State Regents, CareerTech Sign Statewide Nursing credit program
Mar. 3—Taking steps to slow the nursing shortage in the state ,the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education have been working together to remove roadblocks from that career path.
Secretary of Education Nellie Sanders has signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" which will establish guidelines for public two-year colleges to award students credit for prior learning in practical nursing programs at technology centers across the state.
"When we come together for the benefit of Oklahoma students, the sky is the limit," Sanders said. "I applaud the State Regents and Oklahoma CareerTech for working to remove barriers and uplifting the next generation of nursing students. Through this partnership, we're investing in the future of healthcare in Oklahoma by expanding opportunities for students now."
House Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert said this was a "win for nursing students."
"The transferability of credits is both time- and cost-effective for our nursing students," he said. "This partnership is a fantastic avenue to get more nurses into the field at an accelerated pace to help meet a vital need in our state."
District 50 representative Marcus McEntire has been part of group to make healthcare careers easier for Oklahoma students to obtain.
"You've got a health care shortage that affects all of health care," he said in a prior interview.
Consisting of representatives from public higher education and the CareerTech system — the Oklahoma Statewide Nursing Pathways Advisory Group met over the past year to discuss potential solutions to increase the number of nurses in Oklahoma.
One idea was to reduce barriers for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to earn college credit for completing the practical nursing program at a participating Oklahoma technology center.
"As a state, our health outcomes are impacted by an ongoing shortage of medical professionals," said State Regents' chair Jack Sherry. "This initiative to expand course articulation between technical and collegiate nursing programs will provide additional educational opportunities for nursing students and improve workforce development in this critical sector."
Through the new articulation agreement, the following campuses will award up to 18 college credit hours to CareerTech students who pass the LPN NCLEX exam:
—Carl Albert State College
—Connors State College
—Eastern Oklahoma State College
—Murray State College
—Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
—Northern Oklahoma College
—Oklahoma City Community College
—Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
—Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology
—Redlands Community College
—Rose State College
—Seminole State College
—Tulsa Community College
—Western Oklahoma State College
Applicants must have a valid, unencumbered practical nursing license to practice in the state of Oklahoma and meet all college or program admission requirements.
The new articulation agreement supersedes a prior system-level MOU and prior MOUs developed between individual institutions and technology center partners. Twenty-eight technology centers offering practical nursing programs approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing are participating in the new articulation agreement:
—Autry Technology Center
—Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center
—Canadian Valley Technology Center
—Central Technology Center
—Chisholm Trail Technology Center
—Francis Tuttle Technology Center
—Gordon Cooper Technology Center
—Great Plains Technology Center
—Green Country Technology Center
—High Plains Technology Center
—Indian Capital Technology Center
—Kiamichi Technology Centers
—Meridian Technology Center
—Metro Technology Centers
—Mid-America Technology Center
—Mid-Del Lewis Eubanks Technology Center
—Moore Norman Technology Center
—Northeast Technology Center
—Northwest Technology Center
—Pioneer Technology Center
—Pontotoc Technology Center
—Red River Technology Center
—Southern Oklahoma Technology Center
—Southwest Technology Center
—Tri County Technology Center
—Tulsa Technology Center
—Western Technology Center
Wes Watkins Technology Center
The State Regents' Undergraduate Transfer and Articulation of Courses policy facilitates the transfer of students between institutions of higher education and career technology centers, and the Credit for Prior Learning policy allows institutions to award credit for demonstration of knowledge upon professional licensure.
The articulation agreement, takes effective July 1 of this year, the specific number of college credit hours awarded for prior learning to LPNs who complete a practical nursing program at a participating technology center will vary depending on the course structure at the awarding institution, up to a total of 18 credit hour.
For more information about options for adults who have attended a career technology center, hold industry-recognized credentials, have completed military study and training, or hold advanced standing scores to earn college credit and complete a degree program, visit the State Regents' Show What You Know website, https://showwhatyouknowok.org/.
