As of June, 2022, California is the only US state that is not a member of the SARA agreement. California students may file a complaint online at www.dca.ca.gov or call toll-free 833-942-1120.

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