State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements and Professional Licensure
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, or SARA, are a collection of agreements designed to streamline regulations regarding distance education programs. Participation in SARA ensures these programs are in alignment with Department of Education and state education requirements and standards. The National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) assists higher education stakeholders in understanding the purpose and benefits of SARA participation and in adhering to SARA regulations.
Pennsylvania is a NC-SARA member state, and the Pennsylvania Department of Education serves as the state portal entity for SARA institutions within PA. Point Park University is an approved SARA institution which allows us to offer our distance education programs to students residing outside of Pennsylvania.
Professional Licensure
Professional licensure educational requirements are determined by the agency or board that is responsible for issuing the license. Licensing board approvals fall outside of the scope of SARA and are often determined at the state level. If you intend to obtain a professional license outside of the State of Pennsylvania it is strongly recommended you confirm that Point Park’s program will meet the licensing requirements for that state prior to enrollment. Learn more about which programs lead to licensure in which states:
Professional Licensure Disclosures
SARA in alignment with federal regulations requires all institutions to disclose to the best of their ability whether a program meets the licensing requirements, does not meet the requirements, or cannot make a determination either way for each state. Point Park has provided the following state by state information for its programs leading to professional licensure.
School of Arts and Sciences
School of Education