University of North Carolina Pembroke is required to comply with other states’ laws regarding the delivery of online programs and courses.
State authorization is a legal issue regarding an educational institution’s adherence to the requirements necessary to secure authorization to offer instruction and other educational endeavors outside of their home state. Every state has the authority to regulate which postsecondary institutions offer education within its boundaries, including online programs and courses. State authorization compliance is a federal regulatory program (Higher Education Act of 2008, Amended 2010) that requires all institutions of higher education, as a condition of receiving funding for federal financial aid, to be authorized in and by each state in which they offer educational activities.
Educational activities include:
Notice for Students Outside the State of North Carolina
Admission of applicants located outside the state of North Carolina to an online degree or certificate program or individual online course offered by UNC Pembroke is dependent upon UNC Pembroke's ability to secure authorization from the applicant's state of location, if such authorization is required.
UNC Pembroke has been approved by the state of North Carolina to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Institutions that are members of NC-SARA are authorized to provide online education to students from all NC-SARA member states. Forty-nine states (all except California) currently participate in NC-SARA. NC-SARA operates under the authority of four regional education compacts: the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, the New England Board of Higher Education, the Southern Regional Board and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. North Carolina is one of 16 states in the Southern Regional Board compact.
Please visit NC-SARA for more information regarding state and institutional membership.
Institutional and Professional Licensure Disclosure Information for Enrolled and Prospective Students: UNC Pembroke's degree programs meet the professional licensure and/or certification requirements for North Carolina and prepare students to sit for exams. However, requirements for other states may differ. If you are considering a degree program that may, would, could or potentially lead to a professional license and/or certification, please note that UNC Pembroke may or may not be able to advise whether a program meets the educational requirements for states other than North Carolina. Prior to enrolling in a degree program, please discuss this important topic with the director of your program of interest.
NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensure requirements. As a result, licensing and certification requirements in North Carolina may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license or certification in any other state.
UNC Pembroke cannot determine the applicability of program coursework to satisfy licensing requirements outside of North Carolina. Our programs and coursework are designed to meet the license and certification requirements of entities within North Carolina. Therefore, the School of Education only accepts in-state students for the initial licensure programs.
A student's ability to participate in an internship, clinical, or other field experience depends on the individual state's authorization requirements and UNC Pembroke's authorization status with that state.
Before engaging in any internship, clinical or other field experience outside of North Carolina, please check to see if UNC Pembroke is authorized for such experiences in that state.
