APPLY NOW!
(Request for Information)

Out of State Students

Important Information to Prospective Students

If you are considering an online academic program that leads to professional licensure/certification, please review the following information:

West Chester University's programs are designed to meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for recommending candidates for licensure/certification. If you plan to seek licensure/certification outside of Pennsylvania, it is your responsibility to seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your state BEFORE beginning the academic program. Licensure requirements by occupation and state can be found at CareerOneStop.

If you are a non-PA resident and are considering an online academic program at West Chester University, please review the following information which explains the institution’s status with regard to offering online education to students living outside of Pennsylvania.

In December 2016, West Chester University became a participant in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). SARA is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional compacts. Operating under SARA allows West Chester University to offer online education to students that live in the 48 states that are part of SARA, as well as the District of Columbia.

In order to provide online education to students that live in the six states that are not part of SARA, West Chester University must obtain authorization, or exemption, in each individual state. To view a map of states that are covered by SARA, as well as West Chester University’s status in the remaining states, visit our State Authorization page.

Complaint Policy

Online and distance education students may file a complaint by following the student complaint policy. Additionally, out-of-state online and distance education students may file a complaint with their state agency. State agency complaint information can be found on the State Authorization page.