FAQs

There are two (2) ways to receive a refund for a course in which you are registered; student requested withdrawal from a course or cancellation of a course by the CCE.

Withdrawal
Decisions to cancel your registration can be made by calling or emailing our department and must be received by 5 pm local time at least three business days prior to the start of your class. Refund requests received after this will not be granted. Certain programs, such as conferences or courses with materials/equipment included, may require additional notice. These exceptions will be noted in course descriptions. Failure to attend class does not constitute a withdrawal. 

Course Cancellation

The University of South Alabama reserves the right to cancel any course for which there is not sufficient enrollment. Should a course be canceled after you enroll, you may transfer to another class or receive a full refund. The decision to cancel a course based on enrollment is made three business days prior to the course start date. 

For Career Certificate Programs:  Students MUST attend at least 80% of all class meetings within a course unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor. Maximum number of excused absences per course will depend on the length of the course.

It is up to the student to keep up with their absences and to contact the instructor prior to missing class.

There are multiple funding options for students seeking to complete a CCE certificate program.

Some students qualify for benefits which cover the entire cost of the certificate program through various governmental programs including:

• WIOAA (approved for the Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Program)
• My CAA (for military spouses)
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services through the Dept. of Rehabilitation Services (for those with physical or mental disabilities).

Students may also choose to obtain loans to cover the cost of the program. Sallie Mae offers student loans for career training (including CCE's certificate programs) at the market rate. The loans cover the cost of attendance in the program.

Some course/programs have scholarships available and other courses/programs are grant funded for designated audiences. (E.g. Title One Schools and Law Enforcement training). Additional details regarding financial assistance for these programs will be noted on the course information page. Because these are non-credit courses, student based grants such as Pell Grants are not available. 

See how does financial aid work for additional details.

Sallie Mae loans and other loans generally cover the cost of attendance in the certificate program.  

The CCE Cost of Attendance is the estimated amount that it will cost a student to attend the USA  Center for Continuing Education Certificate Program during the length of the program set forth by the CCE.  The Cost of Attendance (COA) for noncredit certificate program includes tuition, fees, books, and supplies.  It may also include ancillary expenses related to attending the program such as a computer, transportation, and dependent care.  

Applicants can learn more about their Sallie Mae’s student loan options here. If applying through Sallie Mae, please make sure you select UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA - CONTINUING EDUCATION as the name of the school.

Some of our programs are grant funded or offer scholarships. Check out the course page for additional information.

Registration is available in person, online, or by mail.

Payments may be mailed to:

75 S. University Blvd., Suite 5000
Mobile, AL 36608

Organizations may request invoicing by calling (251) 460-7200.

Courses require payment in full at least five business days before the first day of class. 

Organizations needing exceptions should contact (251) 460-7200 to resolve any concerns.

Not in most cases. Most courses have textbook and material expenses in addition to the course fee itself. These specific requirements will be listed in the course description seen prior to registration. This allows students to shop for the most cost effective option for books or course materials. 

Some of our certificate program require a minimum level of education, such as high school diploma, or have prerequisite courses. These will be noted on the course registration page.

We generally do not accept credits from other institutions for our certificate programs. USA’s CCE has meticulously developed our certificate programs to ensure the highest education standards are met.

Transfers will only be accepted if it is possible to determine that the material is current, applicable and fully covers all the required course content. Feel free to email us with any specific questions you may have that are not answered on the course webpage.

Our current course list is updated regularly, and we have new classes starting all the time. If a course you are interested in taking is not currently listed, sign up for our email to be the first to get information regarding upcoming courses and CCE news. Feel free to email us with any specific course questions you may have that are not answered on the course webpage.

All programs offered through our Continuing Education department are non-credit courses. They award certificates of completion rather than academic college credits.

Through USA Continuing Education, programs that lead to certification meet Alabama's state requirements. States outside of Alabama set their own respective certification requirements. If you intend to seek certification outside of the State of Alabama, this program may not meet the state’s requirements. Please consult with the appropriate state board or department

See the University's Student Grievance Policy here.

Sponsorship
Formal sponsorship for the activity must be secured from an active, recognized University of South Alabama student organization or a University of South Alabama academic or administrative department.  The USA sponsoring entity must have no less than one representative present during all activities, including, but not limited to, set up, event and tear down of the requested space.  The USA sponsoring entity will be responsible for any unpaid costs or damages associated with the event.  The only venue excluded from this formal sponsorship requirement is the Mitchell Center. The full Community Reservation Guidelines can be found on pages 145-146 in the student handbook, the Lowdown. 

Insurance
All events reserved by non-USA person(s) or groups held anywhere on University property will provide a certificate of insurance for general liability including coverage for event participants for claims arising out of bodily injury and/or property damage. This coverage shall be in an amount of no less than $1 million per occurrence/$2 million annual aggregate and the certificate of insurance coverage must name the University of South Alabama as additional insured on the policy. Event insurance may be purchased online at https://tulip.ajgrms.com/QuickQuote.  

Waivers
Events involving participants under the age of 19 will require waivers from a parent/guardian. Events with participants age 19 and over will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis regarding the need for a waiver. Contact us at usacontinuinged@southalabama if you are unsure about your need for a waiver. 

Background Checks
Criminal background checks are required for all adults working with minors for all overnight academic camps/conferences and for all sports camps/conferences.