Reciprocity (SARA)

What SARA Does

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a state-to-state reciprocity agreement that establishes uniform national requirements for institutions offering distance education courses and programs across state lines. SARA also addresses certain related out-of-state activities, including experiential learning, faculty and staff located out of state, and out-of-state marketing.

How SARA Works

• States, districts, and territories voluntarily choose whether to be members of the reciprocity agreement called SARA and join through their regional compact: MHEC, NEBHE, SREB, or WICHE.
• SARA policy provides uniform requirements for institutional approval of designated distance education-related activities that occur in other SARA states.
• Institutions are not members of NC-SARA.  Institutions apply to their home state for approval to “participate in” SARA through their home state.
• The institution’s home state provides primary oversight, while the host state, where the student is located, may help resolve complaints.
• States renew their SARA participation every other year, while institutions renew their state approval to participate each year.
• Institutions pay an annual fee to NC-SARA to participate; some states also require a separate state fee.
• NC-SARA is a private nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] that supports collaboration among the four regional compacts to implement the reciprocity agreement in member states.

What SARA Does Not Cover

SARA does not extend to other state requirements. Participation in SARA does not relieve institutions of responsibilities under other state laws or regulations such as state data privacy or digital accessibility laws, nor does it replace requirements imposed by other state agencies such as the state's Department of Labor.

Institutional approval is only one part of compliance. SARA addresses institutional approval through the higher education agency, but institutions may still need separate state program approval for programs leading to licensure and for Workforce Pell programs.

Other state laws may still apply. Institutions may also need to comply with general consumer protection laws and employment-related responsibilities overseen by agencies such as departments of taxation, secretaries of state, or departments of labor.

Resources and Updates

SARA Manual — State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements Policy and Operations Manual.

Institutions should update their SARA contact information with NC-SARA, the appropriate regional director, and the state portal entity whenever staffing changes occur.