University & Program Accreditations
Joint Accreditation
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501-2291 (605) 773-5232
Licensure & Certification
Black Hills State University offers a variety of courses and programs online and is committed to providing a quality education to help you reach your professional goals. Some professions require certification or licensure in order to practice/work in the field; for instance, a teacher must be certified to teach. The curriculum for a number of degree programs at Black Hills State University have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in South Dakota, and prepare students to sit for licensure exams in South Dakota. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state and distance students with intent of returning or moving to any state other than South Dakota should be aware of the unique requirements for that state.
Students seeking to establish licensure outside the state of South Dakota are encouraged to engage with an academic advisor prior to beginning any online academic program that would lead to licensure, in order to best understand the licensure program in your intended state of residence. Assistance will be provided to candidates by contacting the person listed in the information below.
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Teacher Education
To graduate from BHSU and be licensed to teach in South Dakota, students must pass Praxis Content Knowledge Exams and the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT). The Praxis Content Knowledge Exams measure the student’s knowledge of content (what disciplines he/she will teach) and must be successfully passed before a student is allowed to student teach. The PPAT assesses the student’s knowledge of methods (how to teach). It is taken during the student teaching semester.
Students must pass any content area exam for which they want to be licensed in South Dakota as per the guidelines for certification. Study guides are available on the ETS PRAXIS website. Over 90% of our students pass the exams on the first try because they study, take it seriously, and take advantage of study guides.
Assistance will be provided to candidates in understanding the out-of-state requirements for licensure prior to enrollment in the Black Hills State University program. Please contact the Director of Field Experiences and University Certification Officer, Mrs. Jami Kesling at 605-642-6077.
Links to certification information:
School of Business
CPA Licensure
The Professional Accountancy degree at Black Hills State University prepares you to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. To become a licensed CPA, you must meet the education, examination, and experience requirements. All candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination which comprises four sections:
- Auditing and Attestation (AUD)
- Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)
- Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)
- Regulation (REG)
AICPA
NASBA
The CPA Exam is administered continuously throughout the year and you’ll have 18 months to pass all four CPA Exam sections with a minimum score of 75. While the CPA Exam is the same for all candidates, other requirements may differ per state. For more information about what requirements that BHSU meets per state follow the links below:
Black Hills State University takes students’ thoughts, suggestions, input, complaints, and grievances seriously. We make every effort to resolve these issues quickly and fairly. The following resources are available to you to make a report and/or talk with someone about your concerns.
See also: BHSU Student Consumer Information
Academic Concerns/Complaints
BHSU is committed to assisting students in meeting their academic goals through a positive experience. For minor concerns or complaints, the student is encouraged to meet with the Professor with the goal of resolving the issue. If the concern is not resolved at this level, it is suggested that the student talk with the appropriate Chair or Dean. The formal appeal process is outlined in BHSU and SDBOR policy.
Students may address the concern/appeal formally through the Academic Affairs Office.
Office of Academic Affairs
Black Hills State University
1200 University St, Unit 9501
Spearfish, SD 57799-9501
PH. (605)642-6262
academicaffairs@bhsu.edu
State Regulatory Information
Any person may file a complaint with the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents to obtain a review and appropriate action on allegations that an institution governed by the Board:
- Violated South Dakota consumer protection laws,
- Engaged in fraud or false advertising,
- Violated South Dakota laws relating to the licensure of postsecondary institutions or programs,
- Failed to provide an educational program meeting contemporary standards for content and rigor,
- Failed to assign qualified instructors; or
- Violated one or more accreditation requirements.
Where the institution has not already considered and acted upon the complaint, the Executive Director will refer the matter to the institutional president for review and action. If the complainant challenges an institutional disposition of the complaint, the Executive Director will provide for an independent review and disposition of the allegations. The Executive Director may be contacted at:
The Office of the Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Regents
306 East Capitol Avenue, Suite 200
Pierre, SD 57501-2545
Phone: 605-773-3455
Information Email
Consumer Protection
Allegations involving violation of consumer protection laws may also be filed with:
Office of Attorney General
Division of Consumer Protection
1302 E Hwy 14 Ste 3
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605-773-4400, 1-800-300-1986 (in-state only)
Fax: 605-773-7163
Email: consumer-help
Web: online complaint form
Out-of-State Distance Education Students
Pursuant to the United States Department of Education’s Program Integrity Rule, Black Hills State University is required to provide all prospective and current students with the contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning or correspondence education within that state.
For students residing in a SARA state, the complaint must be brought to the institution’s home state SARA portal entity. Students may submit complaints to the SD-SARA Portal Entity here.
For students in California, please contact the appropriate entity listed below.
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
