NC-SARA
Also called SARA · State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements · National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
SARA is distance-education reciprocity, not a teaching license and not accreditation. NC-SARA works through MHEC, NEBHE, SREB, and WICHE. An institution applies to its state portal entity, not to a federal office. 34 CFR 600.9(c)(1)(ii) is why Title IV shops care: coverage under a reciprocity agreement meets the federal distance-ed authorization test in member states, subject to the agreement's limits.
NC-SARA is the nonprofit that coordinates the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) with four regional interstate compacts. SARA is the agreement: a voluntary pact that lets a participating institution offer distance education in other member states under its home-state authorization, instead of applying state by state. As of NC-SARA’s 2026 materials, 49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are in; California is not. More than 2,400 institutions participate.
What SARA covers, and what it refuses to cover
SARA is distance-education reciprocity, not a teaching license and not accreditation. NC-SARA works through MHEC, NEBHE, SREB, and WICHE. An institution applies to its state portal entity, not to a federal office. 34 CFR 600.9(c)(1)(ii) is why Title IV shops care: coverage under a reciprocity agreement meets the federal distance-ed authorization test in member states, subject to the agreement’s limits.
SARA does not approve professional-licensure programs. NC-SARA’s own pages require notification to students about whether a program meets licensure rules where the student is located, and they say SARA does not include nursing-board, teacher, or psychology approvals. Field placements, physical presence, and in-person activity can still trigger state rules. California remains a one-off compliance project.
Example: a Texas SARA institution runs an online MBA with an optional New York residency week. The online term is the SARA use case. The residency week is a physical-presence question New York may regulate on its own. Selling the MBA as “SARA-approved in all 50 states” is false on California and sloppy on the residency.
How is NC-SARA different from state authorization and from accreditation?
NC-SARA is the national coordinator. SARA is the compact. State authorization is the underlying legal permission. Accreditation is peer quality review. Title IV needs authorization plus ED-recognized institutional accreditation plus ED certification. SARA only simplifies one slice of authorization for distance education among members.
| Name | What it is |
|---|---|
| SARA | The reciprocity agreement among member states |
| NC-SARA | 501(c)(3) coordinator, with four regional compacts |
| State portal entity | The state office that admits institutions to SARA |
| 34 CFR 600.9 | Federal Title IV rule that recognizes reciprocity |
Common errors
- Printing “approved in all 50 states” on an MBA landing page.
- Treating SARA as a substitute for institutional accreditation or for a nursing-board approval.
- Forgetting to notify students about professional-licensure fit.
- Assuming a California student is covered because the institution is in SARA.
FAQ
Is SARA the same thing as NC-SARA?
SARA is the agreement. NC-SARA is the national nonprofit that coordinates it with the four regional compacts. States join SARA. Institutions are approved by their home-state portal entity under SARA policy. Saying “we are NC-SARA accredited” is a category error. NC-SARA does not accredit.
Why isn’t California in SARA?
California has not joined. NC-SARA’s policy manual and state-actions table leave the California row empty. Institutions in other states still need a California-specific theory to enroll students located there. California institutions cannot use SARA to export online programs; they authorize state by state.
Does SARA make an online MBA Title IV-eligible?
It can satisfy the out-of-state distance-education piece of 34 CFR 600.9(c) in member states. The school still needs home-state authorization, ED-recognized institutional accreditation, and a Program Participation Agreement. SARA is one compliance tool, not a federal-aid award.
Related terms
Sources
- NC-SARA: Our Work SARA definition; NC-SARA as 501(c)(3); four regional compacts; 49 states plus DC, PR, USVI; 2,400+ institutions; licensure disclaimer
- SARA Policy Manual 26.1 (July 1, 2026) Reciprocity for distance education; California excluded as of July 1, 2026; 2,400+ participating institutions
- 34 CFR 600.9(c) Federal recognition of state authorization reciprocity agreements for distance education
