State Authorization

State Authorization and NC-SARA

Shawnee Community College (SCC) is a public institution authorized to operate by the State of Illinois through the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Shawnee Community College participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary agreement among participating states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs.

Participation in NC-SARA allows Shawnee Community College to offer distance education programs and courses to students located in other SARA member states, subject to the provisions and limitations of the agreement.

For more information about NC-SARA, visit:
https://nc-sara.org

State Authorization for Distance Education

Shawnee Community College is authorized by the State of Illinois to participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Through this participation, SCC may enroll students residing in other SARA member states in distance education programs and courses.

SARA authorization applies only to distance education activities conducted across state lines. It does not automatically authorize institutions to establish physical locations, operate campuses, or conduct certain types of field experiences in non-SARA states.

Currently, California is not a member of SARA. Students residing in California should contact the College for additional information prior to enrollment in distance education programs.

Programs Leading to Professional Licensure

Some programs offered by Shawnee Community College are designed to prepare students for professional licensure or certification required for employment in certain occupations.

Federal regulations require institutions to disclose whether educational programs meet the licensure requirements for states where students are located.

Because licensure requirements vary by state and may change over time, Shawnee Community College makes every effort to determine whether its programs meet state educational requirements for licensure.

If a student relocates during the course of a program, it may impact their ability to meet licensure requirements in the new state.

Students who intend to pursue professional licensure outside the State of Illinois should contact the appropriate licensing agency in their state for the most current information regarding licensure requirements.

Questions regarding licensure disclosures may be directed to:

Office of Academic Affairs
Shawnee Community College
Email: rebeccas@shawneecc.edu

Field Experiences, Internships, and Clinical Placements

Certain academic programs require clinical placements, internships, practica, or field experiences.

While Shawnee Community College participates in NC-SARA, clinical placements and other in-person educational activities may be subject to additional authorization requirements in some states.

Students who intend to complete clinical or field experiences outside Illinois should contact their program advisor to ensure compliance with applicable state regulations.

Student Complaint Resolution Process

Step 1: Institutional Complaint Process

Students with complaints related to distance education programs should first attempt to resolve the issue through Shawnee Community College’s internal complaint or grievance procedures.

Information about the College’s complaint process can be found at: Student Grievance Procedure

Step 2: Illinois State Portal Entity

If the complaint cannot be resolved through the College’s internal procedures, students located in other states may contact the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), which serves as the State Portal Entity for NC-SARA.

Illinois Board of Higher Education
1 North Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 333
Springfield, IL 62701
https://www.ibhe.org

Step 3: NC-SARA Complaint Process

Complaints regarding distance education programs offered under NC-SARA may also be reviewed through the SARA complaint process.

More information can be found at:
https://nc-sara.org/sara-student-complaints-0

Contact Information

Questions regarding state authorization, NC-SARA, or professional licensure disclosures may be directed to:

Office of Academic Affairs
Shawnee Community College
8364 Shawnee College Road
Ullin, Illinois 62992

Email: rebeccas@shawneecc.edu

Last updated: July 14, 2026

Program	Illinois	Other States	Notes
Nursing (ADN)	Meets Illinois licensure requirements	Determination varies by state	Students should consult state nursing boards
Occupational Therapy Assistant	Meets Illinois licensure requirements	Undetermined for other states	NBCOT certification required
CNA Basic Nursing Assistant	Meets Illinois requirements	Determination varies by state	Certification governed by state health departments
EMT / Emergency Medical Technician	Meets Illinois requirements	Determination varies by state	Licensure requirements vary by state EMS agencies
Medical Terminology / Health Programs	Not a licensure program	Not applicable
Transfer Programs	Not designed for licensure	Not applicable

Licensure Eligibility

Information about licensure eligibility for states other than Illinois is available below.

Licensure Eligibility Data

(last updated 8/2024)

Nursing Boards by State

Shawnee has not determined whether completion of a program meets requirements to apply for a license, certification, or endorsement in the states below.

Alabama Board of Nursing

Alaska Board of Nursing

Arizona State Board of Nursing

Arkansas State Board of Nursing

California Board of Registered Nursing

Colorado Board of Nursing

Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing

Delaware Board of Nursing

District of Columbia Board of Nursing

Florida Board of Nursing

Georgia Board of Nursing

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Nursing)