PSEP — How to Apply

Twelve of the 15 WICHE states (see note below) expect to support students through the Professional Student Exchange Program. Click here for a list of the Fields of Study. If the field of study you wish to pursue is supported by your state, contact your State Certifying Officer. You must be certified by your state of residence to become an exchange student and, except in graduate nursing, be seeking enrollment at the first professional degree level. In most states, the deadline for receiving completed applications for certification is October 15 of the year preceding admission. A few states have earlier deadlines or accept late applications. Contact your certifying officer regarding such a possibility. It is also recommended that you keep a copy of your application for certification in case there are questions.

Certification affirms only that you are a resident according to the definition established by your state and are eligible for the exchange if sufficient funds are available in your state. Obtain your certification early because some schools will not consider applications from nonresident students without their being certified as "eligible" for this program. In addition to applying for certification, you must apply for admission to schools of your choice that participate in WICHE's Professional Student Exchange Program. You are subject to the application deadlines and academic requirements established by each school. When applying for admission, identify yourself as a certified WICHE/PSEP student (or indicate that you have applied for certification). Inform your certifying officer of the schools to which you are seeking admission. Keep your certifying officer apprised of offers you receive and your final decision to attend as well as your current address and phone number while enrolled through the program. This is necessary because agreements between the state, the school, and WICHE must be completed to ensure that you are admitted and funded as an exchange student. Formally decline offers for admission at other schools so that those places can be offered to other students. If you encounter difficulty during admission regarding your status as an exchange student, contact your state certifying officer or ask a school official to call WICHE's Student Exchange Program in Boulder, Colorado at (303) 541-0214.

Note: The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education administers PSEP participation as a loan program funded by the Alaska Student Loan Corporation. California, Oregon, and South Dakota participate only as a "receiving states" in all fields.