State Authorization - Graduate Programs

The School of Nursing, Washburn University, offers distance or online learning opportunities for students living across the United States. In order to do so, the School is committed to complying with the distance learning regulations established by each state and its respective Board of Nursing.  It is the applicant's responsibility to check with the home state's board of nursing and board of education to determine if completion of our program will lead to additional advanced practice licensure and the ability to practice in your planned state of residence.  Out of state students are responsible for contacting their state nursing board to verify any requirements that are needed in order to conduct clinicals as a student or apply for a nurse practitioner license in their state upon graduation from an online, out of state program

The School of Nursing graduate programs are authorized, exempted from authorization, or not subject to approval to conduct distance education activity - including online courses and programs, clinicals, practicum, field experience, and internships - in the states shown in green below:

Alaska* Alabama*+ Arizona** California Colorado Connecticut+ Delaware Dist. of Columbia (DC)* Geogia Florida Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine+ Maryland** Massachusetts+ Michigan Minnesota+ Mississippi Missouri Montana*+ Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico North Carolina

North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma+ Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota+ Texas (Texas Resident Disclosure) Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming*

The School of Nursing is in the process of exploring or seeking authorization in the remaining states.  Please contact graduate-son@washburn.edu for more information.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)

Washburn University is a participant in the SARA initiative, which is a state-level reciprocity process aimed at making the effort to obtain state authorizations more efficient for institutions and to make it easier for students to enroll in distance education programs outside of the states in which they reside. Institutions that are members of SARA are authorized to provide education to students from all SARA member states. States and institutions that choose to become members of SARA operate under a set of policies and standards that are overseen by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and administered by four regional higher education compacts. For more information about the SARA initiative and the progress of state and institutional membership, please visit nc-sara.org/directory.

Professional Licensing Boards

Requirements for licensure vary from state to state.  If you are interested in professional licensure, please check with the appropriate licensing body in the state where you intend to practice for additional requirements.  To find the appropriate agency, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.