Online Learning at NOVA
Northern Virginia Community College is a participating institution in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). By federal regulation 34 CFR 668.43, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) must disclose to prospective out-of-state students which states its programs “meet” and “do not meet” the applicable educational requirements for professional licensure or certification.
Prospective students outside the Commonwealth of Virginia who may enroll in a program at NOVA that prepares students for external certification or licensure or may require clinical placements or internships should be from a state where the program “meets” the educational requirements for certification or licensure.
If the student is from a state where the NOVA program “does not meet” the student's home state requirements and the student is enrolled in at least one course online their first semester in the program, the student must provide a written attestation where they intend to seek employment after completing the program. Online students cannot enroll if they reside and plan to seek employment in a state where the NOVA program “does not meet” that state’s requirements for certification or licensure.
Below, you will find contact information for Virginia and out-of-state licensing agencies. This list is regularly updated and subject to change.
Complaint Resolution
NOVA’s Student Grievance Process for Academic and Non-Academic Decisions is described in the NOVA Student Handbook. It is the policy of Northern Virginia Community College to provide fair and orderly procedures to resolve student grievances. Nothing in this policy prevents a student from discussing a complaint informally with any appropriate College employee, but students must follow the specific procedures and timelines in the Student Handbook to initiate a formal grievance.
In accordance with the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, the complaint procedures outlined in the NOVA Student Handbook are subject to oversight of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) in complaints arising from students living outside Virginia who are enrolled in online course(s) through NOVA Online. If an issue cannot be resolved by NOVA's internal processes, students may file a formal complaint directly with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Grade appeals and student conduct appeals are not allowed under SARA.
Students residing outside of Virginia can find information about their state’s student complaint procedures in the list below.
Northern Virginia Community College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.