The U.S. Department of Education requires compliance with state regulations of any state in which Brenau University provides distance/online education for students. To facilitate this compliance with state regulations, this institution is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA).
NC-SARA allows Brenau to offer distance education in 49 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Although California is not a SARA participating state, prospective students may take classes at Brenau. Prospective students should contact the department corresponding to his or her program of interest for additional information about reciprocity.
Licensure information relating to on ground programs are itemized below. For online licensure information please visit the NC SARA Compliance page.
Nursing
For prelicensure nursing programs, Georgia is a Compact Nursing State offering the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) multistate licensure for those who apply.
Physical Therapy
APTA endorses that the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) governs all NPTE examinations in conjunction with state boards across the nation. Graduates from any CAPTE-approved program have fulfilled the educational requirements for the NPTE and can sit in any state. We have full reciprocity for distance/clinical education with all states.
Physical Therapy Department Page
Occupational Therapy
Brenau University participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance (online) education, and it provides Brenau University approval to offer its distance education programs in other NC-SARA states, found at on their website. View the OT licensure requirements for all 50 states.
After completion of the program, graduates are qualified to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR®). Most states require licensure to practice occupational therapy. State licenses are typically based, in part, on the results of the NBCOT® exam. All applicants should be aware that the certification and licensing boards have the right to refuse to grant occupational therapy certification and/or licenses to any individuals regardless of their educational credentials under circumstances of: 1) falsification of application for certification/ licensure; 2) conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude; and, 3) other moral and legal violations specified in relevant state laws. An applicant who thinks he or she may have an applicable situation should talk with the program director early in the program of study.
Physician Assistant Studies
Brenau University participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance (online) education, and it provides Brenau University approval to offer its distance education programs in other NC-SARA states, found on their website.
While the Brenau University Department of PA Studies is an on-ground program, students complete supervised clinical practice experiences at various clinical sites during the last twelve months of the program. Because these clinical rotations may be completed out-of-state, they are therefore subject to the Department of Education regulations regarding state authorization.
Completion of the program of study within the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and graduation with the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree allows students to be eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Passing the PANCE is required for initial licensure in all states. Some states have additional requirements for initial licensure. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the requirements for licensure in the state in which they intend to practice. Information about state licensure, a list of licensing boards, and a collection of state laws and regulations is available from the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) at the website. Students are encouraged to contact the applicable state board in which they intend to practice before enrolling in the PA program at Brenau University.
Psychology
Master’s Program in Clinical Counseling Psychology
Brenau University’s Master’s Program in Clinical Counseling Psychology is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Educational requirements for licensure are governed by individual state licensure boards. Completion of Brenau’s MPCAC-accredited M.S. program in Clinical Counseling Psychology fulfills the educational requirements needed to sit for the NCE (National Counselor Examination) and/or the NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination). Some states require an additional state-specific laws and ethics written exam. Most states require states require two to three years of supervised clinical experience after earning the Master’s degree as well as a fingerprint-based criminal background check before licensure. *Only North Carolina requires that licensure applicants graduate from a CACREP accredited program. Despite this, there is a path for licensure in NC. If a person is licensed in another state for 5 years and receives an endorsement, he/she can then get licensed in North Carolina.
All applicants should be aware that licensing boards have the right to refuse to grant licensure to any individual regardless of their educational credentials under circumstances such as falsification of application/lying on application for licensure; unsatisfactory supervisory evaluations of clinical skills; prior ethical violations; felony or misdemeanor convictions (especially those considered crimes of moral turpitude); and other concerns as determined by the licensure boards. Applicants who think they may have an applicable situation should talk with the program director early in the program of study.
Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology
Brenau University’s Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology program is Accredited, on contingency by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (APA). “Accredited, on contingency” is an official accredited status; graduates of a program with this status are considered by the APA and state licensing boards to have graduated from an APA-accredited program. Educational requirements for psychologist licensure are governed by individual state boards of psychology who in turn collaborate under the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), which administers the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Completion of Brenau’s APA-accredited Psy.D. program fulfills the educational requirements needed to sit for the EPPP. Most states require an additional state-specific jurisprudence and ethics written exam and some states require an oral examination administered by the state licensure board. In addition, many states require 1500-2000 hours of supervised postdoctoral experience after earning the doctorate degree and a fingerprint-based criminal background check before licensure.
All applicants should be aware that licensing boards have the right to refuse to grant licensure to any individual regardless of their educational credentials under circumstances such as falsification of application/lying on application for licensure; unsatisfactory supervisory evaluations of clinical skills; prior ethical violations; felony or misdemeanor convictions (especially those considered crimes of moral turpitude); and other concerns as determined by the licensure boards. Applicants who think they may have an applicable situation should talk with the program director early in the program of study.
NC SARA State Licensure Status by On-Ground Program
| Program | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Psychology (PsyD) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC*, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Clinical/Counseling Psychology (MS) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC*, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Elementary Education (BS) | GA | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Family Nurse Practitioner (Post-graduate Certificate) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Interior Design (BFA) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Middle Grades Education (BS) | GA | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |
| Music Education (BA) | GA | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |
| Nursing (BSN) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Nursing (MSN - Direct Entry/Initial licensure) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Occupational Therapy (MSOT) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Occupational Therapy (OTD) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Post Master’s Certificate) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Physical Therapy (DPT) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY | |
| Special Education (BS) | GA | AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VI, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |
All inquiries should be addressed to the academic department offering the online program.
Visit the NC-SARA website to learn more about the state reciprocity agreements.
Student Complaints to the State of Georgia: Federal regulations require that each state designate a department or agency to be responsible for receiving and responding to complaints made by students against a postsecondary institution operating within that state. In the state of Georgia, the designated agency is the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). Students and other constituents who wish to make a complaint against Brenau University or any other private postsecondary institutions operating in Georgia may do so by following the complaint procedures on GNPEC’s website.
Contact information is as follows:
State of Georgia
Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Suite 220
Tucker, Georgia 30084-5305
Phone: 770-414-3300
Fax: 770-414-3309
NC-SARA Complaint Process