State Authorization and La Salle’s Online Programs for Prospective and Current Online Students
La Salle is committed to offering online programs to a geographically diverse population of students. In order to do so, La Salle must be authorized, where necessary and applicable, to offer online education to students residing outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (referred to as “SARA”) and La Salle University is an approved SARA institution. SARA is a voluntary, interstate reciprocity agreement that allows institutions to offer postsecondary distance education (online programs) in other SARA-member states if the institutions conform to the standards and requirements of SARA. For information on SARA, visit http://www.nc-sara.org.
La Salle University became a member of SARA, through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on February 17, 2017. Currently all states in the U.S. are members of NC-SARA except for California. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are also members. The full listing of member states and member institutions is located at http://www.nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions.
While SARA makes it possible for La Salle to offer programs in SARA-member states, La Salle reserves the right to decline the offering of online programs in any SARA-member state for any reason. Additionally, certain enrollment restrictions may apply to programs offered by the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, given the requirements of and relationships with the state boards of nursing, as described in more detail below.
All students and prospective students residing outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, who are considering an online program for the purpose of obtaining or leading to licensure in their home state, are strongly advised to contact the licensing board of their home state to determine any restrictions in the La Salle online programs that could affect licensure in their home state. Educational and professional requirements and qualifications vary by state and country, and it is the student’s responsibility to seek the appropriate guidance before beginning any academic program. Examples include not being able to sit for local licensing in your home state, being ineligible for consumer protection, or not being permitted to complete field placements necessary for graduation or licensure.
If you are considering an online academic program that leads to a professional license, you are strongly urged to contact the appropriate licensing agency where you plan to practice before beginning your academic program.
For students who are considering or are enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner or the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner online programs, which are offered through the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, the university is authorized in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The university is not authorized in New York. For other states and programs contact information for all states can be found at the site below, however students are responsible for contacting the appropriate licensing boards in their home state to confirm whether the La Salle programs will meet the requirements for licensure in their state.
The La Salle Nursing Program partners with students to secure clinical experiences required for their academic program. Students who are planning to undertake field experiences outside of Pennsylvania should also be aware of the requirements of the state in which the field experience will occur. Any associated delays in the securing of these assignments could potentially postpone associated coursework, and delay progression through program or obtaining your degree. Please contact a program administrator before beginning your academic program to begin the process of securing field experience in your home state.
Prospective or current students who plan to relocate while enrolled in an online program should discuss their plans with a La Salle program administrator to assess any potential impact on their course of study. Students who relocate to a state or country in which their respective program is not currently authorized or have additional licensing or field experience requirements may experience a delay in their studies or may not be able to complete the program in which they initially enrolled. It is a student’s responsibility to seek guidance from a program administrator prior to relocation.