State Authorization NC-SARA | Licensure and Certification

The College of Southern Idaho (CSI) is authorized by the Idaho State Board of Education to offer academic programs and courses. CSI is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).

SARA provides a framework for participating institutions to offer covered distance education to students in other SARA member states, districts, and territories. CSI also works directly with states and jurisdictions that do not participate in SARA to determine whether additional authorization is required.

What is SARA?

The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) provides a voluntary framework for state oversight of interstate distance education. SARA establishes common standards for participating states and institutions and is intended to make it easier for students to enroll in online and distance education programs offered by institutions in other states.

Idaho participates in SARA through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). CSI is an approved SARA-participating institution in Idaho. Current institutional participation can be verified through the NC-SARA Directory.

SARA participation helps streamline state authorization for covered distance education activities while supporting student consumer protections and institutional accountability. SARA does not replace state requirements that may apply to professional licensure or certification, clinical placements, internships, field experiences, or other activities outside the scope of SARA.

CSI monitors state authorization requirements and works to obtain additional approvals when required. Because state authorization requirements may change, students should review applicable requirements before enrolling in an online or distance education program.

Professional Licensure and Certification

Students pursuing a program that leads to professional licensure or certification should determine whether the program meets the requirements of the state in which they intend to seek licensure or certification.

Educational and professional licensure requirements vary by state and may change. Completing a CSI program does not guarantee eligibility for professional licensure or certification in another state. State licensing boards may impose additional requirements beyond completion of an academic program.

For information about CSI programs that lead to professional licensure or certification, please visit the CSI Professional Licensure Disclosures page.

Students planning to pursue professional licensure or certification outside Idaho should contact the appropriate licensing or certification agency in the state where they intend to practice before beginning the program.

Resources

What is the Student Complaint Process?

Students should first use CSI's internal complaint or grievance process to attempt to resolve a concern.

Students enrolled in CSI courses who have a complaint about a course or educational experience should follow the College's Report a Concern process and applicable CSI policies.

Under SARA, student complaints related to SARA consumer protection requirements must first be filed with the institution. If the complaint is not resolved through the institution's process, the student may appeal the matter, except for complaints regarding grades or student conduct violations, to the SARA State Portal Entity in the institution's home state or the SARA State Portal Entity in the state where the student is located.

For CSI, the institution's home-state SARA State Portal Entity is the Idaho State Board of Education. Students may contact the Idaho State Board of Education through its SARA webpage.

Students may also review the NC-SARA State Portal Entity Contacts page for current contact information and complaint procedures.

California students:

California does not participate in SARA. California residents enrolled in online programs at out-of-state institutions should review applicable California requirements. Students may also consult the California Department of Consumer Affairs – Out-of-State Students page.

What is the Refund Policy?

Information about tuition refunds, withdrawal deadlines, and related requirements is available in the CSI 2026–2027 Catalog – Refunds.

Students should review the applicable refund deadlines and policies before withdrawing from a course.

What are the SARA Licensure Disclosures?

CSI maintains professional licensure disclosures for programs that may lead to professional licensure or certification. For each applicable program and state, CSI identifies whether it has determined that the program's curriculum:

Meets the state's educational requirements for licensure or certification;
Does not meet the state's educational requirements for licensure or certification; or
Has not been determined to meet the state's educational requirements for licensure or certification.

When CSI has been unable to make a determination regarding a particular state, contact information for the applicable state licensing or certification agency is provided.

Students should review the CSI Professional Licensure Disclosures page and contact the appropriate state licensing agency before enrolling if they intend to seek professional licensure or certification outside Idaho.