Austin College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs and courses to residents of states other than Texas. NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing board requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in Texas may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license or participate in learning placements requiring or leading to licensure in any other state.
Austin College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
State Licensing Boards
The curriculum for professional programs at Austin College that require licensure for practice upon graduation have been designed to prepare students to apply for licensure in the State of Texas. The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure or certification for that state. Many licensure boards have additional requirements beyond successful degree completion to obtain a license. Please be advised that state laws, regulations, and policies may change at any time. Changes in individual state requirements can impact the program’s ability to meet educational requirements for licensure. The Master of Medical Science Physician Associate program meets the educational requirements for licensure set by the Texas Physician Assistant Board, which can be found at https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/licensing-physician-assistants.
General Disclosure
The programs listed in Licensure and Certification Disclosure Table may lead to a professional license or certification that is required for employment. Professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student's ability to apply for a professional license or certification upon completion of a program. The U.S. Department of Education regulation, 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v), requires that an institution disclose whether the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification for each state or whether the college has not made such a determination for each state.
In addition to coursework and exams, some states also have additional requirements for licensure, including other examinations and professional experience. We recommend students contact the appropriate state licensing agency in their state or the state where they intend to work to seek the most up to date information about state licensure/certification requirements before beginning any program.
Students’ Responsibility
Students should review the specific academic requirements for the program in which they are enrolling, including those related to practicums or internships, and requirements for licensure in the state they intend to obtain a license. We highly recommend that students contact the applicable licensure boards in their state of residence or in the state where they intend to obtain a license before beginning any professional training program that requires licensure to practice upon graduation.
It is the responsibility of the student completing the degree program to check with the licensing boards in their state of residence or in the state in which they intend to obtain a license for the most recent information and requirements. The state professional licensing boards make the ultimate decision as to whether an individual will be eligible for licensure based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits their application for licensure. Austin College shall not be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction.