State Authorization

The State Authorization Regulation 
Chapter 34, § 600.9(c)

If an institution is offering postsecondary education through distance or correspondence education to students in a State in which it is not physically located or in which it is otherwise subject to State jurisdiction as determined by the State, the institution must meet any State requirements for it to be legally offering postsecondary distance or correspondence education in that State. An institution must be able to document to the Secretary the State’s approval upon request.

State Authorization Reciprocal Agreement

WSU is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocal Agreement (SARA) and can deliver distance education to students in any SARA member state, but may not be authorized to deliver education, or educational components in some non-member states.

  • California is the only non-SARA state but does not prohibit WSU from delivering distance education courses to California residents.
  • Louisiana is a SARA state, but restricts programs/courses which place 10 or more students in clinical experiences, involve multi-year contracts between WSU and a LA field site, or provide Teacher Education and/or Educational Leader components.
  • Maryland is a SARA state, but restricts programs/courses which place more than 10 students simultaneously in the field (i.e., internships, clinical experiences, practicum, etc.).