


You need experience to land the right job.
But, without the right job, how will you gain the experience you need?
Each year aspiring professionals everywhere face this challenge as they attempt to enter their chosen fields. National College, through its numerous externship programs, gives you the advantage of entering the workforce with hours of professional experience to your credit.
By participating in these programs, you are able to apply the skills you acquire in the classroom in real-world settings. This experience not only helps you gain confidence but gives you a competitive edge as you enter the workforce.
Although externship placements are widely available, not every program offers externship opportunities. Speak with a University student services representative for availability of externship placements.
For more information, contact the Career Center Director at 540.444.4188 or submit a Request for More Information form.
Heather Lynch loves her new job with Southwest Virginia Community Health System - a job she got as a result of her externship in the medical assisting degree program at the Bristol Campus.
National College is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The college has maintained institutional accreditation for over 60 years, providing an assurance that our degrees meet tested standards of quality recognized by employers, government agencies, and other post-secondary institutions.
In addition to the Roanoke Valley Campus, the following campuses are recognized as administrative sties by DEAC:
+ Who is DEAC
Founded in 1926, DEAC is an internationally recognized accrediting body for post-secondary institutions offering primarily distance-education programs from the non-degree level up to and including the professional doctoral degree. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency, and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
+ What is the difference between “regional accreditation” and “national accreditation”?
Accrediting agencies are private educational associations of regional or national scope. Regional accreditation agencies concentrate on schools physically located in specific areas of the country whereas national accreditors, like DEAC, can accredit any postsecondary school located in the U.S. without limitation to a specific region.
Each accrediting agency determines its own evaluation criteria to assess whether a postsecondary institute meets it standards. Regional accrediting agencies typically focus on the traditional, liberal arts approach to academics, with greater emphasis on general education rather than preparation for specific occupations. Colleges like National College that are accredited by DEAC, a national career-related accrediting agency, focus on programs designed to educate students for in-demand professional, technical, or occupational careers. This includes certificate/diploma programs or associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees that are delivered in multiple formats: on-campus, online, or via video-conferencing.
It is worth noting that official sources of accreditation approval by the independent Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) make no qualitative distinctions among regional or national accreditors and ”institutions and accreditors need to assure that transfer decisions are not made solely on the source of accreditation of a sending program or institution.”1 For more information on transfer of credit at National College please click here>>
1 http://www.chea.org/pdf/fact_sheet_4_frame_trans_02.pdf
The following campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges & Schools (ACICS):
State |
Authorizing Authority |
Attorney General |
Office of Consumer Affairs |
IN |
Indiana Commission for Higher Education |
Consumer Protection Division Office of |
Consumer Protection Division |
OH |
State Board of Career Colleges & Schools |
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine |
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine |
KY |
KY Council on Postsecondary Education |
Office of the Attorney General 700 |
Consumer Protection Division |
TN |
Tennessee Higher Education Commission |
Office of the Attorney General |
Consumer Affairs |
VA |
State Council of Higher Education for VA |
Attorney General's Office |
Attorney General's Office |
WV |
WV Community and Technical College Sys |
Attorney General - Main Office Admin |
Attorney General-Consumer Protection |
Several of National College’s programs are programmatically accredited by professional organizations. Programmatic accreditation is a mark of distinction that verifies that your training abides by standards that are independently verified by professionals who work in your field.
+ Programs with programmatic accreditation
Program |
Professional Accrediting Body |
Certification(s) |
Campus(es) |
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs |
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Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education |
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs |
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Kentucky Board of Nursing
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American Bar Association |
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Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education |
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Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs |
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Each state agency authorizes approval for post-secondary institutions to operate within its jurisdiction.
+ National College campuses are authorized by the following state agencies:
State |
Campus |
Virginia Campuses |
National College is authorized by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to provide educational programs beyond secondary education in the Commonwealth of Virginia; however, the institution is not subject to the requirements of certification by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The Salem, VA campus of National College is registered with the Maryland Higher Education Commission to offer certain online programs to residents of the state. Maryland students who wish to express a complaint or grievance about the institution should follow the grievance policy stated in the National College’s official catalog. The College is subject to investigation of complaints by the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Complaints may be directed to: Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, 200 St.Paul St., Baltimore, MD 21202 – Telephone 410-528-8662/ 888-743-0823. |
West Virginia Campuses |
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has assigned the Princeton, West Virginia campus of National College the status of Category II to offer degree programs and the Parkersburg, West Virginia campus the status of Category III to offer degree programs. |
Tennessee Campuses |
The Bartlett, Bristol, Memphis, and Nashville campuses are authorized for operation by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, located at 404 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 1900, Nashville, TN, 37243, and can be reached at (615) 741-3605. This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety, and fiscal responsibility. |
Ohio Campuses |
The Akron Area (Stow) campus, Dayton Area campus, and Youngstown Campus have received the Certificate of Registration and Program Authorization from the State of Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools, located at 30 East Broad Street, Suite 2481, Columbus, Ohio 43215, and can be reached at (877) 275-4219. The Ohio registration number for the Akron Area campus is 07-01-1811B, 09-07-1905B for the Cleveland Area campus, Dayton Area campus is 04-01-1700B, 11-09-1974T for the Stark County (Canton) campus, 08-11-1884B for the Columbus campus, 04-05-1718B for the Cincinnati campus and 07-03-1816B for the Youngstown campus. |
Indiana Campuses |
The South Bend campus of National College is authorized by the Indiana Board for Proprietary Education located at 101 West Ohio Street, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204-4206. |
Kentucky Campuses |
National College is licensed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education to offer all programs at the Danville, Florence, Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville, and Richmond campuses. National College Online is also licensed by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education to offer online degrees. |
Click on each campus location for Consumer Disclosure Information.
National College is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. In order to view detailed job placement and graduation information on the programs offered by National College, please visit www.tn.gov/thec and click on the Authorized Institutions Data button.
Credits earned at National College may not transfer to another educational institution. Credits earned at another educational institution may not be accepted by National College. You should obtain confirmation that National College will accept any credits you have earned at another educational institution before you execute an enrollment contract or agreement. You should also contact any educational institutions that you may want to transfer credits earned at National College to determine if such institutions will accept credits earned at National College prior to executing an enrollment contract or agreement. The ability to transfer credits from National College to another educational institution may be very limited. Your credits may not transfer and you may have to repeat courses previously taken at National College if you enroll in another educational institution. You should never assume that credits will transfer to or from any educational institution. It is highly recommended and you are advised to make certain that you know the transfer of credit policy of National College and of any other educational institutions you may in the future want to transfer the credits earned at National College before you execute an enrollment contract or agreement.
Drug/Alcohol Abuse information:
Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Review:
Miscellaneous Related Disclosure and Important Information: