State Authorization

As noted in the table below, students residing in approved states may enroll from home in fully online courses and programs offered by LSSU. Residents from all states and provinces may enroll at our beautiful Sault Ste. Marie campus. SARA represents the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.

One-Rate Lake State

Effective the Fall Semester 2015, all students with citizenship in North America, or lawful permanent residents of the United States, will pay in-state tuition (One Rate at Lake State). North America is defined as the landmass north of the Panama-Colombia border and the islands of the Caribbean*.


Out-of-State (U.S.) Fully Online

Lake Superior State University is dedicated to ensuring that all students receive fair and equitable services and educational opportunities. LSSU’s complaint policy meets all Higher Learning Commission guidelines.

If you have a concern or complaint relating to academic issues, LSSU wants to ensure your concerns are appropriately processed, reviewed, and redressed. If the issue is related to a specific course, please contact the instructor first. Unresolved issues may be advanced to the appropriate Dean, if necessary.

For larger issues unrelated to a specific course, or for issues that remain unresolved, students should submit the complaint in writing to the offices of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and of the Dean of Student Affairs. Lake Superior State University will maintain records of formal written complaints filed with these offices, including resolutions, as stated in the University’s posted policy:

Student Complaint Policy

For Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure

If you are enrolled in a program that leads to professional licensure, LSSU strongly recommends that you contact the licensing board in your state to confirm that your academic program and courses will meet your state’s licensing requirements. It is a student’s responsibility to know and understand your state’s requirements as they apply to your own situation. LSSU shall not be held liable if a student is unable to qualify to apply for licensure in any state other than Michigan.

If you are enrolled in an online course and have concerns or complaints about that course, please contact your instructor first. Unresolved issues may be advanced to the appropriate Dean, if necessary. For larger issues unrelated to a specific course, or for issues that remain unresolved, students should submit the complaint in writing to the offices of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and of the Dean of Student Affairs. Please review LSSU’s posted policy for formal complaint procedures.

If an issue cannot be resolved by LSSU internally, and if you live in a state that participates in the national NC-SARA program, you may follow the SARA Complaint Process to file a complaint in the state where you reside.

Due to barriers enacted by the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming (see dates below), residents of these states, not physically attending LSSU, may not be eligible to receive recognized course credits in their states of residence for online courses or programs offered by LSSU at this time.


Approval for Online Programs in other states

Lake Superior State University

Lake Superior State University is a member institution of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This reciprocity agreement authorizes all member institutions to provide postsecondary education through distance education to students in other States covered by the agreement.

Students enrolled in programs that require field-specific licensure in any state will need to contact the state’s licensing office to ensure all requirements have been met. For a complete listing of occupational licensing requirements by states, see the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) website at https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/occupational-licensing-statute-database.aspx#Additional%20Resources (scroll down to “Database”).

Nursing Licensure Offices by State

Teacher Education Licensure Offices by State

As of August 2019, 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are members of SARA. Any specific restrictions states have made in regard to accepted credit from LSSU has been listed in the ‘Restrictions and Requirements’ table below.

*California, American Samoa, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, North Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, and Republic of Marshall Islands are not members of NC-SARA. Students residing in these regions will need to contact the licensing offices of their governments to ensure all requirements are met through the LSSU program in which they are enrolled.

Restrictions or requirements stipulated by NC-SARA member states and territories covered by this reciprocity agreement.

States

Excluded / Unauthorized Programs,
Additional State or College Requirements,
or Specific Licensure Requirements
not covered by the NC-SARA membership

Alabama

Students enrolled in programs that require field-specific licensure in this state will need to contact the state’s licensing office to ensure all requirements are met.

The School of Education must include the following disclaimer on all enrollment and marketing materials: State authorization to provide a program related to the preparation of teachers or other P-12 school/system personnel does not indicate eligibility for an Alabama certificate. Applicants for an Alabama certificate based on reciprocity must meet Alabama’s test requirements and submit a valid, renewable professional educator certificate/license issued by another state at the degree level, grade level, and in the teaching field or area of instructional support for which an Alabama certificate is sought and for which Alabama issues a certificate. Applicants for Alabama certification in an area of administration must also document at least three years of full-time employment as an administrator in a P-12 school system(s). Alabama State Department of Education website www.alsde.edu.

Connecticut

Preceptors assigned to Connecticut RN students must have BSN with a

Connecticut license and at least two (2) years of experience in their chosen field.

Florida

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Kentucky

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Louisiana

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Massachusetts

Early Care and Education – B.A. (Not Authorized)

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

New Jersey

Clinical Placements – If a RN student is doing a clinical placement in New Jersey, the New Jersey Board of Nursing must be notified at least two (2) weeks before the clinical experience begins.

New York

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Clinical Placements in the licensed professions in New York are not covered under SARA pursuant to 5.13(a) of the SARA policies and standards. Nursing program clinical placements are not permitted in NYS.

Oregon

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Tennessee

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Virginia

As long as licensure requirements are met, required internships, practicums, etc. may be completed in Virginia.

Washington

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Puerto Rico

Early Care and Education – B.A. (Not Authorized)

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

U.S. Virgin Islands

Early Care and Education – B.A. (Not Authorized)

Nursing – RN to BSN Track Only (Not Authorized)

Specifically for the degree program listed, internships are:LSSU Online Program Summary

Specifically for the degree program listed, internships are:

  • Criminal Justice-Corrections: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Criminalistics: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Generalist: Bachelor of Science – optional
  • Criminal Justice-Homeland Security: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement Certification: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement Certification with NRT: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Loss Control: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Criminal Justice-Public Safety: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Fire Science-Engineering Technology: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Fire Science-Generalist: Bachelor of Science – required
  • Fire Science-Generalist Non-Certification: Bachelor of Science – optional
  • Fire Science-Hazardous Materials: Bachelor of Science – required