State Authorization

CSU Pueblo has been approved by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) through the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education. Through CSU Pueblo’s voluntary participation in NC-SARA, the institution is able to deliver educational experiences outside of Colorado. SARA oversight includes distance education, out-of-state placements, professional licensure, and consumer protection. Additional details follow and are also available in the SARA Policy Manual.

Distance education is defined as instruction offered by any means where the student and faculty member are in separate physical locations. It includes, but is not limited to, online, interactive video, and correspondence courses or programs (Sara Policy Manual, pg. 11). Institutions participating in SARA report the number of exclusively distance education students enrolled, disaggregated by state, territory, or district in which the learning activity is taking place. This includes both degree and non-degree for-credit courses. These data are reported annually to NC-SARA in the spring and include the previous fall’s enrollment data, which institutions have reported to the federal government’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).

Out-of-State Learning Placements include, but are not limited to, clinical rotations, internships, or student teaching offered by CSU Pueblo outside of Colorado. Institutions participating in SARA annually report the numbers of their students participating in learning placements disaggregated by state, territory, or district and the two-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes as assigned by the U.S. Department of Education.

Professional Licensure is defined a process of State or other governmental entities that establishes standards of practice and gives legal permission to practice a profession by providing licenses or certifications to individuals who meet those standards (Sara Policy Manual, pg. 12). Students who successfully complete a licensure preparation program at CSU Pueblo will be prepared to pursue licensure in Colorado.

CSU Pueblo has not yet determined whether our programs meet the requirements of other states and territories for licensure/certification. However, the licensing/certifying bodies for each state/territory are provided in this report to help you evaluate the fitness of each program for the state/territory in which you plan to practice. More information is coming soon. 

Students are strongly encouraged to work with the academic department and the applicable professional licensure board in the state in which they intend to pursue licensing prior to enrollment at CSU Pueblo to ensure all licensure requirements are satisfactorily met. To assist, NC-SARA created and maintains a current Professional Licensure Directory and a list of specialized accrediting agencies that can provide guidance on professional licensure.