Out-of-State Students
Your location matters!
Out-of-State Students
Bucks County Community College is:
- accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
- authorized as an institution of higher education by the state of Pennsylvania.
- a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
- Bucks may offer online courses and internships to students in other SARA member states in accordance with the terms and provisions of SARA.
- Currently forty-nine states plus the District of Columbia participate in SARA.
- California does not participate in SARA.
The State a student resides in while completing an educational activity, such as an internship or an online course, is the State that has authority to regulate the activity.
If you are located in California and wish to register for one of our online offerings or participate in an internship/clinical placement, please inquire before registering to confirm whether Bucks may offer those educational activities in your state (email online@bucks.edu or phone 215-968-8052).
As an out-of-state student, should you have a complaint, please follow the procedures found on the Consumer Information page. In the unlikely event Bucks is unable to resolve your complaint:
- students in SARA member states may lodge an appeal with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- students in California may utilize the complaint process within their own state.
- the page contains a link to a document with information for each state.
Professional Licensure Disclosures
Our academic programs that lead to licensure or certification prepare students for professional licensure within the state of Pennsylvania and are designed to meet Pennsylvania state requirements. However, laws and regulations surrounding professional licensure vary from state to state. If you are a student in one of our licensure programs and intend to practice in another state, there may be a need to additional education requirements and/or special authorization from the professional licensing/certification in your state. Your academic department will notify you regarding out-state-licensure and work with you to research the requirements for your state.
While we strive to maintain current information on state licensure and certification as applicable to our programs, state laws continue to evolve related to licensure and other academic and non-academic requirements. It is important for students to be aware of these licensure requirements so that they may retain licensing eligibility.
See below for additional licensure/certification information.
Nursing, ASN
Pennsylvania – Meet requirements
The Associate of Science in Nursing at Bucks County Community College is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Upon program fulfillment, students will complete the NCLEX and can apply for state licensure as a registered nurse (R.N.) in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Department of State – Professional Licensing – Boards and Commissions – Nursing
Other States – Not determined if meets requirements
While the NCLEX exam is valid in all 50 states, license reciprocity is not automatically granted. Students who pass the NCLEX exam and intend to practice in another state can apply for licensure by contacting that state’s Board of Nursing. State licensing requirements and contact information can be found at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) below:
International Students/Students Traveling Abroad
International students are welcome to register for Bucks County Community College courses if you will be located within the United States while taking the course. However, since Bucks is not authorized to teach students located outside of the United States, do not register for a course if you will not be located within the United States while taking it. If you are located outside of the United States while taking the course, the College will drop you from the course.
Students traveling abroad should be aware that a number of Bucks' online courses require proctored testing. All proctored testing must occur within the United States. Be sure to review a course’s requirements prior to registering for it. Should you enroll in a course and not comply with the mandatory proctored testing requirements, you will fail the course.