State Authorization

One practice that SWOSU follows allows the university to offer educational programs across the county. This practice, known as state authorization, assists SWOSU in receiving authorization from a state (other than Oklahoma) before allowing students from that state to participate in educational activities at SWOSU. SWOSU is authorized by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) to offer distance education courses and programs.

NC-SARA

“The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is a voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.” -NC-SARA. For more information visit NC-SARA.

Distance Learning Complaint Process for Out of State Students

Students attending Southwestern desiring to resolve an academic grievance should follow the University’s Academic Appeals Procedure as described here. For students residing outside of Oklahoma, there are additional avenues if a grievance is not solved internally. In this situation, students can file grievances with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education or through NC-SARA Student Complaints.

If out of state students would like to contact an education agency within their own state, that information can be found at the Student Grievance Contact Information for Individual States. Southwestern Oklahoma State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Licensure Disclosure

Prospective and current students, who reside or plan on practicing/teaching outside of Oklahoma, should consult the appropriate licensing agency in their chosen state, prior to beginning a SWOSU academic program to determine if the program will lead to a professional license in their state.

Review the links below for SWOSU’s current determination regarding specific degree programs meeting educational requirements in states other than Oklahoma.

Specific questions about SWOSU’s State Authorization of Distance Education may be directed to Dr. Patsy Parker, Associate Provost. For questions about degrees in Education, please contact Reggy Yount.

Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management:

SWOSU’s Bachelor of Health information Program is accredited by CAHIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education).

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Health Information Management (HIM) program, students are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam.

Successfully passing this exam enables graduates of Southwestern Oklahoma State University's (SWOSU) HIM program to pursue professional opportunities in any state across the United States.

RHIA Certification
State	Meets Requirements for RHIA	Does Not Meet Requirements for RHIA
Alabama	X
Alaska	X
Arizona	X
Arkansas	X
California	X
Colorado	X
Connecticut	X
Delaware	X
District of Columbia	X
Florida	X
Georgia	X
Hawaii	X
Idaho	X
Illinois	X
Indiana	X
Iowa	X
Kansas	X
Kentucky	X
Louisiana	X
Maine	X
Maryland	X
Massachusetts	X
Michigan	X
Minnesota	X
Mississippi	X
Missouri	X
Montana	X
Nebraska	X
Nevada	X
New Hampshire	X
New Jersey	X
New Mexico	X
New York	X
North Carolina	X
North Dakota	X
Ohio	X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon	X
Pennsylvania	X
Rhode Island	X
South Carolina	X
South Dakota	X
Tennessee	X
Texas	X
Utah	X
Vermont	X
Virginia	X
Washington	X
West Virginia	X
Wisconsin	X
Wyoming	X

Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN to BSN)

To gain entrance into SWOSU’s LPN-to-BSN program, prospective students must have completed a licensed LPN program, successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), hold an unencumbered LPN license to practice nursing in Oklahoma, and reside in the state of Oklahoma as evidenced by legal documents.

Upon successful completion of SWOSU’s LPN-to-BSN program, students have the option to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Passing this exam qualifies them to be licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) in their state of legal residence.

Graduates of the LPN-to-BSN program who pass the NCLEX-RN exam will be eligible to seek licensure as an RN in their state of legal residence.

RN Licensure
State	Meets the Requirements for RN Licensure	Does Not Meet Requirements For RN Licensure
Alabama	X
Alaska	X
Arizona	X
Arkansas	X
California	X
Colorado	X
Connecticut	X
Delaware	X
District of Columbia	X
Florida	X
Georgia	X
Hawaii	X
Idaho	X
Illinois	X
Indiana	X
Iowa	X
Kansas	X
Kentucky	X
Louisiana	X
Maine	X
Maryland	X
Massachusetts	X
Michigan	X
Minnesota	X
Mississippi	X
Missouri	X
Montana	X
Nebraska	X
Nevada	X
New Hampshire	X
New Jersey	X
New Mexico	X
New York	X
North Carolina	X
North Dakota	X
Ohio	X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon	X
Pennsylvania	X
Rhode Island	X
South Carolina	X
South Dakota	X
Tennessee	X
Texas	X
Utah	X
Vermont	X
Virginia	X
Washington	X
West Virginia	X
Wisconsin	X
Wyoming	X

Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)

To gain entrance into SWOSU’s RN to BSN program, prospective students must have completed a licensed Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program and successfully passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

Upon successful completion of SWOSU’s RN to BSN program, graduates are eligible to seek employment in Oklahoma or the state where they initially obtained licensure after completing their ADN program and passing the NCLEX-RN. If graduates wish to obtain licensure in Oklahoma, they have 60 days to secure the license.

RN Licensure
State	Meets the Requirements for RN Licensure	Does Not Meet Requirements for RN Licensure
Alabama	X
Alaska	X
Arizona	X
Arkansas	X
California	X
Colorado	X
Connecticut	X
Delaware	X
District of Columbia	X
Florida	X
Georgia	X
Hawaii	X
Idaho	X
Illinois	X
Indiana	X
Iowa	X
Kansas	X
Kentucky	X
Louisiana	X
Maine	X
Maryland	X
Massachusetts	X
Michigan	X
Minnesota	X
Mississippi	X
Missouri	X
Montana	X
Nebraska	X
Nevada	X
New Hampshire	X
New Jersey	X
New Mexico	X
New York	X
North Carolina	X
North Dakota	X
Ohio	X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon	X
Pennsylvania	X
Rhode Island	X
South Carolina	X
South Dakota	X
Tennessee	X
Texas	X
Utah	X
Vermont	X
Virginia	X
Washington	X
West Virginia	X
Wisconsin	X
Wyoming	X

Master of Education in Educational Administration (EDAMM.MED)

To become a certified K-12 principal in Oklahoma after graduating from SWOSU’s Master of Education in Educational Administration (EDAMM.MED) program, candidates must complete multiple steps:

Hold a Valid Oklahoma Teaching Certificate
Candidates need to have a minimum of two years of successful teaching experience.
Pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) Examination: Candidates must successfully pass the OSAT specific to their desired level:
- OSAT 144 Principal Comprehensive Assessment
- OSAT 248 Superintendent
Certification Process: After completing all these requirements, candidates can apply for the principal certification through the Oklahoma State Department of Education website. Once approved, the principal certification can be added as an additional area of certification

Oklahoma K-12 Principal Certification Oklahoma Superintendent Certification
State	Meets Requirements for Oklahoma K-12 Principal Certification & Oklahoma Superintendent Certification	Does not meet requirements for Oklahoma K-12 Principal Certification & Oklahoma Superintendent Certification
Alabama		X
Alaska		X
Arizona		X
Arkansas		X
California		X
Colorado		X
Connecticut		X
Delaware		X
District of Columbia		X
Florida		X
Georgia		X
Hawaii		X
Idaho		X
Illinois		X
Indiana		X
Iowa		X
Kansas		X
Kentucky		X
Louisiana		X
Maine		X
Maryland		X
Massachusetts		X
Michigan		X
Minnesota		X
Mississippi		X
Missouri		X
Montana		X
Nebraska		X
Nevada		X
New Hampshire		X
New Jersey		X
New Mexico		X
New York		X
North Carolina		X
North Dakota		X
Ohio		X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon		X
Pennsylvania		X
Rhode Island		X
South Carolina		X
South Dakota		X
Tennessee		X
Texas		X
Utah		X
Vermont		X
Virginia		X
Washington		X
West Virginia		X
Wisconsin		X
Wyoming		X

Master of Science in Licensed Professional Counselor Program (LPC)

After successfully completing SWOSU’s Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) program and completing the LPC coursework, candidates must complete 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience to qualify for full licensure as an LPC in Oklahoma. This supervision must be conducted under a Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure approved LPC supervisor to ensure the candidate's competency in providing independent counseling services.

To begin the accrual of supervised experience hours the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure must confirm the candidate for licensure has a completed application on file, a passing result on the Oklahoma Jurisprudence Exam, and a passing result on the National Counselor Examination (NCE) sponsored by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). In addition, the candidate must also submit a W-4 confirming their status as an employee of the agency where they intend to accrue supervised experience and a completed Supervision Agreement. Please be advised that some LPC-S charge an hourly rate for supervision meetings.

Oklahoma requires candidates to make application and follow these steps:

Step 1: Criminal Background Check
As of January 1, 2024, the Board will require all new applicants for licensure to obtain an OSBI fingerprint-based background check and an FBI fingerprint-based background check. Background checks and/or criminal history stamped/processed more than 30 days beyond the date of application will not be considered.
Step 2: Academic Review and Requirements
The Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure must receive an official SWOSU transcript to verify the academic requirements.
Step 3: Internship/Practicum Requirements
New applicants for licensure must verify they completed a minimum of 300 hours of internship and/or practicum as a component of their qualifying graduate program. This will be an assignment in your internship class.
Step 4: National Examination and Oklahoma Jurisprudence
To receive Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure approval, candidates must register for the required examination found here . Once the application and academic review have been completed and approved, the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure will issue an exam eligibility period. The notice of exam eligibility will provide the instructions needed to register for the required examination.
When a candidate successfully completes the NCE, after receiving an Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure approved eligibility period, the exam result will be uploaded to the Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure exam result portal on or about the 30th day of the month following the month the exam was completed. Candidates must register for access to the portal found here.

Licensed Professional Counselor Licensure
State	Meets Requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor Licensure.	Does Not Meet Requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor Licensure.
Alabama		X
Alaska		X
Arizona		X
Arkansas		X
California		X
Colorado		X
Connecticut		X
Delaware		X
District of Columbia		X
Florida		X
Georgia		X
Hawaii		X
Idaho		X
Illinois		X
Indiana		X
Iowa		X
Kansas		X
Kentucky		X
Louisiana		X
Maine		X
Maryland		X
Massachusetts		X
Michigan		X
Minnesota		X
Mississippi		X
Missouri		X
Montana		X
Nebraska		X
Nevada		X
New Hampshire		X
New Jersey		X
New Mexico		X
New York		X
North Carolina		X
North Dakota		X
Ohio		X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon		X
Pennsylvania		X
Rhode Island		X
South Carolina		X
South Dakota		X
Tennessee		X
Texas		X
Utah		X
Vermont		X
Virginia		X
Washington		X
West Virginia		X
Wisconsin		X
Wyoming		X

Master of Education in School Counseling

To become a certified School Counselor in Oklahoma through the SWOSU Master of Education in School Counseling (SCCNS.MED) program, candidates must:

Completion of the Program: Candidates must successfully complete the SWOSU Master of Education in School Counseling program.
Examinations: Candidates must pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) or the PRAXIS (5422) certification exam.
Adding Certification to an Existing Teaching Certificate:
If the candidate already holds an Oklahoma Teaching Certificate and is adding School Counseling as an additional area, they can complete the certification process on the Oklahoma State Department of Education website here.
Pursuing Initial Certification:
Candidates who are seeking initial teacher certification in School Counseling will need to notify the SWOSU Department of Education Certification Coordinator by completing the online Recommendation Request for Teacher Certification Form (link to be provided).
If the candidate does not possess a valid teaching certificate, they must pass both the OSAT or the PRAXIS (5422).

More information about the SWOSU School Counseling Program can be found here.

Oklahoma School Counselor Certification
State	Meets Requirements for Oklahoma School Counselor Certification	Does Not Meet Requirements for Oklahoma School Counselor Certification
Alabama		X
Alaska		X
Arizona		X
Arkansas		X
California		X
Colorado		X
Connecticut		X
Delaware		X
District of Columbia		X
Florida		X
Georgia		X
Hawaii		X
Idaho		X
Illinois		X
Indiana		X
Iowa		X
Kansas		X
Kentucky		X
Louisiana		X
Maine		X
Maryland		X
Massachusetts		X
Michigan		X
Minnesota		X
Mississippi		X
Missouri		X
Montana		X
Nebraska		X
Nevada		X
New Hampshire		X
New Jersey		X
New Mexico		X
New York		X
North Carolina		X
North Dakota		X
Ohio		X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon		X
Pennsylvania		X
Rhode Island		X
South Carolina		X
South Dakota		X
Tennessee		X
Texas		X
Utah		X
Vermont		X
Virginia		X
Washington		X
West Virginia		X
Wisconsin		X
Wyoming		X

The Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in School Psychology at SWOSU is a comprehensive graduate program that is two-tiered, including both the M.Ed. in School Psychometry and the Ed.S. in School Psychology.

This program is designed to ensure that graduates are well-prepared to become certified School Psychometrists and School Psychologists in Oklahoma, meeting all necessary academic and certification requirements. Candidates for the Ed. S and the certificates must complete the following requirements:

Admission Requirements:
For SWOSU M.Ed. Graduates: Admission to the Ed.S. program requires completion of the M.Ed. in School Psychometry or equivalent coursework. The candidate’s performance in the M.Ed. program is a key factor in the admission decision made by the SWOSU Education Department.
For Graduates from Other Institutions: Students who earned their psychometry degree from another Oklahoma university must undergo a departmental interview in addition to meeting the University and Graduate Studies admission requirements.

Certification Process:
Praxis II School Psychology Exam: Students must pass the Praxis II School Psychology Exam during their final semester in the program.
Certification Requirements:
If candidates are adding this as an additional area to their current teaching certificate, candidates will process their application online with the Oklahoma State Department of Education Single-Sign on System.
If candidates are pursuing initial teacher certification with this area, candidates notify the SWOSU Department of Education Certification Coordinator by completing the online Recommendation Request for Teacher Certification form.
- Candidates will be notified by email when their recommendation is made at which time candidates will process their application online with the Oklahoma State Department of Education Single Sign on System.

School Psychologist Certificate
State	Meets Requirements for School Psychologist Certification.	Does Not Meet Requirements for School Psychologist Certification.
Alabama		X
Alaska		X
Arizona		X
Arkansas		X
California		X
Colorado		X
Connecticut		X
Delaware		X
District of Columbia		X
Florida		X
Georgia		X
Hawaii		X
Idaho		X
Illinois		X
Indiana		X
Iowa		X
Kansas		X
Kentucky		X
Louisiana		X
Maine		X
Maryland		X
Massachusetts		X
Michigan		X
Minnesota		X
Mississippi		X
Missouri		X
Montana		X
Nebraska		X
Nevada		X
New Hampshire		X
New Jersey		X
New Mexico		X
New York		X
North Carolina		X
North Dakota		X
Ohio		X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon		X
Pennsylvania		X
Rhode Island		X
South Carolina		X
South Dakota		X
Tennessee		X
Texas		X
Utah		X
Vermont		X
Virginia		X
Washington		X
Wisconsin		X
Wyoming		X

M.Ed. in School Psychometry

School Psychometrist Certificate

The process for becoming a certified School Psychometrist in Oklahoma through the SWOSU Master of Education in School Psychometry (SCPSM.MED) program:

Completion of the Program: Candidates must successfully complete the SWOSU Master of Education in School Psychometry program.
Examinations: Candidates must pass the Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) and the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination.
Adding Certification to an Existing Teaching Certificate:
If the candidate already holds an Oklahoma Teaching Certificate and is adding School Psychometry as an additional area, they can complete the certification process on the Oklahoma State Department of Education website here.
Pursuing Initial Certification:
Candidates who are seeking initial teacher certification in School Psychometry will need to notify the SWOSU Department of Education Certification Coordinator by completing the online Recommendation Request for Teacher Certification Form (link to be provided).
If the candidate does not possess a valid teaching certificate, they must pass both the OSAT and the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Examination.

School Psychometrist Certificate
State	Meets Requirements for School Psychometrist Certification.	Does Not Meet Requirements for School Psychometrist Certification.
Alabama		X
Alaska		X
Arizona		X
Arkansas		X
California		X
Colorado		X
Connecticut		X
Delaware		X
District of Columbia		X
Florida		X
Georgia		X
Hawaii		X
Idaho		X
Illinois		X
Indiana		X
Iowa		X
Kansas		X
Kentucky		X
Louisiana		X
Maine		X
Maryland		X
Massachusetts		X
Michigan		X
Minnesota		X
Mississippi		X
Missouri		X
Montana		X
Nebraska		X
Nevada		X
New Hampshire		X
New Jersey		X
New Mexico		X
New York		X
North Carolina		X
North Dakota		X
Ohio		X
Oklahoma	X
Oregon		X
Pennsylvania		X
Rhode Island		X
South Carolina		X
South Dakota		X
Tennessee		X
Texas		X
Utah		X
Vermont		X
Virginia		X
Washington		X
West Virginia		X
Wisconsin		X
Wyoming		X

State Authorization