NC-SARA
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)
Mount Saint Mary College is an approved New York State SARA institution. SARA is a voluntary agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for the approval of interstate postsecondary distance education courses and programs. All Mount Saint Mary College online programs are approved by the New York State Education Department.
NC-SARA Mission
The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, in collaboration with the four regional higher education compacts, was established to develop and implement an effective and efficient reciprocal state-level authorization process for postsecondary distance education. Its mission is to provide broad access to postsecondary education opportunities to students across the country, to increase the quality and value of higher learning credentials earned via distance education, and to assure students are well served in a rapidly changing education landscape.
SARA Requirements: Professional Licensure Disclosure
While SARA does not address professional licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensing in fields such as nursing, teacher education, etc, SARA does require that participating institutions provide proper notification to students as to whether courses and programs will meet the professional licensure requirements in states where students are located. This is in alignment with federal regulations.
Professional Licensure/ Certification at Mount Saint Mary College
Mount Saint Mary College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) (www.msche.org). The MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Board of Regents in New York State (NYS) grants professional licensure/certificates to qualified candidates. Mount Saint Mary College is an institutional member of the Council for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA membership does not grant reciprocity or exempt Mount Saint Mary College from state professional licensing/certification requirements.
Mount Saint Mary College's programs are designed to meet licensure requirements in New York State and satisfy all federal requirements for disclosures regarding such professional licensure programs. Prospective and current students are still encouraged to consult with the appropriate licensing boards in their states to determine if programs meet specific licensure requirements. Additional state information can be found within NC-SARA’s State Authorization Guide.
Programs Leading to Licensure/Certification
All applicants should be aware that employers in any career field may consider numerous factors when determining eligibility or suitability for employment including, but not limited to: criminal background screening, U.S. citizenship, state residency, physical and psychological health, age, and military discharge information. Similarly, employers in the industry may require drug screens as a condition to employment and/or continued employment. A criminal conviction and/or record of certain other conduct may prevent or hinder a graduate’s employment in the field. The enrolling applicant has been apprised of these matters and enrolls in this program with full understanding of the same.
NURSING
The Baccalaureate degree in Nursing, the Master's degree in Nursing, and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Mount Saint Mary College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) is an autonomous accrediting agency, contributing to the improvement of the public's health. CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. CCNE serves the public interest by assessing and identifying programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self‑regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self‑assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and post-baccalaureate nurse residency programs.
| States & Territories where Program Meet Licensing or Certification Requirements | States & Territories for which it has Not Been Determined if the Program Meets Licensing or Certification Requirements | |
| All MSMC Nursing Programs | New York State is currently not a compact license state for Registered Professional Nurses. However, The New York State Education Department grants licenses "by endorsement" to qualified clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses licensed in other states. | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, WI, WY |
EDUCATION
Mount Saint Mary College’s Education programs have been designed to meet the accreditation and licensure/certification requirements as well as prepare students to apply for licensure/certification exams in the State of New York. As a result, licensing/certification requirements in New York may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain licensure/certification in any other state.
| States & Territories where Program Meet Licensing or Certification Requirements | States & Territories for which it has Not Been Determined if the Program Meets Licensing or Certification Requirements | |
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NY | AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, VI, WA, WV, WI, WY |
Effective beginning July 1, 2025: SARA has no effect on state professional licensing requirements. Any institution approved to participate in SARA that offers courses or programs designed to lead to professional licensure or certification or advertised as leading to licensure must satisfy all federal requirements for disclosures regarding such professional licensure programs. For SARA purposes, these requirements will also apply to non-Title IV institutions and programs.
Source: SARA Policy Manual 24.2, Section 5.2
Complaint Resolution
- Is enrolled in a distance education program, and
- Resides in a state that participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), and
- Has completed the internal grievance process but believes the issue remains unresolved,
they may file a complaint through the SARA portal agency of Mount Saint Mary College’s home state:
New York State Education Department (NYSED)
Office of College and University Evaluation
89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 474-1551
Email: ocueinfo@nysed.gov
https://www.nysed.gov/college-university-evaluation/complaints
Additional Options
The United States Department of Education requires each institution of higher education to provide all prospective and current out-of-state students with the contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state. This information can be found at https://nc-sara.org/state-portal-entity-contacts.