DEAC-accredited institutions and institutions seeking DEAC accreditation must be properly licensed, authorized, exempted or approved by the applicable state educational institutional authority (or its equivalent for non-U.S. institutions). The institution must also be in compliance with all applicable local, state and federal requirements.
State Authorization: It is important to be familiar with state authorization of distance education offered in the United States. Some states enforce their own laws pertaining to institutions that offer distance or correspondence education to students in the state. Institutions are responsible for complying with these state laws and regulations. Important information about state authorization is available on the National Council on State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) website.
Professional Licensure: Certain professions such as nursing, teaching, law, engineering or veterinary medicine require licensure prior to entry into the profession. Distance education institutions should be familiar with specialized accreditation requirements and whether state authorization is required in order for graduates to be eligible for the licensure examination.
The National Association of State Administrators and Supervisors of Private Schools (NASASPS) offers valuable resources and updates on state regulations.
More information on the DEAC’s licensure and state authorization requirements can be found in the DEAC Accreditation Handbook.
