The University of South Carolina College of Nursing is fully approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), the master’s degree program in nursing (MSN, and the doctor of nursing practice program (DNP) at The University of South Carolina College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org)
The Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the recognized regional accrediting body. The University of South Carolina is accredited by SACS to award bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
SARA Statement
Important Information About Programs Leading to Licensure: Each state has its own licensing board with its own Registered Professional Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure requirements. Consequently, although the baccalaureate and master’s degree programs in the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina are fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, thereby making BSN graduates eligible to sit for national licensure (NCLEX-RN) and MSN, Certificate, and DNP nurse practitioner graduates eligible to sit for national certification (ANCC, AACN, and/or AANP-CP), thus meeting requirements for RN and APRN professional licensure in the state of South Carolina, we cannot confirm that the program meets all the requirements for professional licensure in other states (e.g., some states have specific topical requirements).
The Office of the Provost provides additional information about professional licensure for your review. If you are considering relocating to another state after being admitted into the program, you must contact the program director to discuss how the move may impact your ability to participate in academic courses (distributed learning) and clinical practica (experiential learning) opportunities in a different state.
Important Information for non-South Carolina Residents
If you are an out-of-state student interested in our nursing programs, there are some additional steps you should take to ensure that your academic degree requirements can be met in your state of residence and that you can be licensed in that state.
South Carolina is a SARA-participating state, providing distance education across state lines. However, each state has its own licensing board with its own Registered Professional Nurse and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse licensure requirements.
In some cases, state boards of nursing impose restrictions on clinical instruction of students outside of the SARA agreement, including from out-of-state graduate educational programs seeking clinical practica in the state. We advise that prior to matriculation, students not living in South Carolina contact the state board of nursing in the state where they plan to conduct their clinical practica to confirm graduate student clinical practica is permitted by students from out-of-state graduate programs.
We also recommend students living outside of South Carolina or who intend to practice outside of South Carolina research RN and APRN state licensure requirements specific to their state of residence/practice.
Historical accreditation with ACEN
The baccalaureate program at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing was accredited with the ACEN from December 1962 to Dec. 31, 2001.
The master’s program at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing was accredited with the ACEN from May 1997 to Dec. 31, 2001.