State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Professional licensure and certification requirements vary by state, which may impact a student’s ability to obtain a license or certification after completing a program. In accordance with U.S. Department of Education regulation, 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), Jackson State University (JSU) provides a public disclosure of whether each academic program fulfills the educational requirements for licensure or certification in each state. Students who reside in a state other than Mississippi are encouraged to review the professional licensure disclosures specific to their program and consult with the appropriate licensing board in their state.
Please note, while Jackson State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), SARA approval does not apply to programs leading to professional licensure. If you reside outside Mississippi and are considering a program that leads to licensure, it is your responsibility to contact the relevant licensing board in your state to confirm whether the JSU program meets your state’s licensure requirements.
Public Disclosure
Comprehensive licensure information for each relevant program is available on the Jackson State University website, ensuring accessibility for all prospective and current students. Students are informed whether their program of study meets or does not meet the licensure requirements in their state. For questions regarding professional licensure, please email: stateauthorization@jsums.edu.
Direct Disclosure
Prior to enrollment, JSU provides every applicant whose state is classified as “does not meet” the state’s educational requirements for licensure with an individualized written disclosure explaining the program’s status in that state, enabling the applicant to make an informed decision. No individual disclosure is sent when the program meets the state’s requirements, because that information is already available on JSU’s public licensure-status webpage.
Enrolled students who move to a different state before completing a licensure-track program must complete the JSU Change of Permanent Address Form immediately. Should the new state fall outside of JSU’s existing authorization or reciprocity agreements, the program’s SARA advisor will contact the student to complete an attestation acknowledging the possible impact on licensure eligibility.
If JSU determines that a program does not meet the educational requirements for the student’s current state of residence, the student will receive a direct written notice via email within 14 calendar days of the determination, in compliance with 34 CFR § 668.43 (c)(2).
Student Address vs. Student Location
For state authorization and program licensure purposes, a student’s location is determined by the primary address provided on their initial application or any address updates made through the application portal.
For face-to-face programs, the student’s location is defined as the state in which the institution is located (Mississippi). For distance programs, where students’ complete coursework remotely while residing outside of Mississippi, the student’s primary address will be considered their location for determining compliance with program licensure requirements.
Licensure Attestation
Federal regulations § 668.14(b)(32)(i) and (ii) require students to complete an attestation upon initial enrollment in a professional licensure or state certification program if the program does not meet the educational requirements for licensure in the student’s state of residence.
Students must meet with an advisor to discuss and acknowledge that Jackson State University has informed them that the program they wish to enroll in does not fulfill the licensure or certification requirements for their state. The student will also attest that they intend to pursue employment in a state where the program meets licensure or certification requirements. Once the authorization is completed, the student will be registered in the program.
Complaint Process for JSU's Out-of-State Students
Jackson State University is committed to providing high-quality academic and administrative services to all students. If a student feels that their experience does not meet the expectations outlined in the University’s official documents, such as the Catalog or Student Handbook, the student is encouraged to express their concerns in a manner that will allow for timely review and resolution. Full details of the complaint process can be found in the Student Handbook.