(a) Institution requirement.

1. (1) The parent institution, located in an Arkansas jurisdiction, seeking to establish a new master’s, baccalaureate, diploma, associate degree, or practical nursing program shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A) Educational institutions or consortiums shall be:

(i) Approved by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education; and

1. (ii) Accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary of Education;

   1. (B) Hospitals or hospital consortiums shall be:

      1. (i) Approved by the Arkansas Department of Health; and
      2. (ii) Accredited by The Joint Commission or equivalent accrediting organization;

   2. (C) Each skilled nursing facility in a consortium to provide a practical nursing program shall be approved by:

      1. (i) The Arkansas Department of Human Services; or
      2. (ii) An equivalent accrediting organization;
   3. (D) Institutions offering a Licensed Practical Nurse Pathway Pilot Program shall be approved by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in consultation with the Arkansas Division of Higher Education; and
   4. (E) The parent institution shall meet the transfer or articulation requirements for courses in Arkansas education institutions.

2. (2) A nursing education program whose parent institution is located outside of Arkansas’s jurisdiction seeking to establish a new master’s, baccalaureate, diploma, associate degree, or practical nursing program shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A) Education institutions shall be:

      1. (i) Approved by the Arkansas Division of Higher Education; and
      2. (ii) Accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the United States Secretary of Education;
   2. (B) Be approved/accredited by the board of nursing or equivalent agency in the state where the parent institution originates;
   3. (C) The parent institution shall meet the transfer or articulation requirements for courses in Arkansas education institutions; and
   4. (D) Maintain the education standards required of Arkansas-based nursing education programs.

(b) Prerequisite approval.

1. (1) An institution seeking to establish a new nursing education program leading to licensure shall submit a letter of intent to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing at least one (1) year prior to submission of a feasibility study.

2. (2) The institution must submit a current feasibility study that is signed by the appropriate administrative officers and includes the following:

   1. (A) Purpose for establishing the program;
   2. (B) Type of educational program to be established;
   3. (C) Relationship to the parent institution, including an organizational chart;
   4. (D) Mission, philosophy, purposes, and accreditation status of the parent institution;
   5. (E) Financial statement of the parent institution for the past two (2) fiscal years;
   6. (F) A proposed budget for each year of the program’s implementation;

   7. (G) Documented need and readiness of the community to support the program, including:

      1. (i) Surveys of potential students;
      2. (ii) Employment availability; and
      3. (iii) Potential employers;
   8. (H) Source and numbers of potential students and faculty;
   9. (I) Proposed employee positions, including support staff;

   10. (J) Proposed clinical facilities for student experiences, including:

       1. (i) Letters of support from all major facilities expected to be used for full program implementation; and
       2. (ii) Evidence of clinical space for additional students;
   11. (K) Letters of support from approved nursing and health-related programs using the proposed clinical facilities;

   12. (L) Proposed physical facilities, including:

       1. (i) Offices;
       2. (ii) Classrooms;
       3. (iii) Technology;
       4. (iv) Library; and
       5. (v) Laboratories;
   13. (M) Availability of the general education component of the curriculum or letter of agreement, if planned, from another institution;
   14. (N) A timetable for initiating the program, including required resources, and plans for attaining initial approval; and
   15. (O) Other information as requested by the Arkansas State Board of Nursing.
3. (3) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall review all prerequisite documents and may determine the need for an on-site survey during a regularly scheduled Arkansas State Board of Nursing meeting.
4. (4) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing may grant, defer, or deny prerequisite approval.
5. (5) If the Arkansas State Board of Nursing denies prerequisite approval the program must wait two (2) years before submitting another proposal.

6. (6) After receiving prerequisite approval status, the institution may:

   1. (A) Advertise for students; and

   2. (B) Proceed toward compliance by following the education standards for initial approval.

      1. (c) Initial approval.
7. (1) The institution shall secure a nurse administrator of the program.

8. (2) The nurse administrator shall:

   1. (A) Plan the program;
   2. (B) Ensure compliance with Arkansas State Board of Nursing standards and recommendations;
   3. (C) Address prerequisite recommendations;
   4. (D) Prepare a detailed budget;
   5. (E) Employ qualified faculty and support staff;
   6. (F) Prepare a program organizational chart showing lines of authority;
   7. (G) Design the program’s sequential curriculum plan;
   8. (H) Develop student, faculty, and support staff policies and procedures;
   9. (I) Attain agency affiliation agreements;
   10. (J) Verify that proposed physical facilities are in place; and
   11. (K) Submit documentation to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing that initial approval standards are met.

9. (3) An Arkansas State Board of Nursing representative shall:

   1. (A) Validate readiness of the program to admit students; and
   2. (B) Prepare a report.
10. (4) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing shall review all documents for initial approval during a regularly scheduled Arkansas State Board of Nursing meeting.
11. (5) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing may grant, defer, or deny initial approval.

12. (6) After receiving initial approval, the program:

    1. (A) May admit students;
    2. (B) Shall proceed toward compliance by following the education standards for full approval; and

    3. (C) Shall follow the same standards as those of established programs in terms of annual:

       1. (i) Activities;
       2. (ii) Projects; and
       3. (iii) Reports.
       4. (d) Full approval.

13. (1) Before graduation of the first class, an Arkansas State Board of Nursing representative shall:

    1. (A) Validate compliance with the standards; and
    2. (B) Prepare a report.
14. (2) The report and documentation shall be reviewed during a regularly scheduled Arkansas State Board of Nursing meeting.
15. (3) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing may grant, defer, or deny full approval.