This page contains information concerning State Authorizations, State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), Professional Licensure Disclosure Statements.
State Authorization Compliance
Federal and state regulations require that all institutions of higher education comply with existing state laws regarding distance learning. As these regulations continuously evolve, the University of West Florida makes every effort to maintain compliance so we can deliver as many of our fully online programs to students in as many states as possible.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative to provide more access to online courses while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies. SARA allows institutions to provide online courses outside of their own state borders by seeking and maintaining state approvals via a streamlined process. To learn more about SARA, please visit:nc-sara.org
In October 2017, the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) approved the State of Florida to join SARA. On December 14, 2017, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) approved institutional participation for the University of West Florida. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education.
Current authorized SARA member includes all states except California, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Please visit the Individual State + drop down box below for more information about any state.
Institutional Authorization and Consumer Complaints
Regulations associated with federal student financial aid program include the following requirements. "The institution must make available for review to any enrolled or prospective student upon request, a copy of the documents describing the institution's accreditation and its State, Federal, or tribal approval or licensing. The institution must also provide its students or prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accreditor and with its State approval or licensing entity and any other relevant State official or agency that would appropriately handle a student’s complaint." The following paragraphs and links fulfill these obligations.
UWF desires to resolve student grievances, complaints and concerns in an expeditious, fair and amicable manner. Complaints regarding any aspect of UWF operations should be filed internally to UWF authorities first and then, if necessary, to external authorities. Contact information for filing complaints is provided below:
UWF Information and Contacts for Complaints
Any student with a complaint must first go through the university complaint process. Please begin by reviewing the information in the UWF Student Handbook paying particular attention to the Student Grievance Process beginning on page 62. In addition to the Student Handbook, please review the information on theUWF Student Complaints website.
Distance Education Students
If you have completed the internal institutional grievance process and the applicable state grievance process, you may appeal non‐instructional complaints to the FL‐SARA PRDEC Council. For additional information on the complaint process, please visit theFL‐SARA Complaint Process page.
If a student located in a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) state has a complaint about an institution operating under SARA, complaints must first go through the institution's procedure for resolution of student grievances. If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process, the complaint may then be brought to the SARA portal agency in the institution’s home state. The state SARA portal agency where the student is located may also resolve the complaint.
From the list of the states below, please select the state where you will reside while you complete an online program at UWF. Here you will find information regarding State Licensing Boards and the Student Complaint process in states other than Florida.
Professional Licensure Disclosure Statement
Compliance with NC-SARA Does Not provide authorization or approval for UWF to offer online programs that lead to a professional license or certification (nursing, education, psychology, etc.) to students residing in states other than Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure, UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida.
Note
Currently, UWF cannot confirm whether a particular UWF program meets requirements for professional licensure or certification outside the State of Florida.
We are beginning the process of coordinating with state licensing boards. If you are seeking admittance to a program whose licensure is not yet confirmed or cannot be confirmed in your state, UWF will send you an email notification and information for the Point of Contact for your academic program of interest and the licensure board in your state. Once licensure confirmation is received from a specific board in a state, it will be clearly listed by state in the + Drop Down menu below.
UWF is authorized to operate in Alabama under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) on December 14, 2017.
Professional Board Licensure
All applicable UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements.
The RN-BSN, MSN Education track, MSN Executive track at the University of West Florida are not designed to meet any specific licensure/certification requirements. Students seeking any certifications in nursing should review the requirements for such certification and contact the agency for eligibility requirements.
Teacher Education: State authorization to provide a program related to the preparation of teachers or other P-12 school/system personnel does not indicate eligibility for an Alabama certificate. Prospective Alabama students are advised to contact the Alabama State Superintendent of Education. Applicants for an Alabama certificate based on reciprocity must meet Alabama’s test requirements and submit a valid, renewable professional educator certificate/license issued by another state at the degree level, grade level, and in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which an Alabama certificate is sought and for which Alabama issues a certificate. Applicants for Alabama certification in an area of administration must also document at least three years of full-time employment as an administrator in a P-12 school system(s).
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education UWF is authorized to operate in Alaska under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) on December 14, 2017.
Professional Board Licensure
All applicable UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements.
The RN-BSN, MSN Education track, MSN Executive track at the University of West Florida are not designed to meet any specific licensure/certification requirements. Students seeking any certifications in nursing should review the requirements for such certification and contact the agency for eligibility requirements.
UWF is authorized to operate in Arizona under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) on December 14, 2017.
Professional Board Licensure
All applicable UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements.
The RN-BSN, MSN Education track, MSN Executive track at the University of West Florida are not designed to meet any specific licensure/certification requirements. Students seeking any certifications in nursing should review the requirements for such certification and contact the agency for eligibility requirements.
UWF is authorized to operate in Arkansas under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) on December 14, 2017.
Professional Board Licensure
All applicable UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements.
The RN-BSN, MSN Education track, MSN Executive track at the University of West Florida are not designed to meet any specific licensure/certification requirements. Students seeking any certifications in nursing should review the requirements for such certification and contact the agency for eligibility requirements.
California is not a SARA state but currently has no state authorization restriction for regionally accredited public institutions like UWF. Therefore, UWF can offer all distance education programs, courses and certificates in California.
All applicable UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements.
The RN-BSN, MSN Education track, MSN Executive track at the University of West Florida are not designed to meet any specific licensure/certification requirements. Students seeking any certifications in nursing should review the requirements for such certification and contact the agency for eligibility requirements.
UWF is authorized to operate in Colorado under the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) on December 14, 2017.
Professional Board Licensure
All applicable UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations regarding distance education and professional licensure UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements.
The RN-BSN, MSN Education track, MSN Executive track at the University of West Florida are not designed to meet any specific licensure/certification requirements. Students seeking any certifications in nursing should review the requirements for such certification and contact the agency for eligibility requirements.
