Academic Regulations

Authorization and Licensure Information

Creighton is committed to helping potential students understand two important areas of academic regulations: where the university is authorized to offer online programs and how our degrees may or may not meet professional licensure/certification requirements in U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Learn more about both topics below.

Where Creighton is Authorized to Operate

If you are not a resident of the state where your online program is based, you should ensure that the program and institution are authorized to operate in your state.

We participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA), a partnership among member states, districts and territories that establishes shared standards for offering distance education across state lines. SARA is designed to make it easier for students to take online courses from institutions located in other states. We currently offer online courses to all 50 states and Washington D.C. Forty-nine (49) states and Washington D.C. operate under SARA policies and procedures.

State-specific Regulatory Information

In addition to the general SARA authorization described above, certain states have unique regulatory conditions that require separate disclosure.

  • California is the only state that’s not a SARA member, but it currently does not require authorization or registration from Creighton to offer online courses or supervised field visits/externships.  
  • Arizona currently requires registration and has granted Creighton licensure for the Doctor of Medicine Program at the Creighton School of Medicine and College of Nursing second-degree BSN Program at the Regional Campus at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Regulatory requirements also affect potential nursing graduate students. The Creighton University College of Nursing is unable to accept or enroll students who intend to reside in any of these states while pursuing a MSN or DNP nursing program, or Post-Graduate Certificate: Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Tennessee.
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice students residing in the state of Washington or intending to pursue clinicals in that state may only enroll in the following DNP tracks: Family Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, or Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner.

Field Experience  

Please note: SARA and non-SARA states have different requirements for internship/externship/field experience and/or clinicals and must be clarified prior to engaging in such. Programs should contact Patty Spawn in the Office of General Counsel.

Licensure  

Although Creighton University accepts out-of-state students in its distance education programs involving licensure or certification, it does not imply or guarantee recognition, or equivalency, and/or transfer to another state. Before seeking admission or beginning study in a distance education course or program involving licensure or certification, please find your program in the listing below on this page for information on the state in which you intend to pursue licensure. 

Professional Licensure and Certification Disclosures

In compliance with federal regulations (specifically 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v)), Creighton University is required to disclose information about programs that prepare graduates for occupations governed by professional licensure/certification requirements in U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

We’ve listed the academic programs that lead to professional licensure or certification in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia below. See the linked PDF documents to learn how each academic program aligns with licensure requirements across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

International Requirements

Creighton University makes no guarantees regarding whether its programs meet the requirements for professional practice, certification or licensure outside of the United States. Prospective students living or working outside the U.S., or those planning to work internationally, should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency if completing a degree at Creighton will meet the academic credential requirements of the country where they intend to seek employment. 

Program-specific Details

Professional licensure requirements are determined solely by each state and may change without notice to Creighton. While our information is updated annually, Creighton cannot guarantee continuous accuracy.

Creighton also cannot guarantee that any student will attain state-established licensure or certification in any field or jurisdiction. Current and prospective students in any of the programs listed below should consult the appropriate licensing agency in the state where they plan to practice to confirm updated requirements and ensure program compatibility.

Additionally, federal law prohibits Creighton University from enrolling students located in states where a program is marked as “does not meet” requirements.

If a school is not listed below, it does not currently offer programs that lead to licensure.

Creighton University School of Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312.988.6738.

According to the ABA, “Law schools that are ABA-approved provide a legal education that meets a minimum set of standards promulgated by the Council and Accreditation Committee of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. Every U.S. jurisdiction has determined that graduates of ABA-approved law schools are eligible to sit for the bar exam in their respective jurisdiction.”

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