State Authorization
State Authorization regulations determine the educational activities Sinclair is permitted to offer outside of Ohio. You may be impacted by state authorization regulations if:
- You are located outside of Ohio and are interested in taking online courses at Sinclair.
- You wish to participate in a Sinclair approved field placement outside of Ohio.
- You physically relocate to any other state or territory during your enrollment at Sinclair.
If one of the above scenarios applies to you, or you have questions about educational activities occurring outside of Ohio, contact the specific department for the program of interest or email outofstate@sinclair.edu.
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Sinclair College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). Participation in SARA allows the college to offer distance education and field placement opportunities for all states and territories that participate in the agreement without prior approval. SARA aims to increase student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with member state regulations.
The State of Ohio was approved as a SARA member state by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact on March 2, 2015. Sinclair has been a participating institution in SARA since 2015. Current membership in SARA includes 49 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
California is the only U.S. state that is not currently a member of SARA. The State of California does not currently provide oversight for public institutions providing distance education within the state.
To find more information about your state's participation in SARA visit the SARA Agreement webpage.
Sinclair is permitted to offer field experiences, such as internships, practicums, and clinical placements in all U.S. states. Some states may have additional considerations for field placements including, but not limited to, California, Colorado, and New Hampshire.
Sinclair must also meet site limit capacity for out-of-state placements. Students pursuing a field placement in a state other than Ohio should contact outofstate@sinclair.edu to verify placement eligibility and requirements.
Some Sinclair degree and certification programs may lead to professional licensure and/or certification upon successful completion of program requirements. Licensure or certification may be global, national, or state-specific. If you reside in a state other than Ohio or intend to use the education completed at Sinclair to pursue employment in another state, you may need to meet additional requirements for licensure.
Out-of-state students are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate administering body, licensing board, or the program's department to discuss and verify licensure eligibility requirements.
Federal Regulation 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) requires Sinclair to make readily available to prospective and enrolled students information about whether Sinclair programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet educational requirements in their state.
Prospective students may view the Public Licensure Program Disclosures by State to determine if their anticipated Sinclair program "meets" or "does not meet" licensure requirements in your state.
Students who fully enroll in a licensure program at Sinclair will receive a direct disclosure notice regarding a determination for their program if their program “does not meet” licensure requirements in their state. Disclosures are required to be sent within 14 calendar days of Sinclair making that determination. Direct disclosures are sent to the Sinclair student email account.
Sinclair is committed to resolving student complaints in a fair and expeditious manner. All students should aim to have grievances resolved through the Sinclair Complaint Process.
Sinclair is a member of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and accepts the Ohio Department of Higher Education's oversight in resolving student complaints. Once a student has exhausted all possible avenues of complaint resolution at Sinclair, the student may file a formal complaint with the Ohio Department of Education.
For students outside of Ohio, specific State Agency Contact Information is also available. Select your state from the drop-down menu to access the contact information to file a grievance in your state. Contact outofstate@sinclair.edu for assistance in identifying your State Agency.
Grievances may include (but are not limited to):
- Inaccurate or misleading professional licensure requirements
- Inaccurate or misleading information regarding online tuition and fees
- Inaccurate or misleading accreditation information for online programs
- Inaccurate or misleading information about transfer credit policies
SARA does not permit grievances related to grades or conduct appeals outside of the institution. Students should work through the Sinclair Complaint Process to resolve any outstanding issues related to these areas.
For more information on student rights and responsibilities at Sinclair refer to the Student Code of Conduct.
Student Location Policy
For a student enrolled in courses that are in-person ,online or hybrid, Sinclair considers the student’s location to be the student’s mailing address on file with Registration & Student Records. If the mailing address is a P.O. Box, the student’s location will be considered to be the student’s permanent residence address on file with Registration & Student Records.
For a student enlisted in the military on active duty, Sinclair considers the student’s location to be the student’s permanent residence address on file with Registration & Student Records.
A student’s location will be recorded in Sinclair’s student information system at the time the student begins enrollment and will remain in effect until the student provides official notification to Registration & Student Records that their location has changed.