What is SARA?
“The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establish comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts (http://nc-sara.org/content/basic-questions-about-sara).”
What are my benefits as a student?
Expands access to educational offerings; Should lead to better resolution of complaints from students in SARA states; Reduces a rapidly growing institutional cost that is in one way or another passed along to students; Should enhance the overall quality of distance education (http://nc-sara.org/what-are-student-benefits).
Emory & Henry is an approved SARA institution.
SARA Requirements
For the purposes of SARA Emory & Henry defines distance education to include on-line didactic and off-site experiential activities (i.e., clinical experiences, fieldwork, clinical rotations) that occur outside of the state of Virginia.
Policy for Determination of Student Physical Location
The Registrar’s Office at Emory & Henry will identify all online courses and/or online programs and require each course and/or program director to verify the physical location state for each enrolled student in that course and/or program. This information will be reported to the primary NC-SARA coordinator at the University. Each enrolled student will be responsible for notifying the course and/or program director of any changes in their physical location state while enrolled in the course and/or program. For each online program, this information will be verified at the time of enrollment and when the student notifies the program director of a change in their location.
Emory & Henry complies with all SARA requirements including the following:
Emory & Henry has a student complaint resolution process, including but not limited to, acceptance of the State Council for Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) oversight in resolving complaints from students taking distance education under the aegis of SARA. Read our student complaint resolution process.
Emory & Henry understands and accepts the scope of authorization provided under SARA according to the NC-SARA document. See NC-SARA website for policies and manual. The institution accepts oversight from SCHEV in all matters related to SARA.
The Academic Continuity of Operations Plan (ACOP) provides actionable strategies to sustain continual instruction and expected academic operations during emergencies such as Severe Weather, Medical Crisis, Criminal Activity, Fire, Earthquakes, Hazardous Materials, etc. The ACOP establishes policy and guidance ensuring that critical functions (Instructional Continuity, Financial Refund, and Records Protection, etc.) continue during catastrophic or emergent situations.
Licensure Disclosures
Each state and territory has different professional licensure and certification requirements. Faculty and administrators in Emory & Henry’s academic programs leading to professional licensure provide information to students regarding licensure requirements through the program’s curriculum and advising. Other licensure requirements may include professional examinations, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting requirements, etc. Students who are considering an academic program that may allow them to pursue professional licensure in their state or territory are strongly encouraged to contact each program directly and to contact the appropriate licensing agency to seek information and additional guidance before beginning a program outside of their state.
Potential Changes in Requirements
Students who plan to pursue licensure outside of Virginia should be aware that state licensure requirements are subject to changes. While a program may originally meet the educational requirements for licensure, changes in requirements could impact the program’s ability to meet any new educational requirements. Students should always check with their state licensure board to confirm licensure requirements.
Emory & Henry Programs That Lead to Licensure Links:
- Education Department
- Department of Occupational Therapy
- Department of Physical Therapy
- Department of Physician Assistant Studies
- School of Nursing
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Emory & Henry School of Health Sciences Entry-level Doctorate (OTD) Program is Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE is located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The Entry Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
State | Disclosure | Relevant Link(s) | Additional Information |
Alabama | Meets Requirements | ||
Alaska | Meets Requirements | ||
Arizona | Meets Requirements | ||
Arkansas | Meets Requirements | ||
California | Meets Requirements | ||
Colorado | Meets Requirements | ||
Connecticut | Meets Requirements | ||
Delaware | Meets Requirements | ||
District of Columbia | Meets Requirements | ||
Florida | Meets Requirements | ||
Georgia | Meets Requirements | ||
Hawaii | Meets Requirements | ||
Idaho | Meets Requirements | ||
Illinois | Meets Requirements | ||
Indiana | Meets Requirements | ||
Iowa | Meets Requirements | ||
Kansas | Meets Requirements | ||
Kentucky | Meets Requirements | ||
Louisiana | Meets Requirements | ||
Maine | Meets Requirements | ||
Maryland | Meets Requirements | ||
Massachusetts | Meets Requirements | ||
Michigan | Meets Requirements | ||
Minnesota | Meets Requirements | ||
Mississippi | Meets Requirements | ||
Missouri | Meets Requirements | ||
Montana | Meets Requirements | ||
Nebraska | Meets Requirements | ||
Nevada | Meets Requirements | ||
New Hampshire | Meets Requirements | ||
New Jersey | Meets Requirements | ||
New Mexico | Meets Requirements | ||
New York | Meets Requirements | ||
North Carolina | Meets Requirements | ||
North Dakota | Meets Requirements | ||
Ohio | Meets Requirements | ||
Oklahoma | Meets Requirements | ||
Oregon | Meets Requirements | ||
Pennsylvania | Meets Requirements | ||
Rhode Island | Meets Requirements | ||
South Carolina | Meets Requirements | ||
South Dakota | Meets Requirements | ||
Tennessee | Meets Requirements | ||
Texas | Meets Requirements | ||
Utah | Meets Requirements | ||
Vermont | Meets Requirements | ||
Virginia | Meets Requirements | ||
Washington | Meets Requirements | ||
West Virginia | Meets Requirements | ||
Wisconsin | Meets Requirements | ||
Wyoming | Meets Requirements | ||
American Samoa | Not able to Determine |
|
OT is not regulated in this area. |
Puerto Rico | Meets Requirements |
|
|
Guam | Not able to Determine | ||
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Not able to Determine |
|
OT is not regulated in this area. |
The Emory and Henry Master of Physician Assistant Program has been granted Accreditation-Continued status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Our graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
State | Disclosure | Relevant Links | Additional Information |
Alabama | Meets Requirements | Alabama PA Board |
|
Alaska | Meets Requirements | Alaska PA Board | |
Arizona | Meets Requirements | Arizona PA Board | |
Arkansas | Meets Requirements | Arkansas PA Board | |
California | Meets Requirements | California PA Board | |
Colorado | Meets Requirements | Colorado PA Board | |
Connecticut | Meets Requirements | Connecticut PA Board | |
Delaware | Meets Requirements | Delaware PA Board | |
District of Columbia | Meets Requirements | DC PA Board | |
Florida | Meets Requirements | Florida PA Board | |
Georgia | Meets Requirements | Georgia PA Board | |
Hawaii | Meets Requirements | Hawaii PA Board | |
Idaho | Meets Requirements | Idaho PA Board | |
Illinois | Meets Requirements | Illinois PA Board | |
Indiana | Meets Requirements | Indiana PA Board | |
Iowa | Meets Requirements | Iowa PA Board | |
Kansas | Meets Requirements | Kansas PA Board | |
Kentucky | Meets Requirements | Kentucky PA Board | |
Louisiana | Meets Requirements | Louisiana PA Board | |
Maine | Meets Requirements | Maine PA Board | |
Maryland | Meets Requirements | Maryland PA Board | |
Massachusetts | Meets Requirements | MA PA Board | |
Michigan | Meets Requirements | Michigan PA Board | |
Minnesota | Meets Requirements | Minnesota PA Board | |
Mississippi | Meets Requirements | MS PA Board | |
Missouri | Meets Requirements | MO PA Board | |
Montana | Meets Requirements | Montana PA Board | |
Nebraska | Meets Requirements | Nebraska PA Board | |
Nevada | Meets Requirements | Nevada PA Board | |
New Hampshire | Meets Requirements | NH PA Board | |
New Jersey | Meets Requirements | NJ PA Board | |
New Mexico | Meets Requirements | New Mexico PA Board | |
New York | Meets Requirements | New York PA Board | |
North Carolina | Meets Requirements | NC PA Board | |
North Dakota | Meets Requirements | ND PA Board | |
Ohio | Meets Requirements | Ohio PA Board | |
Oklahoma | Meets Requirements | OK PA Board | |
Oregon | Meets Requirements | Oregon PA Board | |
Pennsylvania | Meets Requirements | PA PA Board | |
Rhode Island | Meets Requirements | RI PA Board | |
South Carolina | Meets Requirements | SC PA Board | |
South Dakota | Meets Requirements | SD PA Board | |
Tennessee | Meets Requirements | TN PA Board | |
Texas | Meets Requirements | Texas PA Board | |
Utah | Meets Requirements | Utah PA Board | |
Vermont | Meets Requirements | Vermont PA Board | |
Virginia | Meets Requirements | VA PA Board | |
Washington | Meets Requirements | WA PA Board | |
West Virginia | Meets Requirements | WV PA Board | |
Wisconsin | Meets Requirements | WI PA Board | |
Wyoming | Meets Requirements | WY PA Board | |
American Samoa | Meets Requirements | Licensure Information | |
Puerto Rico | Not able to Determine | Licensure Information | |
Guam | Meets Requirements | Licensure Information | |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Meets Requirements | Licensure Information | |
U.S. Virgin Islands | Meets Requirements | Licensure Information |
Graduation from a physical therapy education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
The Physical Therapy Program at Emory & Henry is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.
States | Disclosure | Relevant Links | Additional Information |
Alabama | Meets Requirements | Alabama PT Board | |
Alaska | Meets Requirements | Alaska PT Board | |
Arizona | Meets Requirements | Arizona PT Board | |
Arkansas | Meets Requirements | Arkansas PT Board | |
California | Meets Requirements | California PT Board | |
Colorado | Meets Requirements | Colorado PT Board | |
Connecticut | Meets Requirements | Connecticut PT Board | |
Delaware | Meets Requirements | Delaware PT Board | |
District of Columbia | Meets Requirements | DC PT Board | |
Florida | Meets Requirements | Florida PT Board | |
Georgia | Meets Requirements | Georgia PT Board | |
Hawaii | Meets Requirements | Hawaii PT Board | |
Idaho | Meets Requirements | Idaho PT Board | |
Illinois | Meets Requirements | Illinois PT Board | |
Indiana | Meets Requirements | Indiana PT Board | |
Iowa | Meets Requirements | Iowa PT Board | |
Kansas | Meets Requirements | Kansas PT Board | |
Kentucky | Meets Requirements | Kentucky PT Board | |
Louisiana | Meets Requirements | Louisiana PT Board | |
Maine | Meets Requirements | Maine PT Board | |
Maryland | Meets Requirements | Maryland PT Board | |
Massachusetts | Meets Requirements | Massachusetts PT Board | |
Michigan | Meets Requirements | Michigan PT Board | |
Minnesota | Meets Requirements | Minnesota PT Board | |
Mississippi | Meets Requirements | Mississippi PT Board | |
Missouri | Meets Requirements | Missouri PT Board | |
Montana | Meets Requirements | Montana PT Board | |
Nebraska | Meets Requirements | Nebraska PT Board | |
Nevada | Meets Requirements | Nevada PT Board | |
New Hampshire | Meets Requirements | NH PT Board | |
New Jersey | Meets Requirements | New Jersey PT Board | |
New Mexico | Meets Requirements | New Mexico PT Board | |
New York | Meets Requirements | New York PT Board | |
North Carolina | Meets Requirements | NC PT Board | |
North Dakota | Meets Requirements | ND PT Board | |
Ohio | Meets Requirements | Ohio PT Board | |
Oklahoma | Meets Requirements | Oklahoma PT Board | |
Oregon | Meets Requirements | Oregon PT Board | |
Pennsylvania | Meets Requirements | PA PT Board | |
Rhode Island | Meets Requirements | RI PT Board | |
South Carolina | Meets Requirements | SC PT Board | |
South Dakota | Meets Requirements | SD PT Board | |
Tennessee | Meets Requirements | Tennessee PT Board | |
Texas | Meets Requirements | Texas PT Board | |
Utah | Meets Requirements | Utah PT Board | |
Vermont | Meets Requirements | Vermont PT Board | |
Virginia | Meets Requirements | Virginia PT Board | |
Washington | Meets Requirements | Washington PT Board | |
West Virginia | Meets Requirements | WV PT Board | |
Wisconsin | Meets Requirements | Wisconsin PT Board | |
Wyoming | Meets Requirements | Wyoming PT Board | |
American Samoa | Unable to Determine | ||
Puerto Rico | Meets Requirements to pursue licensure | ||
Guam | Unable to Determine | Licensure Information | |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Unable to Determine | Licensure Information | |
U.S. Virgin Islands | Meets Requirements to pursue licensure | Licensure Information |
Regulatory requirements governing student clinical vary by state and are subject to change. Clinical experiences and pre-licensure outside of VIrginia is contingent upon approval by the appropriate regulatory bodies and will be evaluated on an individual basis upon admission to the program.
The School of Nursing has determined that its Bachelor’s in Science in Nursing (BSN) program curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The RN-BSN program has been granted approval to offer the online RN-BSN program to Tennessee residents by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.
Students with questions about licensure and clinical experiences outside VA should contact the appropriate licensing agency in the state of interest (Contact a U.S. State Board of Nursing| NCSBN). Each State Board of Nursing can be found on the website for the National Council State Boards of Nursing. (www.ncsbn.org).
The Emory & Henry Education Program is nationally accredited by the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) which is now overseen by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). We offer initial licensure areas in two options, the undergraduate (4-year) and the Five-year (B.A. or B.S. plus M.A.Ed in Professional Studies).
State | Disclosure | Relevant Link(s) |
Alabama | Not able to Determine | |
Alaska | Not able to Determine | |
Arizona | Not able to Determine | |
Arkansas | Not able to Determine | |
California | Not able to Determine | |
Colorado | Not able to Determine | |
Connecticut | Not able to Determine | |
Delaware | Not able to Determine | |
District of Columbia | Not able to Determine | District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education |
Florida | Not able to Determine | |
Georgia | Not able to Determine | |
Hawaii | Not able to Determine | |
Idaho | Not able to Determine | |
Illinois | Not able to Determine | |
Indiana | Not able to Determine | |
Iowa | Not able to Determine | |
Kansas | Not able to Determine | Kansas DOE |
Kentucky | Not able to Determine | |
Louisiana | Not able to Determine | |
Maine | Not able to Determine | |
Maryland | Not able to Determine | |
Massachusetts | Not able to Determine | Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education |
Michigan | Not able to Determine | |
Minnesota | Not able to Determine | Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board |
Mississippi | Not able to Determine | |
Missouri | Not able to Determine | |
Montana | Not able to Determine | |
Nebraska | Not able to Determine | |
Nevada | Not able to Determine | |
New Hampshire | Not able to Determine | New Hampshire DOE |
New Jersey | Not able to Determine | |
New Mexico | Not able to Determine | New Mexico Public Education Department, licensureunit@state.nm.us |
New York | Not able to Determine | |
North Carolina | Not able to Determine | |
North Dakota | Not able to Determine | |
Ohio | Not able to Determine | |
Oklahoma | Not able to Determine | |
Oregon | Not able to Determine | |
Pennsylvania | Not able to Determine | |
Rhode Island | Not able to Determine | |
South Carolina | Not able to Determine | |
South Dakota | Not able to Determine | |
Tennessee | Not able to Determine | |
Texas | Not able to Determine | |
Utah | Not able to Determine | |
Vermont | Not able to Determine | |
Virginia | Meets Requirements | |
Washington | Not able to Determine | |
West Virginia | Not able to Determine | |
Wisconsin | Not able to Determine | |
Wyoming | Not able to Determine | |
American Samoa | Not able to Determine | |
Puerto Rico | Not able to Determine | |
Guam | Not able to Determine | |
Virgin Islands | Not able to Determine | |
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Not able to Determine | Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Public School System |
Republic of the Marshall Islands | Not able to Determine | |
Federated States of Micronesia | Not able to Determine | |
Republic of Palau National Government | Not able to Determine |
The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Health Professions Board of Counseling is the state agency that determines licensure for professional counselors in Virginia. The state of Virginia requires that the applicant for licensure shall have completed 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of graduate study in the following core areas, with a minimum of 3 semester hours or 4.5 quarter hours in each of the areas identified as follows:
- Professional identity, function and ethics;
- Theories of counseling and psychotherapy;
- Counseling and psychotherapy techniques;
- Human growth and development;
- Group counseling and psychotherapy, theories and techniques;
- Career counseling and development theories and techniques;
- Appraisal, evaluation and diagnostic procedures;
- Abnormal behavior and psychopathology;
- Multicultural counseling, theories and techniques;
- Research;
- Diagnosis and treatment of addictive disorders;
- Marriage and family systems theory; and
- Supervised internship of 600 hours to include 240 hours of face-to-face client contact.
Our department has identified courses which may be taken to satisfy the core areas listed above. Students wishing to pursue licensure in Virginia should consult with their advisor in planning their program of study.
State | Disclosure | Relevant Link(s) | Additional Information |
Alabama | Meets Requirements | Alabama Board | |
Alaska | Meets Requirements | Alaska Board | |
Arizona | Meets Requirements | Arizona Board | |
Arkansas | Does Not Meet Requirements | Arkansas Board | Need one credit course in “Use of Technology in Counseling” |
California | Does Not Meet Requirements | California Board | Need three credit course in “Psychopharmacology” |
Colorado | Meets Requirements | Colorado Board | |
Connecticut | Meets Requirements | Connecticut Board | |
Delaware | Meets Requirements | Delaware Board | |
District of Columbia | Meets Requirements | DC Board | |
Florida | Does Not Meet Requirements | Florida Board | Need one three credit course in “Human Sexuality” |
Georgia | Meets Requirements | Georgia Board | |
Hawaii | Meets Requirements | Hawaii Board | |
Idaho | Meets Requirements | Idaho Board | |
Illinois | Meets Requirements | Illinois Board | |
Indiana | Meets Requirements | Indiana Board | |
Iowa | Meets Requirements | Iowa Board | |
Kansas | Meets Requirements | Kansas Board | |
Kentucky | Meets Requirements | Kentucky Board | |
Louisiana | Meets Requirements | Louisiana Board | |
Maine | Meets Requirements | Maine Board | |
Maryland | Meets Requirements | Maryland Board | |
Massachusetts | Meets Requirements | Massachusetts Board | |
Michigan | Meets Requirements | Michigan Licensure Information | |
Minnesota | Meets Requirements | Minnesota Board | |
Mississippi | Meets Requirements | Mississippi Board | |
Missouri | Meets Requirements | Missouri Board | |
Montana | Meets Requirements | Montana Board | |
Nebraska | Meets Requirements | Nebraska Licensure Information | |
Nevada | Meets Requirements | Nevada Board | |
New Hampshire | Meets Requirements | NH Board | |
New Jersey | Meets Requirements | New Jersey Board | |
New Mexico | Meets Requirements | NM Board | |
New York | Meets Requirements | New York Board | |
North Carolina | Meets Requirements | NC Board | |
North Dakota | Meets Requirements | ND Board | |
Ohio | Does Not Meet Requirements | Ohio Board | Need a 3 credit course in Methods of Intervention & Prevention of Mental Health |
Oklahoma | Meets Requirements | Oklahoma Board | |
Oregon | Meets Requirements | Oregon Board | |
Pennsylvania | Unable to Determine | Pennsylvania Board | |
Rhode Island | Meets Requirements | RI Board | |
South Carolina | Meets Requirements | SC Board | |
South Dakota | Meets Requirements | SD Board | |
Tennessee | Meets Requirements | Tennessee Board | |
Texas | Does Not Meet Requirements | Texas Board | Need an additional 3 credit course in Ethics |
Utah | Meets Requirements | Utah Board | |
Vermont | Meets Requirements | Vermont Licensure Information | |
Virginia | Meets Requirements | Virginia Board | |
Washington | Meets Requirements | Washington Board | |
West Virginia | Meets Requirements | WV Board | |
Wisconsin | Does Not Meet Requirements | Wisconsin Board | Need a 3 credit course in Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling |
Wyoming | Meets Requirements | Wyoming Board | |
Puerto Rico | Unable to Determine | Puerto Rico Licensure Information |