State authorization is a longstanding requirement in the Higher Education Act of 1965 that requires institutions to be authorized in the state in which they are located as a condition for eligibility to receive Title IV Federal Student Aid. While all higher education institutions must have state authorization in the states in which they are physically located, there are no federal requirements for distance education providers in states where the institutions are not located.
States expect institutions to obtain approval for regulated activities that occur in their State. These activities may include; online learning, experiential learning, faculty teaching from another state, marketing, advertising, and more.
Institutions must also be aware of additional State Agencies in other States that may wish to have oversight of the institution’s activities and programs such as State professional boards (e.g. nursing, teaching, etc.) as well as the Secretary of State Office and State Department of Labor. Requirements will vary from State to State. Institutions must now provide Licensure and Certification information to all students interested in programs with these requirements for employment after graduation.
