401 Federal Street, Dover, Delaware 19901Phone: (302) 735-4000, Fax: (302) 739-4654
State Authorizations
State Authorization
Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) has a campus in Pomona, California and Lebanon, Oregon. According to Federal and State Regulations, institutions conducting educational activities outside of their home state must receive authorization, exemption, or license to conduct these activities. Educational activities include but are not limited to: online courses and experiential learning opportunities (e.g. clinical rotations). States hold the right to choose whether and how to regulate institutions within its borders. The regulations also require a state to have a process to review, and appropriately act on, complaints about an institution.
The state of California is the only state that is not part of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). State authorization is what allows WesternU to enroll students outside of California into its online programs. In addition, adhering to federal regulations around state authorization and distance learning is tied to the university’s participation in Federal Student Aid programs authorized under Title IV of the HEA.
Western University of Health Sciences pursues authorization to offer distance education programs and experiential learning opportunities in other states. Accordingly, WesternU, like all other California schools, is required to secure individual authorization/exemptions with a respective state, as required by their state law, with respect to its educational activities. While WesternU strives to establish a broad range of appropriate authorization/exemptions for our educational activities, we are unable to guarantee it.
Any inquiries regarding State Authorizations can be direct to:
Ms. Tina Loomis, State Authorization Associate
Western University of Heath Sciences
Office of the Provost
309 E. Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766
909.469.7013
stateauthorizations@westernu.edu
Western University of Health Sciences has obtained special authorization/exemptions to fully operate in the States of California and Oregon. In addition, Western University of Health Sciences has obtained special authorization/exemptions to operate in the following states, based on the program.
Please click on the specific state for additional information about specific programmatic or regulatory requirements.
Inquiries regarding the standards or school/clinical site compliance can be selected below:
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education – Alaska Student Loan Corporation > ConsumerProtection
An institution exempt from authorization requirements under (a)(11) of this section must include a conspicuous statement on the institution’s marketing in the state, indicating that the program is exempt from authorization under as 14.48 and this chapter, because the program is online or distance delivered and the institution does not have a physical presence in the state.
Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (az.gov)
Arkansas State Board of Private Career Education
101 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-371-2000
Email: dhe.private.careered@adhe.edu
Arkansas Department of Higher Education – Resources – Contact SBPCE (adhe.edu)
Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education
An individual may contact the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at 2535 Capitol Oaks Dr, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, Telephone (916) 431-6924, or fax (916) 263-1897.
Colorado Department of Higher Education
1600 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, CO 80202
Main: (303) 862-3001
Fax: (303) 996-1329
Office Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Delaware Department of Education – Never stop learning
John G. Townsend Building – Delaware Department of Education
Florida Department of Education
Office Toll Free 1-888-224-6684
Concerns Regarding a FL-SARA Approved Institution (fldoe.org)
Hawai`i Post-Secondary Education Authorization Program (HPEAP)
Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
335 Merchant Street, Rm. 310, Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-7327 hpeap@dcca.hawaii.gov
Any student complaints regarding Hawaii , please refer to California tab and B.P.P.E.
Office of the State Board Of Education
Attn: Private Postsecondary & Proprietary Schools
P.O. Box 83720
650 W. State Street, Suite 307
Boise, ID 83720-0037
Distance Education Programs (ibhe.org)
Louisiana Board of Regents (laregents.edu)
Degree-Granting Institutional Registration (state.mn.us)
The Minnesota Office of Higher Education office is open to the public. If you need assistance, you have the option to continue receiving support via phone or email, in addition to visiting the agency. Our agency staff will continue to operate in a hybrid working environment, so if you are looking to meet with a particular staff member, please connect with them ahead of time before coming in person. You can find the contact information for agency staff in our directory. Face coverings are recommended, but optional for those visiting the office.
Minnesota Office of Higher Education
1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350
St. Paul, MN 55108-5227
Phone Contact Information:
651.642.0567 or 800.657.3866
Students enrolled in a licensed private postsecondary educational institution have the right to register a legitimate complaint with CPE. Prior to filing a complaint, the student must attempt to resolve the issue with school officials according to the policies of the school. Each institution is required to publish a catalog and have each student complete an enrollment agreement for an enrollment to be legally valid. Please review these documents when considering filing a complaint.
If a student is unable to reach a resolution with the institution, the student can contact CPE and we will attempt to resolve the issue. Until 1 year after the last date of attendance or date on which the damage occurred, whichever is later, a person claiming damage as a result of any act by a postsecondary educational institution or its agents that is a violation of NRS 394.383 to 394.560 inclusive or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. The complaint must set forth the alleged violation and contain other information as required by regulation of the Commission.
Formal complaints are investigated by staff with a decision by the Administrator. If either party does not agree with that decision, an appeal to the full Commission may be requested within 10 days of the Administrator decision.
Students must provide CPE with a copy of the student enrollment agreement, receipt of monies paid, all support documentation related to the allegation and a written statement. Failure to provide support documentation can impact the length of time to complete an investigation or impact the final outcome. CPE will not communicate with a student concerning the investigation until the investigation is concluded unless the agency requires additional information from the student.
Investigations may take several months to complete based the complexity of issues, staff resources and documentation review.
Complaint Form Initial(1).doc (live.com)
Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (nj.gov)
Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE)
1 John Fitch Plaza, 10th Floor | PO Box 542
Trenton, NJ 08625-0542
609-984-2709
New Mexico Higher Education Department | NM Higher Education Department (state.nm.us)
2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505-2100
Email: private.schools@state.nm.us
Home | North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education
North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education
State Capitol 15th Floor, 600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 270
Bismarck, ND 58505-0610
Phone: 701-328-3180
E-mail: cte@nd.gov –
Office Hours:
- Monday through Thursday: 7:30 am-5:00 pm (CDT)
- Friday: 7:30 am-2:00 pm (CDT)
This school is a non-profit corporation and is authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer the academic degrees described herein, following a determination that state academic standards will be satisfied under OAR 583-030. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Office of Degree Authorization, Higher Education Coordinating Commission, 775 Court St NE, Salem, Oregon 97301.
Additional state and program information will be provided here as it becomes available.
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Western University of Health Sciences is not regulated in Texas under Chapter 132 of the Texas Education Code.
Student Complaints:
An individual may contact the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education for review of a complaint. The bureau may be contacted at 2535 Capitol Oaks Dr, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, Telephone (916) 431-6924, or fax (916) 263-1897.
Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education – BPPE
Western University of Health Sciences is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Western University of Health Sciences to offer field placement components for specific degree programs. The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs. Authorization by the Council does not carry with it an endorsement by the Council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at degreeauthorization@wsac.wa.gov.
Western University of Health Sciences is authorized to provide clinical experiences in the State of Washington for the programs listed below. As per WAC 250-61-151(2)(e), WesternU must provide written disclosure to students and prospective students whether courses or programs potentially leading to licensure or post-licensure requirements meet such requirements in the state in which the student or prospective student is located. WesternU and our colleges have reviewed the educational programs and made the determination that the following programs meet the educational requirements necessary for licensure in the State of Washington. However, each professional licensing board may have additional requirements beyond these educational requirements. The student, graduate, or prospective licensee should review all licensing requirements with the professional licensing board or agency.
The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program meets the educational requirements for post graduate training which then may lead to professional licensure as an osteopathic physician in the State of Washington.
The Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a podiatrist in the State of Washington.
The Doctor of Dental Medicine program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a dentist in the State of Washington.
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a veterinarian in the State of Washington.
The Doctor of Pharmacy program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a pharmacist in the State of Washington.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a physical therapist in the State of Washington.
The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a physician assistant in the State of Washington.
The Master of Science in Nursing programs meet the educational requirements leading to professional licensure as a nurse practitioner in the State of Washington. Please contact the Washington State Department of Health for additional information about nursing licensure.
For Washington State residents seeking information and resources about student loan repayment or seeking to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please contact the Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (wvhepc.edu)
Student-Complaint-Process.pdf (wvhepc.edu)