Southwestern Community College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the Iowa Department of Education.
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 800.621.7440
Website: www.hlcommission.org
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 E. 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0146
Phone: 515.281.5294
Website: https://educate.iowa.gov/
To request additional information related to Southwestern Community College's accreditation, and to obtain or review documents describing accreditation, approval, or licensing, please email
Specialized Accreditation for Academic Programs
Nursing Education - ADN & LPN Programs
Southwestern Community College's ADN and LPN programs are approved by the Iowa Board of Nursing, 400 S.W. 8th Street, Suite B, Des Moines, IA 50309, 515.281.3255, https://dial.iowa.gov/licenses/medical/nursing-professional-midwifery.
U.S Department of Education Regulations
As of July 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education implemented new regulations that professional nursing programs (LPN and RN) must adhere to Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v). In compliance with this regulation, Southwestern Community College PN and AD Nursing is providing the following information:
SWCC makes every effort to verify that the information provided on requirements for licensure is accurate and up-to-date. However, these requirements are subject to change at any time. Students who will be seeking licensure as a Registered Nurse are strongly encouraged to review the licensure requirements at the associated website, linked below, where available, for the state or territory in which they intend to practice.
| State/Territory | Meets Education Requirements for Licensure | If Does Not Meet, rationale… |
| Alabama | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Alaska | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Arizona | Meets | |
| American Samoa | Undetermined | |
| Arkansas | Does Not Meet | Unless Arkansas Resident Requires 6 Credits in Communication as prerequisite |
| California | Does Not Meet | |
| Colorado | Meets | |
| Connecticut | Does Not Meet PN Meets ADN | PN requires 1500 contact hours |
| Delaware | Meets | PN requires at least 200 hours clinical |
| District of Columbia | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Florida | Meets | |
| Georgia | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Guam | Meets | |
| Hawaii | Meets | |
| Idaho | Meets | |
| Illinois | Meets | |
| Indiana | Does Not Meet | RN Faculty Requires Master’s Degree |
| Iowa | Meets | |
| Kansas | Meets | |
| Kentucky | Meets | |
| Louisiana | Does Not Meet | PN requires at least 1500 “clock hours” ADN requires National Accreditation |
| Maine | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Maryland | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Massachusetts | Meets | |
| Michigan | Meets (until 1/25) | Will require National Accreditation, Needs Human Trafficking course |
| Minnesota | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Mississippi | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Missouri | Meets | |
| Montana | Meets | |
| Nebraska | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Nevada | Does Not Meet | Nursing Program Administrator must have minimum of 3 years teaching experience in a nursing program |
| New Hampshire | Meets | |
| New Jersey | Does Not Meet | Nursing Program Administrator must have minimum of 3 years teaching experience in a nursing program |
| New Mexico | Meets | |
| New York | Does Not Meet | PN + Infection Control Course Approved by NYSED; ADN+ Child Abuse Reporting and Infection Control Courses Approved by NYSED |
| North Carolina | Meets | |
| North Dakota | Meets | |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Does Not Meet | Requires BSN for Entry to Nursing |
| Ohio | Meets | |
| Oklahoma | Meets | PN+ completion of OK Board Approved Role Transition Learning Packet r/t legal and ethical aspects of PN |
| Oregon | Meets | |
| Pennsylvania | Does Not Meet PN/ Meets ADN | PN requires 1500 hours |
| Puerto Rico | Undetermined | www.salud.gov.pr / (787)725-7506 |
| Rhode Island | Meets | +1 hour course on Alzheimer’s |
| South Carolina | Meets | |
| South Dakota | Meets | |
| Tennessee | Does Not Meet | PN Requires Clinical Hours in Mother/Infant-60; Care of Children 35; Mental Health 35; No one faculty member shall teach all of the classroom (theory) content. ADN Requires Director to have 3 years of experience teaching full-time and/or administrator position in a school of nursing. |
| Texas | Meets | |
| Utah | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Vermont | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Virgin Islands | Does Not Meet | Requires BSN for Entry to Nursing |
| Virginia | Does Not Meet | PN requires 400 clinical hours at PN; 500 clinical hours ADN |
| Washington | Meets | |
| West Virginia | Does Not Meet | Requires National Accreditation |
| Wisconsin | Meets | |
| Wyoming | Meets |
Disclaimer: This information has been gathered from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) website and will be updated annually on June 1. Southwestern Community College assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information contained in this resource. It is your responsibility to verify accuracy by visiting the NCSBN website at: Search | NURSECOMPACT
Auto Collision Repair/Refinish Program & Automotive Repair Technology Program
Southwestern Community College's Auto Collision Repair/Refinish & Automotive Repair Technology programs are certified by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), 101 Blue Seal Drive, S.E. Suite 101, Leesburg, VA 20175, 703.669.6650, aseeducationfoundation.org.
Electrical Technology
Southwestern Community College's Electrical Technology program is approved by the Iowa Electrical Examining Board Post-Secondary Electrical Program (PSEP), 215 E. 7th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319, 515.725.6147, dial.iowa.gov/licenses/building/electrical-licensing.
NACEP Accreditation
Southwestern Community College's concurrent enrollment programs are accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP), PO Box 578, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, 919.593.5205, www.nacep.org.