NC-SARA Mission
The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, in collaboration with the four regional higher education compacts, was established to develop and implement an effective and efficient reciprocal state-level authorization process for postsecondary distance education. Its mission is to provide broad access to postsecondary education opportunities to students across the country, to increase the quality and value of higher learning credentials earned via distance education, and to assure students are well served in a rapidly changing education landscape.
On September 13, 2016, the New York State Board of Regents adopted new regulations requiring out-of-state institutions of higher education to seek and obtain New York State Education Department (NYSED) approval to offer distance education to New York State residents and to permit the Department to enter into the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). New York State joined SARA on December 9, 2016.
New York State institutions participating in SARA are authorized to conduct distance education activity in other SARA member states under the terms and provisions of SARA. Maria College is an institutional member of the Council for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). In addition to our institutional reporting process online program students may access an additional review process with New York State.
Maria College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and follows the complaint resolution policies outlined on the NC-SARA policies and procedures site. For students enrolled in fully online academic programs, who have exhausted Maria’s student grievance process, the student may choose to file a complaint with the Office of College and University Evaluation, New York State Education Department as outlined here. Students have two years to submit to this complaint process. Please note, this does not include complaints related to grades or student conduct violations, both of which are to be fully addressed via campus processes, not through the NC-SARA complaint resolution procedures.
Agree to Professional Licensure Disclosures
Maria College agrees to provide notifications to students related to professional licensure. Any institution approved to participate in SARA that offers courses or programs designed to lead to Professional Licensure or certification or advertised as leading to Licensure must satisfy all federal requirements for disclosures regarding such Professional Licensure programs under 34 CFR § 668.14 and § 668.43. For SARA purposes, these requirements will also apply to non-Title IV institutions. For SARA purposes, institutions that are unable, after all reasonable efforts, to determine whether a program will meet state professional licensure requirements shall provide the student or applicant with current contact information for any applicable licensing boards and advise the student or applicant to determine whether the program meets requirements for Licensure in the State where the student is located. Visit the NC-SARA Professional Licensure Directory. The following information is provided to assist prospective and current students in their research related to Professional Licensure Disclosures (34 CFR 668.43 – Institutional Information).
Practical Nursing – Certificate
Maria College’s Practical Nursing Certificate Program is accredited by the New York State Board of Regents, Office of the Professions. At the completion of the program, graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for practical nurse licensure. Maria College has made the following determinations regarding the program meeting specific state licensure or certification requirements:
| Meets (state abbreviations) | Does Not Meet | A Determination has not been made |
| NY | AL,AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA,HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME,MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
Registered Nursing – AAS
Maria College’s Registered Nursing AAS Program is registered by the New York State Education Department and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). At the completion of the program, graduates are eligible to write the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurse licensure. Maria College has made the following determinations regarding the program meeting specific state licensure or certification requirements:
| Meets (state abbreviations) | Does Not Meet | A Determination has not been made |
| NY | AL,AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA,HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME,MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
Occupational Therapy Assistant – AAS
Maria College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. At the completion of the program, graduates are eligible to write the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Maria College has made the following determinations regarding the program meeting specific state licensure or certification requirements:
| Meets (state abbreviations) | Does Not Meet | A Determination has not been made |
| NY | AL,AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA,HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME,MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
Occupational Therapist – MS
Maria College’s Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. At the completion of the program, graduates are eligible to write the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Maria College has made the following determinations regarding the program meeting specific state licensure or certification requirements:
| Meets (state abbreviations) | Does Not Meet | A Determination has not been made |
| NY | AL,AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA,HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME,MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY |
Student Location
Maria College will determine a student’s location at time of application, during which students provide their home or permanent address. Once a student is aware of a change to their address they must submit the online change of address form available on the College’s website within 45 days of the address change.