DBU Online Academic Compliance

State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreement

Dallas Baptist University (“DBU”) may offer online programs to students located outside of Texas.  The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (“SARA”) is an agreement among member states, districts, and territories in the United States, which establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. As a result, SARA simplifies the process of taking online courses for credit offered across state lines by institutions that already have degree authorization in at least one state. 

SARA is overseen by a national council (NC-SARA) and administered by four regional education compacts. DBU is approved to participate in NC-SARA and has been accepted as a SARA institution since March 8, 2017.

Student Files Complaint

SARA States and Territories

Participating SARA U.S. States and Territories are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

California is not a participating NC-SARA state. However, Dallas Baptist University as a private, non-profit, accredited university is exempt from California state oversight. See California Code (ed. code § 94801.5(b)).

SARA does not replace state authorization or licensure requirements.  For licensing board contact information, see the below non-exhaustive list.  This list is not comprehensive and students interested in obtaining licensure in one of the SARA states should independently research state licensing requirements.  It is highly recommended that students seek this information and additional guidance before beginning a program.

Licensing Agency

Alabama Commission on Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Alabama State Department of Education

Alabama State Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Licensing Agency

Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education

Professional Board Licensure

Arizona Department of Education

Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Colorado Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

Professional Board Licensure

Colorado Department of Higher Education

Division of Private Occupational Schools

Colorado State Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Connecticut Office of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Connecticut State Department of Education

Connecticut Department of Public Health (Social Work)

The Office of Financial and Academic Affairs For Higher Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Delaware Department of Education

  • http://www.doe.k12.de.us/site/default.aspx?PageID=1

    The Delaware Department of Education will investigate complaints. Such complaints must be in writing and verified by the signature of the person making the complaint. Oral, anonymous or unsigned complaints will not be investigated. Until the web site is functional, please write or call for more information. The Delaware Department of Education; Teacher and Administrator Quality; John W. Collette Resource Center; 35 Commerce Way; Dover, DE 19904. The Delaware Department of Education phone number is 302-857-3388.

Professional Board Licensure

Delaware Department of Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

District of Columbia Higher Education Licensure Commission

Professional Board Licensure

District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education

District of Columbia Department of Health (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Florida Commission for Independent Education

Professional Board Licensure

Florida Department of Education

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission

Professional Board Licensure

Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Hawaii Postsecondary Education Authorization Program

Professional Board Licensure

Hawaii Teacher Standards Board

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Idaho State Board of Education

Professional Board Licensure

Idaho State Department of Education

Idaho Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Illinois Board of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Illinois State Board of Education

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Indiana Commission for Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Indiana Department of Education

Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board

Department of Workforce Development

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Iowa College Student Aid Commission

Professional Board Licensure

Iowa Board of Educational Examiners

Iowa Department of Public Health (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Kansas Board of Regents

Professional Board Licensure

Kansas State Department of Education

Kansas Behavioral Science Regulatory Board

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education

Professional Board Licensure

Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board

Kentucky Board of Social Work

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Board of Regents, State of Louisiana

Professional Board Licensure

Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana State Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Maine Department of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Maine Department of Education

Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

  • http://www.maine.gov/ag/consumer/complaints/complaint_form.shtml

    Complaints shall be addressed in writing to the Maine Department of Education, Office of Higher Education, Augusta, Maine, 04333, with specific facts and allegations and signed by the complainant. The school shall be notified of any complaints which are to be investigated. For more information, please contact Mr. Ángel Loredo, the Higher Education Specialist - Angel.Loredo@maine.gov. 

Licensing Agency

Maryland Higher Education Commission

Professional Board Licensure

Maryland State Department of Education

Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Massachusetts Department of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Massachusetts Executive Office of Education

Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers

Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure & Office Private Occupational School Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Minnesota Office of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Minnesota Department of Education

Minnesota Board of Social Work

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning

Professional Board Licensure

Mississippi Department of Education

Mississippi State Board of Examiners (Social Work)

Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation

Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Missouri Department of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Missouri Division of Professional Registration (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Montana University System

Professional Board Licensure

Montana Office of Public Instruction

Montana Board of Behavioral Health

Montana University System Board of Regents

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Nebraska's Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

Professional Board Licensure

Nebraska Department of Education, Private Postsecondary Career Schools

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health & Social Work Practice)

Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Nevada System of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Nevada Department of Education

Nevada Board of Examiners for Social Workers

Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education

  • New Website Coming Soon! Per Kelly Wuest in Nevada (kdwuest@nvdetr.org) the new site will be up soon: www.cpe.nv.gov
    Only SARA portal information available at this time. 

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

New Hampshire Department of Education

Professional Board Licensure

New Hampshire Department of Education

New Hampshire Board of Mental Health Practice

Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, Higher Education Commission

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

New Jersey Department of Education

New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development,
Center for Occupational Employment Information

Office of the Secretary of Higher Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

New Mexico Higher Education Department

Professional Board Licensure

New Mexico Public Education Department

New Mexico Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Licensing Agency

New York State Education Department

Professional Board Licensure

New York State Education Department

New York Office of the Professions (Social Work)

Bureau of proprietary School Supervision, New York State Education Department

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

University of North Carolina Board of Governors

Professional Board Licensure

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board

North Carolina Community College System
(Office of Proprietary School Services)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

North Dakota University System

Professional Board Licensure

North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board

North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners

North Dakota State Board for Career and Technical Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Ohio Department of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Ohio Department of Education

Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage & Family Therapist Board

Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Oklahoma State Department of Education

Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Social Workers

Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education

Oklahoma Board of Private Schools

  • A Form is available by request to the OBPVS Staff, but is not required. Unless a safety or other issue requiring an in-person investigation is alleged, a "Student," complaint will be accepted and sent to the institution for a response that may then be forwarded to the complainant for further input. Nora Ann House, Director, 3700 N. Classen Blvd., Ste. 250, Oklahoma City, OK 73118, phone 405/528-3370, FAX 405/528-3366, nhouse@obpvs.ok.gov

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Oregon Office of Degree Authorization

Professional Board Licensure

Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission

Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers

Board of Counselors

Licensing Agency

Puerto Rico Council on Education

Professional Board Licensure

Puerto Rico Board of Education

Puerto Rico Board of Professional Social Workers

Board of Counselors

Licensing Agency

Rhode Island Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner

Professional Board Licensure

Rhode Island Department of Education

Rhode Island Board of Social Work Examiners

Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

South Carolina Commission on Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

South Carolina State Department of Education

South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

South Dakota Secretary of State
(South Dakota Attorney General)

Professional Board Licensure

South Dakota Department of Education

South Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

The Texas Workforce Commission

Professional Board Licensure

Texas Education Agency

Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Utah Division of Consumer Protection

Professional Board Licensure

Utah State Board of Education

Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

University of the Virgin Islands

Professional Board Licensure

Virgin Islands Department of Education

Virgin Islands Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs

Virgin islands Board of Social Workers

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Virginia State Council of Higher Education

Professional Board Licensure

Virginia Department of Education

Virginia Board of Social Work

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Washington Student Achievement Council

Professional Board Licensure

Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

Washington State Department of Health (Social Work)

Washington Workforce training and Educ. Coord. Board

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Wisconsin Educational Approval Board

Professional Board Licensure

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (Social Work)

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Licensing Agency

Wyoming Department of Education

Professional Board Licensure

Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board

Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information

Non-SARA States and Territories

Licensing Agency

California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

Professional Board Licensure

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

California Board of Behavioral Sciences

Board of Counselors

Student Complaint Information