State of Alabama Personnel Department

Policy on Accepting College Coursework, Post-Secondary and Advanced Degrees

1.         Specific college coursework required for a job, as well as Bachelor’s, graduate, post graduate, and doctoral degrees will be accepted from the schools accredited by any of the six regional accreditation associations in the United States.  These associations are listed below.

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
• Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• North Central Association of Colleges and Schools – The  Higher Learning Commission (NCA-HLC)
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges – Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NEASC-CIHE)
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges – Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC-ACSCU)

2.         Coursework or degrees from schools that have not been accredited by a regional accreditation association will be accepted if a regionally accredited school considers the coursework or degree to be an acceptable prerequisite for admission to an advanced degree program.  For example, if a regionally accredited school accepts an applicant’s bachelor’s degree for admittance into a graduate degree program, State Personnel will accept the degree.  In the case of required college coursework (but no degree requirement), State Personnel will accept the college coursework if a regionally accredited school accepts the coursework towards a post-secondary degree (e.g., a bachelor’s degree).  This must be documented by a letter of acceptance from the regionally accredited school.   State Personnel will review such requests on a case-by-case basis.

Note:    This policy is subject to change.  Certain state agencies may have additional requirements.