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Authorization & Licensing

Eastern Kentucky University is a brick-and-mortar public University located in Richmond, Kentucky and recognized by Kentucky Revised Statute 164.290. Eastern Kentucky University has been a participating institution in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) since 2017. For more information on NC-SARA you may visit nc-sara.org. Under the terms of SARA, EKU is operating in all other member states, also known as host states under the terms of SARA.

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What is SARA?

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), provides a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. SARA establishes uniform processes and national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance learning. When states join SARA, they agree to follow those processes when approving eligible institutions’ participation in distance learning. They also agree to operate under SARA standards when interacting with other member institutions.

SARA’s policies help protect students and provide benefits to both states and institutions carrying out distance education in multiple states. As of April 2020, 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are members of SARA. Over 2,100 colleges and universities participate in SARA.

Eastern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, educational specialist, and doctorate degrees. Eastern Kentucky University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Eastern Kentucky University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (sacscoc.org).

For a list of program specific accreditation and membership please review the University’s online catalog, pages 374-375, https://catalogs.eku.edu/.

Eastern Kentucky University’s regional compact is the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)
Wanda Barker Director, Education Technology and Multistate Cooperative Programs
592 10th Street N.E. Atlanta, GA 30318-5776
Phone: (404) 875.9211 ext. 258
wanda.barker@sreb.org
Website: www.sreb.org/sara

Eastern Kentucky University’s state regulating agency is the Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education. The Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education also serves as the state’s portal agency for state authorization purposes.

1024 Capital Center Dr #320
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 573-1555
Website: http://cpe.ky.gov/

  • Student(s): Anyone who is planning to apply to EKU or anyone currently enrolled with EKU.
  • Regulated/Regulations/Regulating: Rules, guidelines, standards, approval requirements set by an overseeing body in a state.
  • Residential address: The address where you reside and receive mail.
  • Location: Where you are located while the learning activities take place.
    Accredited or Accreditation: Holding institutional accreditation by name as a U.S.-based Institution from an Accrediting Agency.
  • Accrediting Agency: An accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and whose scope of recognition, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, includes Distance Education.
  • Affiliate Member: A State, territory, or district that affiliates with a Regional Compact under the terms of SARA in order to join SARA but is not a full member of that compact. The term “Member State” when used in this document includes affiliate members.
  • Authorized: Holding a current valid institutional Charter, license, approval, or other written document issued by a state, the federal government or a recognized Indian tribe, granting the named entity the authority to issue Degrees and operate within a State or jurisdiction as a postsecondary education Institution.
  • Complaint: A formal assertion in writing that a person, Institution, State, agency or other organization or entity operating under the provisions of the SARA Manual has violated the policies set forth in the SARA Manual or of laws, standards or regulations incorporated in the SARA Manual. See. SARA Manual • Version 20.1. January 1, 2020 Distributed February 6, 2020
  • Council: The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, or in short form National Council for SARA, or NC-SARA.
  • Exempt: The regulations established do not apply to EKU therefore we are allowed to proceed and/or operate
  • Collaborating Organization: An organization that allows students enrolled in a program that requires students complete a field placement, internship, externships and/or practicum as part of the educational curriculum for which a student receives educational credit hours to come into their organization to obtain said educational credit hours
  • Portal: Liaison entity that works with both the educational institutions and the regulating bodies to ensure compliance

View EKU’s Policy on Policies

NOTICE FOR PROGRAMS LEADING TO LICENSURE

SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) has no bearing on state licensure boards.

Licensure requirements are regulated by each state’s respective board(s) and must be met in order to obtain a license in that state. EKU reserves the right to offer program(s) that lead to licensure in the states where EKU has made every reasonable effort to determine its program(s) comply with each state’s regulations. Regulations are ever evolving and can change without any notification to the higher education institutions. Students are encouraged to contact their applicable state licensing board(s) to determine whether the program continues to meet requirements for licensure in that state both before enrolling and during the learning experience.

A full list of all applicable state board contact information can be found at: https://www.nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory.

A full list of all applicable state board contact information can be found at: https://www.nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory.

View Professional Licensure Information & State Determination by Degree 

Out-of-State Relocation

It is imperative for students enrolled in a program leading to licensure to notify their advisor in advance of any plans to relocate out of state. Advisors will help students determine authorization and licensure eligibility requirements if the student relocates during the course of the program. Licensure regulations vary by state and relocating could affect whether a student will meet eligibility requirements for licensure and/or remain eligible for federal financial aid. Students must check with the state/territory licensing board where they desire licensure before relocating to ensure that they will be eligible for licensure or reciprocity.

Students must report their current residential address on their application for admission.

Students must also report where they will be located while enrolled at EKU to their advisor and/or program coordinator. Any out-of-state relocation that takes place must be reported to your advisor and the Registrar’s Office.

Complaints

a. Complaints against an Institution operating under SARA policies go first through the Institution’s own procedures for resolution of grievances. Allegations of criminal offences or alleged violations of a State’s general-purpose laws may be made directly to the relevant State agencies.

b. Complaints regarding student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by institutional policy and the laws of the SARA Institution’s Home State.

c. If a person bringing a Complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process for handling Complaints, the Complaint (except for Complaints about grades or student conduct violations) may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the Complaint is made, to the SARA Portal Entity in the Home State of the Institution against which the Complaint has been lodged. That Portal Entity shall notify the SARA Portal Entity for the State in which the student is located of receipt of that appealed Complaint. The resolution of the Complaint by the Institution’s Home State SARA Portal Entity, through its SARA complaint resolution process, will be final, except for Complaints that fall under the provision “g” below.

d. While the final resolution of the Complaint rests with the SARA Portal Entity in the Home State of the Institution against which the Complaint has been lodged, the Portal Entity in the complainant’s location State may assist as needed. The final disposition of a Complaint resolved by the Home State shall be communicated to the Portal Entity in the State where the student lived at the time of the incident leading to the Complaint, if known.

e. While final resolution of Complaints (for purposes of adjudication of the Complaint and enforcement of any resultant remedies or redress) resides in certain cases with institutions (Complaints about grades or student conduct violations), or more generally with the relevant Institution’s Home State SARA Portal Entity (all other Complaints), the Regional Compact(s) administering SARA may consider a disputed Complaint as a “case file” if concerns are raised against a SARA member State with regard to whether that State is abiding by SARA policies, as promulgated in the SARA Manual. The Regional Compact may review such institutional concerns in determining whether a State under its SARA purview is abiding by SARA policies. Similarly, a Complaint “case file” may also be reviewed by NC-SARA in considering whether a Regional Compact is ensuring that its SARA member States are abiding by the SARA policies required for their membership in SARA.

f. SARA State Portal Entities shall report quarterly to NC-SARA the number and disposition of appealed Complaints that are not resolved at the institutional level. NC-SARA shall make that information publicly available on its website. Such data will create transparency and can be used in determining whether a Regional Compact is ensuring that its SARA member States and those States’ Institutions are abiding by the policies required for State membership and institutional participation in SARA.

g. Nothing in the SARA Manual precludes a State from using its laws of general application to pursue action against an Institution that violates those laws. SARA Manual • Version 20.1. January 1, 2020 Distributed February 6, 2020

Investigation of a SARA-related Complaint against an Institution requires that a state board, agency or entity outside the institution’s immediate management be available to handle Complaints that are not resolved within the institution. A system board responsible for more than one separately Accredited institution may serve this role under SARA provisions. A board responsible for only one Accredited institution, or which lacks enforcement authority over an Institution, cannot serve as the SARA external oversight agency for such an institution. In such circumstances, the institution’s home-state SARA Portal Entity may serve that function.

Please be advised that there may be other factors that could prohibit your success in a program, such as a criminal record. If you are a convicted felon under federal law U.S.C. Title 18 you are not allowed to lawfully own a firearm which would inhibit your ability to find gainful employment in many of the Criminal Justice majors.

Having a criminal record could also affect your ability to successfully obtain professional licensure in many states and your ability to secure field placements, internships, externships and/or practicums.

Many collaborating organizations require students to submit to a drug screen, criminal background check, sex offender registry search, OIG (Office of Inspector General) search, federal finger printing and/or to submit copies of all your immunization records, including OSHA training certificates, HIPPA training certificates and CPR certification. These tests are at the expense of the student. Collaborating organizations reserve the right to deny student field placements, internships, externships and/or practicums for many reasons including but not limited to if a student has a criminal record or fails the drug screen standards as established by the collaborating organization.

SARA Member States

SARA member states without restrictions

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

SARA member states with special restrictions

TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Applicants for an Alabama certificate based on reciprocity must meet Alabama’s test requirements and submit a valid, renewable professional educator certificate/license issued by another state at the degree level, grade level, and in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which an Alabama certificate is sought and for which an Alabama certificate is sought and for which Alabama issues a certificate. Applicants for Alabama certification in an area of administration must also document at least three years of full-time employment as an administrator in a P – 12 school system(s). See www.alsde.edu

NURSING: State approval of a program to offer Alabama licensed nurses opportunities for advanced degrees does not indicate eligibility for approval to practice as an advanced practice nurse in Alabama. Applicants for approval in Alabama are required to meet the Alabama requirements for national certification, graduation from a specific-type program for the advanced practice approval, and completion of the appropriate application. Any program offering a pre-licensure track to Alabama students shall meet the requirements of the Alabama regulations for pre-licensure programs or the graduates may not be eligible to take the licensure examination required by the Alabama Board of Nursing to enter the practice. See www.abn.alabama.gov Program must notify and pay a fee by January 1 each year if planning to place students in clinicals that year.

NURSING FNP: Programs require Board of Nursing Approval prior to placing students in clinicals. EKU is currently not accepting new students into the MSN, FNP, or PSYCHNP programs in California.

TEACHER EDUCATION: EKU cannot accept California students into pre-licensure teacher education programs.

Not authorized to conduct clinical practicum in Colorado. Unpaid cooperative education experiences, internships, externships or field placements are prohibited. EKU encourages you to consult the online advisors for possible alternatives or if you have questions.

Student-teaching is EXEMPT from the workers’ compensation requirement.

EKU is not accepting nursing students into online programs.

See the EKU Military Activation and Course Completion policy at eku.edu/in/policies

EKU is not accepting nursing students into online programs.

Authorization status: Exempt for 100% Fully Online Programs ONLY

EKU is accepting only Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students into the Nursing program in Massachusetts at this time.

Unpaid or low-paying placements of any kind must be approved prior to admission.

DEGREE STANDARDS: The General Education Standards for EKU’s Associate of Art and Bachelor of Art degrees are different from Minnesota’s Degree Standards for General Education. In most circumstances Minnesota students should have enough elective courses to meet Minnesota’s Degree Standards but some students may be required to take additional courses to meet these standards. Minnesota students should review these degree standards at www.ohe.state.mn.us

Does not permit multi-year contracts between placement sites and EKU; Sites are subject to approval by the EKU program and short-term contracts permitted.

Nursing Programs: Exempt to offer Doctorate of Nursing and MSN Nursing Administration ONLY. EKU is not accepting students for RN to BSN, Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatrist Mental Health Nurse Practitioner online programs.

Programs Leading to Professional Licensure: EKU is not authorized to conduct any supervised field placements (clinicals, co-ops, internships, etc.) in New York without specific NY Board approval for programs that require a license to practice. Please consult online advisors with questions.

Programs Not Requiring Placements: Approved to offer all other distance education programs, including those with supervised field placements (co-op, internship, etc.) that do not require a professional license to practice.

NURSING: Program must notify and pay an annual fee to place students in clinicals.

  • Terms 17 weeks in length require a refund through week 9.
  • Terms 10 weeks in length require a refund through week 5
  • Terms 8 weeks in length require a refund through week 4.
  • Terns 5 weeks in length require a refund through week 3.
  • Terms 2 weeks in length require a refund through week 1.


Partial refunds will occur through the middle week of any given term, and prorated on a weekly basis as stipulated above.

EKU is not accepting students for RN to BSN, Family Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner online programs.

EKU is not accepting Nursing students in Tennessee at this time. EKU encourages you to consult the online advisors for possible alternatives or if you have questions.

EKU is not accepting nursing students into online programs.

California is a fully exempt state which means each program must be considered independently.

Professional Licensure Notifications & Disclosures

Are you planning on pursuing professional licensure in your field? If yes, we strongly encourage you to follow the steps below before enrolling in an online program at Eastern Kentucky University:

Determine what, if any, restrictions your program of choice may have in your state or territory by reviewing the State Authorization Regulations above. Students considering an academic program as a pathway to professional licensure or certification in any field should be aware that not all programs approved to be offered in your state guarantee your eligibility for professional licensure or certification in that state.

Select your program of interest from the list below.
Carefully review the educational prerequisites for your program and intended state/territory of licensure to determine whether our program meets requirements for licensure in your area. Use the contact information provided for your state licensing board to clarify or confirm any requirements.

If questions remain after reviewing the information provided below, contact onlinedegrees@eku.edu and we’ll do our best to connect you with the information you need. Although our team can provide initial guidance, it is ultimately your responsibility to continually check with the state licensing board where you intend to seek licensure to confirm all licensing requirements.

Make sure you understand and consider the implications of the below information prior to enrolling in a program intended to lead to professional licensure. Note: Students located in states listed as Does Not Meet or Unable to Determine are restricted by federal regulation and may not be permitted to enroll in distance education programs leading to professional licensure. If you are currently located in one of these states but intend to seek licensure in a State or Territory where EKU has determined the program meets licensure requirements for that State or Territory, please contact us to discuss the attestation process.

If you relocate or change programs, review this information again to determine whether our program meets requirements for licensure in your new program or state/territory.

If you are located outside of the United States or a territory of the United States, please see the International Enrollments section for more details on the authorization of online programs in countries outside the U.S.

State Licensure Information by Degree Program

Determination of professional licensure requirements for each state by degree program.

The EKU BBA in Risk Management & Insurance is accredited by AACSB.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana

Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana

Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island

South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
U.S. Virgin Islands
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

California
Colorado
Florida
New York

Pennsylvania
Tennessee

The EKU BBA in Risk Management & Insurance is accredited by AACSB.

Kentucky

California
New York

Pennsylvania
Tennessee