Certification & Disclosures
If you are considering an academic program that leads to obtaining professional licensure or certification in your state, note the following information.
Sacred Heart University, as a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), is authorized to offer distance programs in all states that participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA). Approval for institutional participation was granted by the State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education on January 11, 2017. California is the only state that does not participate in SARA therefore Sacred Heart University is exempt from approval from the California Bureau of Post-Secondary Education.
Although we are authorized to deliver distance education in all forty-nine SARA-participating states, some state counseling licensure boards have imposed restrictions on out-of-state students completing degree programs and/or clinical hours in their states. As a result, we do not offer our degree programs in every state; the exceptions are noted below. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to check with their state counseling licensure board or equivalent licensing board of the state in which they intend to obtain licensure and/or certification as requirements may be subject to change.
Prospective students who intend to relocate to a different state at any point after admission to a degree program are advised to review the information below to see if Sacred Heart University offers the program in the new state. You are required to file a change of address form to notify the university should your address change.
Failure to do so may lead to an inability to obtain clinical placements within the new state.
Prospective students are also encouraged to review Sacred Heart University’s Disclosures & Student Complaint Process for additional information.
Information On Our Specific Degree Program
The online Master of Arts in School Counseling degree program is authorized to operate in all states that participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Sacred Heart University has determined that the degree program’s curriculum does meet the educational requirements, for school counseling certification/ licensure, in the following states and district: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington.
Sacred Heart University has determined that the degree program’s curriculum does not meet the educational requirements, for school counseling certification/licensure, in the following states: Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. As a result, Sacred Heart University does not admit students that live in any of these states or that will seek licensure in any of these states.
Sacred Heart University has not determined whether the degree program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements, for counseling licensure, in the following United States Territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a result, Sacred Heart University does not admit students that live in any of these territories or that will seek licensure in any of these territories.
State Licensure
The Master of Arts in School Counseling degree at Sacred Heart University is designed to prepare candidates to meet the educational and fieldwork requirements for school counselor certification/licensure in many states.
Students have a responsibility to understand the specific educational requirements, for licensure, of the state in which they intend to apply and practice. Students should also be aware of any changes to those licensure educational requirements. If a student moves to another state, the requirements for licensure may be different from the state where they currently live. As such, students are responsible for determining the licensure requirements in the state to which they relocate. The National Board for Certified Counselors provides a directory of all state professional counselor licensure boards. The United States Department of Education has provided this directory to access all state department of education contacts.
Sacred Heart University does not guarantee that completion of its Master of Arts in School Counseling degree will result in state certification/licensure. In addition to successfully completion of the degree, students may need to meet other requirements, which include, but are not limited to, successful completion of a national exam or additional continuing education/professional development. Also, students are responsible for understanding background check requirements and fees associated with applying for certification/licensure and for understanding if their own life events create any barriers to licensure.