Institutional Professional Licensure Requirements

Consistent with federal and state regulations, institutions that offer any out-of-state activities related to credit-bearing courses such as online courses, field experiences (e.g., internships for credit, practicums), and recruiting or marketing of programs are mandated to follow the other state’s laws and to obtain any necessary authorization to operate in that jurisdiction prior to conducting the activity.

To assist in the management of these requirements, Mary Baldwin University participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA established the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) in 2013 to help expand students’ access to educational opportunities and ensure more efficient, consistent, and effective regulation of distance education programs. SARA is a “voluntary agreement among its member states and U.S. territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance-education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state.” 

All guidance provided on this site assumes that MBU's presence in other states is on-line or specific to a field experience. Establishing an administrative or instructional site (i.e., physical presence) outside of Virginia carries significant and distinct review and approval requirements.

SARA Does Not Address:

  • Professional licensing board approval for programs leading to licensing: nursing, teacher education, psychology, etc. (see Professional Licensing below)
  • Online offerings provided free and beyond the scope of current regulation of the degree programs of accredited academic institutions (free, non-credit MOOCs, etc.)
  • Non-credit instruction

In instances in which an activity is not covered by SARA, MBU must seek authorization or exemption from the state where the curriculum is accessed.  MBU works with regulatory agencies in each state and the U.S. Territories to seek authorization, exemption, or permission to offer degree or certificate programs and courses to residents outside Virginia who wish to enroll in MBU distance learning education opportunities.

For more information, visit the NC-SARA About webpage.

To view the States and Territories covered by SARA, visit the NC-SARA directory webpage.

Institutional Professional Licensure Requirements

Policy on Refunds and Cancellations

Catastrophic Events and Continuity of Operations

Professional Licensing

Students considering an online program that leads to a professional license in a state other than Virginia are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate licensing agency from the state in which they plan to practice before beginning the program to ensure that the program fulfills the licensure requirements of that state.

State Approval Agencies

State

Agency

Alabama

Commission on Higher Ed (ACHE) 

Private School Licensure 

Alaska


 

Commission on Postsecondary Education

Arizona 

Board for Private Postsecondary Education

Arkansas

Department of Education

California

Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

Colorado

Department of Higher Education 

Connecticut

Office of Higher Education

Delaware

Department of Education

District of Columbia

Education Licensure Commission

Florida

Commission for Independent Education

Georgia

Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission

Hawaii

Post-secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)

Idaho

Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools

Illinois

Board of Higher Education 

Indiana

Department for Workforce Development 

Board for Proprietary Education 

Commission of Higher Education

Iowa

College Student Aid Commission

Kansas

Board of Regents 

Kentucky

Commission on Postsecondary Education 

Council on Proprietary Education

Louisiana

Board of Regents

Maine

Department of Education

Maryland

Higher Education Commission 

Massachusetts

Department of Higher Education (DHE) 

Division of Private Occupational School Education

Michigan

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs 

Minnesota

Office of Higher Education

Mississippi

Commission on College Accreditation 

Office of Proprietary Schools

Missouri

Department of Higher Education 

Montana

Board of Regents 

Nebraska

Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education 

Nevada

Commission on Postsecondary Education

New Hampshire

Department of Education

New Jersey

Commission on Higher Education

New Mexico 

Higher Education Department

New York

Office of College and University Evaluation 

North Carolina

Board of Governors 

Office of Proprietary School Service

North Dakota

University System 

Career and Technical Education Office 

Ohio

Department of Higher Education 

Board of Career Colleges and Schools

Oklahoma

Regents for Higher Education 

Board of Private Schools 

Board of Career and Technology Education 

Oregon

Office of Degree Authorization 

Pennsylvania

Department of Education 

Puerto Rico

Consejo de Educacion de Puerto Rico 

Rhode Island 

Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner

South Carolina

Commission on Higher Education 

South Dakota

Secretary of State

Tennessee

Higher Education Commission

Texas 

Higher Education Coordinating Board 

Texas Workforce Commission 

Utah 

Division of Consumer Protection

Vermont 

Agency of Education

Virginia

Private Postsecondary Education

Washington

Student Achievement Council 

Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board 

West Virginia

Higher Education Policy Commission 

Council for Community and Technical College Ed 

Wisconsin

Education Approval Board

Wyoming

Private School Licensing