Nevada § 396.990 - Use of false or misleading degrees

§ 396.990. Use of false or misleading degrees

1. It is unlawful for a person knowingly to use or attempt to use: (a) A false or misleading degree or honorary degree conferred by the System or another

public postsecondary educational institution, regardless of whether that institution

is located in this State and regardless of whether that institution is authorized

to operate in this State; or (b) A degree or honorary degree conferred by the System or another public postsecondary

educational institution in a false or misleading manner, regardless of whether that

institution is located in this State and regardless of whether that institution is

authorized to operate in this State, in connection with admission to any institution of higher education or in connection

with any business, employment, occupation, profession, trade or public office. 2. Unless a greater penalty is provided by specific statute, a person who violates

the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by

a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more

than 6 months, or by both fine and imprisonment. 3. In addition to any criminal penalty imposed pursuant to subsection 2, a person

who violates the provisions of this section is subject to a civil penalty in an amount

not to exceed $5,000 for each violation. The Attorney General or any district attorney of this State may recover the penalty

in a civil action brought in the name of the State of Nevada in any court of competent

jurisdiction. 4. For the purposes of this section, a degree or honorary degree is false or misleading

or is used in a false or misleading manner if it: (a) States or suggests that the person named in the degree or honorary degree has

completed the requirements of an academic or professional program of study in a particular

field of endeavor beyond the secondary school level and the person has not, in fact,

completed the requirements of the program of study; (b) Is offered as his or her own by a person other than the person who completed the

requirements of the program of study; or (c) Is awarded, bestowed, conferred, given, granted, conveyed or sold: (1) Based upon more than 10 percent of the recipient's documented life experience

and not based upon actual completion of academic work; or (2) In violation of this chapter. 5. As used in this section: (a) “ Degree ” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 394.620 . (b) “ Honorary degree ” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 394.620 .