Professional Licensure Information

Russell Sage College programs leading to licensure and/or advanced practice certification/endorsement, whether delivered online or face-to-face, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of New York. Requirements for licensure and/or advanced practice certification/endorsement eligibility vary from one profession to another and from State to State.

Russell Sage College must also determine whether the programs satisfy the applicable educational requirements for professional licensure or certification requirements in the State in which a student is located or in the State where the student seeks employment after completing the program. This requirement is met if completion of a program qualifies the student to take any licensure or certification exam that is needed to practice or find employment in an occupation that the program prepares the student to enter. Russell Sage College may demonstrate that the program meets this requirement through a reciprocity agreement, so long as the license that the student obtains through reciprocity allows them to sit for a required licensure or certification exam, or immediately work in in their state.  

Generally, reciprocity means that students can obtain a license in one state, but there is an agreement in place that allows the student to use that licensure in another state. Russell Sage College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) which allows us to provide distance learning programs (both online and in the form of supervised field experiences) and coursework to residents of states other than New York. NC-SARA membership, however, does not grant reciprocity or exempt us from state professional licensing requirements. As a result, licensing requirements in New York may not be recognized as sufficient to obtain a license in any other state.

The curriculum for programs customarily leading to licensure at Russell Sage College have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in New York as well as preparing students to apply for licensure exams in the State of New York .

The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Students who intend to return or move to any state other than New York need to review the professional licensure disclosures pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board. Applicants who at the time of enrollment reside in a state in which the Russell Sage College program does not meet the requirements for professional licensure or certification may not be enrolled in the program where distance education will be utilized. (Additional information on Programs Leading to Licensure is available here.

Should a student relocate during the course of a program to another state, it may impact the student’s ability to remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements, and/or continue to receive financial aid funding. Prior to considering relocation, please contact your program to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.

Students must provide Russell Sage College with formal notice of relocation to another state. Upon such notice, Russell Sage College will provide the student with an individualized disclosure with a determination of whether the program “Meets Requirements” for professional licensure in the student’s state.

Program Transfer

Should a student transfer programs within Russell Sage College to one that is advertised as leading to professional licensure and certification, and is enrolling in a distance education program, Russell Sage College cannot enroll and/or transfer the student into the program if Russell Sage College determines that the program will not meet licensure requirements in the state where the student is currently located. An attestation form can be sent to the student and utilized to enroll the student if the student attests to an intention to seek employment in a State where Russell Sage College has determined that the program “does meet” the criteria for professional licensure.

Please be advised that international students prior to enrolling in any program at Russell Sage College, living and/or working outside of the United States should confirm with the appropriate certifying agency whether successful completion of any degree program at Russell Sage College will meet the credentialing requirements of the country in which they intend to seek employment.