Research
01.06.2025

State Institutional Approval Quick Chart

Institutions that do not participate in SARA, are located in or offer activities in a non-SARA state or territory, or conduct activities outside the scope of reciprocity, must review and follow all applicable state requirements for online courses, field experiences, and other supervised activities.

The chart below provides an initial reference point for institutions pursuing state-by-state authorization, including contacts for state higher education agencies and notes on each state’s oversight of online courses.

SAN will periodically review and update this resource. If you encounter issues with any links, please let us know. (Last reviewed 01/06/26.)

Please note:

  • Determinations reflect a conservative review of state agency websites and applicable statutes/regulations for accredited institutions.
  • Review dates indicate the timeliness of the information; updates will be made as needed.
  • This chart provides quick direction but is not legal advice.
  • SAN cannot verify the security of external links.
  • Institutions must confirm the applicability of requirements to their own activities.
  • For more detailed state information, see The State Authorization GuideThe State Authorization Guide.
  • State
Higher Education Approval AgencyOversight Process/AuthorityAgency ContactsOversight of Online Courses?Notes:
Alabama
Commission on Higher Ed (ACHE)
Alabama Community College System (ACCS)
Non-Resident Institution Process 
Process
Jim Conely jim.conely@ache.edu
Tivoli Nash, Tivoli.nash@accs.edu
Yes
Yes
 
AlaskaCommission on Postsecondary EducationOnline Distance Education Exemption

Higher Education Authorization:  eed.acpe-ia@alaska.gov

 

No

Is not authoriztion but application for exemption must be submitted.

 

ArizonaBoard for Private Postsecondary Education

Regulations 

Policy of State Authorization  Complaint Process

 

Keith Blanchard, Keith.blanchard@azppse.gov 

 

No 
Arkansas
Division of Higher Education
Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education
Process
 

Alana Colburn  Alana.Colburn@adhe.edu 

 

Yes
Yes
 
CaliforniaBureau for Private Postsecondary Education

For Profit Registration Process

 

Non-profit/public 94801.5(c)

 

Deborah Cochrane:  Deborah.Cochrane@dca.ca.gov

 

No - public or private non profit

Yes- for profit

 
Colorado

Department of Higher Education

 

Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools
Authority(3.17(b)) page 6
Code of Colorado Regulations  - unless meet an exemption, but carefully review the exemptions.

Heather Delange:  heather.delange@dhe.state.co.us

Mary Kanaly: Mary.kanaly@dhe.state.co.us

 

No
Yes
 
ConnecticutOffice of Higher EducationOut-of-State Online Registration

Sean Seepersad, PhD, SSeepersad@ctohe.org

 

Yes 
DelawareDepartment of Education

Higher Education Authorizations

 

dheo@doe.k12.de.usYes 
District of ColumbiaHigher Education Licensure Commission

Distance/Online Education Inquiries

 

Terasita Edwards, terasita.edwards@dc.gov

 

Yes 
FloridaFlorida Commission of Independent EducationAuthority/regulations

Michael Santoro, Michael.santoro@fldoe.org

 

No 
GeorgiaNonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission

Authorization

Seeking Approval for Online Programming

 

Magda (Maggie) Rivers, mrivers@gnpec.ga.gov

 

Yes 
Guam   Unknown 
HawaiiPost-secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)Authority/FAQ’s

Jayson Horiuchi hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov

 

No 
IdahoIdaho Board of Education Private Colleges and Proprietary SchoolsAuthority 

Tamara Baysinger, Tamara.Baysinger@osbe.idaho.gov

 

No*Medical/osteopathic education clinicals may require registration if surpasses 10 students are physically present simultaneously at a single field site.
IllinoisBoard of Higher EducationDistance Education Exemption 

Nkechi Onwuameze, PhD, sara@ibhe.org

 

NoComplete exemption form
Indiana

Department for Workforce Development

 

Board for Proprietary Education
Commission of Higher Education
Process
OCTS@dwd.in.gov.

Ross Miller, rmiller@che.in.gov

 

Ken Sauer, ksauer@che.in.gov

 

Yes
Yes
Yes
 
IowaIowa Department of Education - Bureau of Iowa College AidAuthorization Process

Lisa Pundt, lisa.pundt@iowa.gov 

 

Yes 
KansasBoard of Regents

See Private/Out of State guidelines

See also: 74-32,163. Definitions

 

Crystal Puderbaugh, cpuderbaugh@ksbor.org 

 

YesReview def. of physical presence for applicability
Kentucky
Council on Postsecondary Education
Council on Proprietary Education

Process    Legislation

 

Forms & Legislation

Jevonda Keith, jevonda.keith@ky.gov

Misty Edwards, misty.edwards@ky.gov 

Yes
Yes
 
LouisianaBoard of RegentsLicensure Process for Institutions Operating in Louisiana (open drop down for explanation)

Susannah Craig,  Susannah.Craig@laregents.edu

Melissa Anders, Melissa.Anders@laregents.edu

 

NoBut, field experiences (clinicals/internships) require approval
MaineDepartment of EducationOnline Higher Education Approval

Michael T. Perry, michael.t.perry@maine.gov.

 

No*Should contact agency for more information related to authorization exemption.
MarylandHigher Education CommissionOut-of-State Online Registrationonlinereg.mhec@maryland.govYes 
Massachusetts

Department of Higher Education (DHE)

 

Scroll down: Out-of-State Online Program Approvalprogramreview@dhe.mass.edu?*Must contact email provided to determine if approval is required
MichiganLabor and Economic Opportunity - Post Secondary SchoolsHigher Education authorization and Distance Education Reciprocal Exchange Act (2015 PA 45) Section 390.1694(3)

James R. Farhat,

 farhatj@michigan.gov

 

YesSection 390.1694(3) indicates a college or university... may elect to obtain authorization....
MinnesotaOffice of Higher Education

Process

 

Kate McCartan, kate.mccartan@state.mn.us

 

Yes 
Mississippi
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation
Commission of Proprietary School and College Registration 

Administrative Code see page 14

 

Authority 2.16

 

Sheriece Robinson, srobinson@mississippi.edu Must contact to apply

 

Kim Verneuille, kverneuille@mccb.edu

 

Yes
No
 
MissouriDepartment of Higher Education

Non-SARA Distance Education (public & nonprofit)

Proprietary School Certification

Joshua Fischer, Joshua.Fischer@dhewd.mo.gov 

 

Yes 
MontanaBoard of Regents

Process

 

Montana State Authorization FAQ

Hannah Tokerud, htokerud@montana.edu 

 

YesShort application
Nebraska
Department of Education Private Postsecondary Career Schools

Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

 

Process

 

Authority

 

Marisol Birth, Marisol.birth@nebraska.gov

 

Dr.  Kathleen Fimple, kathleen.fimple@nebraska.gov

 

Yes
No
 
NevadaCommission on Postsecondary Education

State Institutional Licensure

Note: Distance Education Exemption Request
 

 

Kelly D. Wuest, kdwuest@detr.nv.gov

 

No*Institutions must submit exemption request 
New HampshireDepartment of Education

Postsecondary Education in New Hampshire

 

Stephen Appleby, stephen.m.appleby@doe.nh.gov 

 

Yes 
New Jersey

Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

 

Process

Eric Taylor, Esq., eric.taylor@oshe.nj.gov 

 

Yes*Registration and authorization are different processes. Registration is required.
New MexicoHigher Education DepartmentProcess

Annette Mirabal, HigherEd.Info@hed.nm.gov

 

Yes 
New York
Office of College and University Evaluation

Adult Career and Continuing Ed Services

 

 Physical Presence

Distance Ed Application Process

Policy

IHEauthorize@nysed.gov

 

Online form: http://www.acces.nysed.gov/contact-us

 

Yes
Yes
 
North Carolina

University of NC System

 

Office of Proprietary School Service (N. Carolina Community Colleges)

State Authorization

 

Policy on Standards for Licensure

 

Authority

 

Stateauthorization@northcarolina.edu

 

Scott Corl, corls@nccommunitycolleges.edu 

 

Yes
No
 
North Dakota
University System
Career and Technical Education Office
North Dakota State Authorization for Postsecondary Institutions
Authority & Exemptions listed in ND Century Code section 15-20.4.02
Claire Gunwallstateauth@ndus.edu
Michael Netzloff, mnetzloff@nd.gov
Yes
No*
New law: ND will not approve out-of-state institutions to offer distance education to students in ND. Must participate in SARA. 
Must submit document for exemption.
Northern Mariana Islands   Unknown 
Ohio
Department of Higher Education
Board of Career Colleges and Schools

Academic Program Approval

 

Authorization of Distance Education Programs

Matt Exline, mexline@highered.ohio.gov

 

John Ware, John.ware@scr.state.oh.us
No*
No*
Contact agency for letter of exemption
License required for For-Profit
Oklahoma

Regents for Higher Education

 

Board of Private Schools

 

Board of Career and Technology Education
State Authorization

Process

 

Review Exemptions

 

Daniel Archer, darcher@osrhe.edu

 

Angela Moore, angela.moore@obpvs.ok.gov

 

Brent Haken, Brent.Haken@careertech.ok.gov

 

Yes
Yes
Possibly

 

New law Fall 2025

 
 
Oregon

Office of Degree Authorization

 

Private and Career Schools
Process
Process

Veronica Dujon, Veronica.dujon@state.or.us

 

Veronica Dujon, Veronica.dujon@state.or.us
Yes
Yes
 
PennsylvaniaDepartment of EducationProcess for Registration

Gina Wetten, giwetten@pa.gov

 

Yes 
Puerto Rico

Consejo de Educacion de Puerto Rico

 

 

Regulations for the Licensing of Postsecondary institutions in Puerto Rico

David Báez, dbaez@estado.pr.gov

 

Damaris Nolasco, dnolasco@estado.pr.gov

 

YesContact agency representatives
Rhode IslandOffice of the Postsecondary CommissionerPolicy on Distance Learning

Greg Ebner, PhD  
greg.ebner@riopc.edu

 

Yes 
South CarolinaCommission on Higher EducationFAQ Document page 3Argentini Anderson, aanderson@che.sc.govNo 
South Dakota

Secretary of State

 

Postsecondary Education

Krista Rounds, Krista.rounds@state.sd.us

 

No 
TennesseeHigher Education CommissionDistance Education Authorization Requirements

Ryan Arrington, Ryan.Arrington@tn.gov 

 

No 
Texas

Higher Education Coordinating Board

 

Texas Workforce Commission

Authority

 

Process

Cathie Maeyaert, Cathie.Maeyaert@highered.texas.gov

 

Milan George, Milan.george@twc.state.tx.us

 

No*
Yes*

Need approval to offer experiential learning

 

Communication req’d even if license is not.

 

US Virgin IslandsDepartment of Education Camille McKayle
cmckayl@uvi.edu
Unknown 
UtahDivision of Consumer Protection

Registration Apply Online

 

Marla Winegar, mwinegar@utah.gov

 

Yes 
VermontAgency of EducationAuthority (176a(e)(5))

Cassandra Ryan, Cassandra.Ryan@vermont.gov

 

Emily Simmons, emily.simmons@vermont.gov

 

No*Appears to be online only without oversight. Contact Agency about experiential learning
Virginia

State Council of Higher Education

 

PPE Forms and Regulations for Schools and Private Postsecondary Education websiteSandra Freeman, sandrafreeman@schev.eduYes 
Washington
Student Achievement Council
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

Authority

 

Authority

DegreeAuthorization@wsac.wa.gov

 

Sam Loftin, samL@wsac.wa.gov
No*
No*
Experiential learning requires state institutional approval.
West Virginia
Higher Education Policy Commission

Council for Community and Technical College Ed

 

Authority
Governance (Section 3 Def. Physical Presence)

Lucy Kefauver lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu

 

Lucy Kefauver lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu

 

No
No
 
WisconsinEducation Approval Program

Approval Information and Approval Flow Chart

 

Rebecca Larson
Rebecca.larson@waicu.org
Yes   & No*Public institutions do not require approval.  For Profit and Non-Profit private institutions must seek approval.
WyomingPrivate School Licensing

Chapter 30 Private Post-Secondary Degree Granting Institution Application

 

Elaine Marces
Elaine.marces@wyo.gov
Yes*Short application and low cost.