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Laurel Ridge Community College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This participation allows Laurel Ridge offer distance learning programs and courses to residents of member states without seeking state-by-state approval.

Distance learning allows for educational experiences to occur across state lines. However, when an institution offers learning activities such as coursework, practica, and internships to students in a state other than its own, the institution must seek approval from that other state. While most Laurel Ridge students are located in Virginia, some are located outside of Virginia during some or all of their academic career. For example, some students are “fully distant” students who complete all their courseork online never coming to campus while other students may be deployed or relocated for a period of time during their studies. Where a student is located and what type of activity they are involved in determines if Laurel Ridge must take any action to obtain permission from a state to offer the activity.

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) make it easier for states to obtain approval to offer educational activities in a state other than its own. Virginia is a member of SARA and Laurel Ridge is approved to participate in SARA.  This means that Laurel Ridge can initiate many out-of-state learning activities in other SARA-approved states without seeking approval from those states.

A map and full list of authorized states and institutions is available at http://nc-sara.org/sara-states-institutions.

Laurel Ridge Community College is a member of Virginia State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (VA-SARA) and participates in the National Council for State Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). These agreements allow Laurel Ridge to offer distance learning programs and courses to residents of member states without seeking state-by-state approval. The agreements also provide enhanced quality assurance and consumer protection to Virginia residents seeking distance learning education opportunities from other member states’ institutions.

Prospective students outside the Commonwealth of Virginia who may enroll in a program at Laurel Ridge Community College that prepares students for external certification or licensure or may require clinical placements or internships should be from a state where the program MEETS the educational requirements for certification or licensure.

If the student is from a state where the Laurel Ridge program does NOT MEET the student’s home state requirements and the student is enrolled in at least one course online their first semester in the program, the student must provide a written attestation where they intend to seek employment after completing the program. Onlien students cannot enroll if they reside and plan to seek employment in a state where Laurel Ridge does not meet that state’s requirements for certification and licensure.

To meet state authorization requirements, it is very important that Laurel Ridge knows your local address each semester. Laurel Ridge defines “local address” as where you are physically located when enrolled in school and taking courses. This address might be different than your billing address or the permanent address that you consider your official home residence. It might also be different than your local address for the previous semester.

If your local address changes for any reason (i.e. internship, study abroad, deployment, etc.), it is the student’s responsibility to promptly update their record in SIS.

A student’s failure to keep their address updated does not absolve the student of responsibility for matters related to state authorization.

Federal regulations prohibit Laurel Ridge Community College from enrolling students in a program that leads to licensure or certification if the college does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the student’s state of residence.

Students who intend to seek licensure and employment in a different state may be eligible for enrollment in their chosen program, provided that the program meets the educational requirements for licensure in that state and that they submit an attestation.

The student’s attestation requires completing a form returned to the College within 14 days of receiving the notification. Students who do not submit an attestation in that time period will not be allowed to enroll at Laurel Ridge Community College.

Laurel Ridge Community College’s Student Grievance Policy and Procedure is described in our catalog. Laurel Ridge strives to provide the highest quality educational opportunities available. However, if a conflict does arise, our efforts are meant to resolve your grievances, complaints, and concerns in an expeditious, fair, and amicable manner. Students should carefully follow the steps outlined in our catalog to ensure proper and timely resolution of their complaint.

In accordance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), the complaint procedures outlined in the Student Grievance Policy are subject to oversight of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) in complaints arising from students living outside Virginia who are enrolled in online courses at Laurel Ridge. If an issue cannot be resolved by the college’s customary resolution procedure, students may file a formal complaint directly with SCHEV. Grade appeals and student conduct appeals are not allowed under SARA.

Students located outside of Virginia can find information about their state’s student complaint procedures in the list below:

State Contacts for Complaint Resolution 

If your career plans include pursuing professional licensure or certification in your chosen field, it is important to become educated on the credentialing requirements of the state in which you hope to practice by contacting the state’s licensing entity. Additional helpful licensing information can also be found on the Career One Stop Portal.

NC-SARA has no effect on state professional licensing requirements. Institutions participating in NC-SARA must satisfy all federal requirements under US Department of Education Regulation 34§C.F.R. 668.43 for disclosing information regarding professional licensure programs.

Disclosures apply to programs that are:

• designed to meet education requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation, or,
• advertised as meeting licensure or certification requirements.

The following information publicly discloses any Laurel Ridge Community College program, no matter the method of delivery, designed to meet educational requirements for specific professional licensure or certification for employment or is marketed as such.

Below is the contact information for Virginia and out-of-state licensing agencies. This list is subject to change and will be updated as more information becomes available.