State Authorization and Program Availability
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Located Outside Kentucky or Plan to Be During Your Program?
The University of Louisville (UofL) offers many programs that can be completed fully online or include learning placements such as internships, clinicals or student teaching. Because these activities may occur across state lines, it is important to understand how state authorization works and what it may mean for your program - especially if you live outside Kentucky or plan to complete experiential learning in another state.
Program availability and placement approval can vary by both state and program type, even though UofL as an institution is authorized through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).
Thinking about relocating? Check with your program BEFORE moving. State licensure and authorization restrictions can affect your ability to continue in the program.
What Is SARA?
SARA allows member states and participating institutions to offer distance education in other member states and U.S. territories so long as the institution adheres to SARA's quality and consumer protection standards. Member states include all U.S. states (except California), as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Although California is not a SARA member, UofL can offer programs to students located in California without seeking additional institutional authorization. More information on SARA can be found by visiting nc-sara.org.
SARA is an institutional approval
While UofL, as a university, can offer distance education in SARA member states, individual programs may still be fully or partially restricted because:
- State licensing boards may require separate program approvals.
- Some state agencies or boards require fees, insurance, registration or other conditions that may impact placement availability.
These restrictions particularly affect programs in licensed fields such as nursing, teaching and counseling.
What this means for students
Regardless of your field of study, if your program includes a supervised field experience and you plan to complete it outside Kentucky, you should:
- Review the Current Restrictions or Additional Requirements section below.
- Confirm with your program that placements are permitted where you plan to complete them.
- Let your program know BEFORE you relocate – state authorization and approval is based on the state where you are physically located while enrolled in the program.
Program‑ and state‑specific restrictions may affect what opportunities are available to you.
Current Restrictions or Additional Requirements
These states require program‑level authorization that UofL does not currently hold, or a placement approval process or fees:
- Alabama – UofL is not offering nursing placements due to required state fees.
- Louisiana – Nursing placements are not authorized.
- Mississippi – Most nursing placements are not approved; however, the RN‑to‑BSN practicum is allowed because it does not use assigned preceptors.
- Tennessee – UofL cannot offer the online RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program or the online Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership to students located in Tennessee.
- Washington – Nursing placements are not authorized.
These states require program‑level authorization that UofL does not currently hold, or a placement approval process or fees:
- Alaska – Student teachers serving in Alaska public schools must receive authorization from the Teacher Certification Office; it is unclear whether this also applies for the school counseling practicum that is required for this program.
- California – The school counseling practicum must be completed OUTSIDE of California.
- Georgia – A pre-service teaching certificate is required BEFORE placement in Georgia; it is unclear whether this also applies for the school counseling practicum that is required for this program.
- Hawaii – The school counseling practicum must be completed OUTSIDE of Hawaii.
- Kansas – Kansas requires a Student Teaching Certificate in order to complete student teaching; it is unclear whether this also applies for the school counseling practicum that is required for this program.
- New Hampshire – The New Hampshire Department of Labor requires a two-step registration process for unpaid/sub-minimum wage placements; please review the additional information provided in the State-Specific Restrictions or Requirements section.
- Pennsylvania – Before placing a student in Pennsylvania for the school counseling practicum, the program must confirm whether the Pennsylvania Department of Education must be notified about the placement.
- South Carolina – Students enrolled in an approved educator preparation program who seek to complete the student teaching or clinical experience requirement in a South Carolina public school must apply for and receive clearance through the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE). This requirement applies to all individuals seeking a student teaching or clinical experience placement in a South Carolina public school, regardless of whether the educator preparation program is located in South Carolina or out-of-state. A non-refundable application processing fee of $105 is required.
- Tennessee – The school counseling practicum must be completed OUTSIDE of Tennessee.
- Washington – Washington requires a pre-residency clearance for out-of-state students; it is unclear whether this also applies for the school counseling practicum that is required for this program.
- West Virginia – A form is required for out-of-state programs placing a student in West Virginia; it is unclear whether this also applies for the school counseling practicum that is required for this program.
All of our online teacher certification programs are designed specifically to align with Kentucky certification requirements for the supervised student teaching or culminating clinical experience. Students in these programs are required to complete their student teaching or clinical experience at an approved location in Kentucky. If you are located in Indiana, please contact the program director to discuss possible arrangements to complete culminating experiences in Southern Indiana before enrolling in the program.
Colorado: Per Colorado Statute, students completing field placements in Colorado must have workers' compensation insurance. The only exception is for student teachers, who are covered by the school district. The University of Louisville’s insurance has an endorsement for Colorado, ensuring unpaid field placement students are covered for workers’ compensation. Please contact deregs@louisville.edu if your placement requires proof of insurance.
New Hampshire: New Hampshire’s Department of Labor requires that internships, job shadowing or mentor programs be approved by the Labor Commissioner if a student is working for practical experience and is either unpaid or paid at a sub-minimum rate. Due to this requirement, the University of Louisville may not be able to offer field placements in New Hampshire without sufficient advanced notice. Please contact deregs@louisville.edu if you need assistance with the two-step registration process.
New York: Clinical placements in New York’s licensed professions may require prior approval or exemption from the New York State Office of Professions. For additional information contact the Office of Professions at opprogs@nysed.gov. UofL has confirmed that it may offer online RN-BSN and online social work placements in New York.
The University of Louisville is currently researching approval requirements for offering online programs to individuals located in American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Therefore, we are unable to offer online programs in these locations at this time.
View Licensure Information for Online Programs
Find resources to help determine whether our programs meet educational requirements for licensure in other U.S. states and territories.