State authorization is a regulation of the Department of Education that requires institutions offering online or distance learning programs to be authorized by each state in which the institution enrolls students (if such authorization is required by the state).
The Institute of Buddhist Studies is in the process of complying with regulations pursuant to state authorization, applying for or maintaining approval for authorization, or exempt from authorization in certain states. Whereas IBS would like to make our programs available to all students across the country, some states have enacted regulations that make it prohibitive for us to do so.
As of 2024, the Institute of Buddhist Studies is in compliance with or exempt from authorization in the following states:
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
Students residing outside of these states should contact our Admissions Director before applying for an online certificate program.
California’s Relationship to SARA
The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) were established in 2013 by higher education stakeholders including state regulators and education leaders, accreditors, the U.S. Department of Education, and institutions. SARA is intended to streamline regulations around distance education programs.
However, California is not a member of SARA, which means that California-based institutions are not eligible to participate in the reciprocity agreements and instead must comply with individual applicable state laws in which they would like to enroll students.