Student Resources
State Authorization
Accreditation and State Authorization
The University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral degrees. Questions about the accreditation of the University of South Florida may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is a national initiative to provide more access to online courses while maintaining compliance standards with state regulatory agencies. SARA allows institutions to provide online courses outside of their own state borders by seeking and maintaining state approvals via a streamlined process. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post secondary distance education. To learn more about SARA, please visit https://nc-sara.org/
Florida joined SARA through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) compact. The University of South Florida is an approved member of NC-SARA which is recognized by 49 states and the District of Columbia.
Students Located Outside the United States
Given the nature of our online programs, it's possible some students are located internationally
as they participate as USF students. The reciprocity agreements made possible by our
participation in SARA do not extend to countries outside the United States. The applicability
of USF online programs to citizens of other countries, therefore, will be different
in every case, and students are urged to ascertain for themselves if the USF online
program they are taking will meet the educational requirements to sit for licensure
in the international destination they are interested in.
All U.S. citizens (including military and government officials) located outside the
United States who plan to return to the United States for licensure examinations should
consult the licensure information for the state in which they intend to practice.
Student Complaints
Any student located in a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) state and has a complaint, pursuant to Section 4.4 of the SARA Manual, must complete the internal institutional and applicable state grievance procedures prior to appealing the complaint to the Council. Students who are enrolled in a USF course who have a complaint about a course or experience should follow the University's Student Grievance Process and State University System of Florida Board of Governors.
If a student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional process and applicable state grievance procedures, the complaint may then be brought to the SARA portal agency in the institution's home state. SARA Portal Complaint page: https://www.fldoe.org/sara/student-concerns.stml.
Professional Licensure
Important Licensure Information for Students:
If you are considering enrolling in an online academic program that leads to a professional license, it is highly recommended that you contact the relevant licensing agency in the state where you plan to reside before beginning your academic program. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) does not provide reciprocity for state professional licensing requirements. Both academic programs and individual graduates must meet the specific standards set by the state's licensure requirements for a graduate to be eligible for a license. Please visit our professional licensure page to check if the University of South Florida (USF) meets the requirements in the state where you intend to practice.
For additional information regarding state licensing boards, please refer our State Licensure Contact Directory.