Higher education is governed by state, federal and international laws and regulations; including the delivery of online courses and programs, internships and other experiential learning activities, as well as programs designed and advertised as leading to professional licensure or certification. Where you are physically located while enrolled at SDSU matters.
Your Location Matters
If you are participating in any of the following outside of South Dakota or have intention of relocating outside of South Dakota as an SDSU student may impact SDSU's ability to serve you.
- Enrolling in an online program or taking an online course.
- Completing an on-campus program with an internship or other experiential learning activity (such as, but not limited to, clinicals, externships, student teaching, supervised field experiences, co-curricular courses, fellowships, seminars, etc.)
- Enrolling in a program that leads to professional licensure or certification.
SDSU may not be able to provide online programs or experiential learning activities in all states or countries due to their laws and regulations.
Prior to enrolling in an online course or program students must:
- Review the SDSU State Authorization webpage.
- If after reviewing the SDSU State Authorization webpage, you are unclear of your state or country’s authorization status, consult the SDSU Continuing and Distance Education Office to ensure you are located in a state or country that has approved online education from SDSU.
- If you are an international student studying in the U.S., consult SDSU International Affairs for additional information regarding to enrollment in online courses.
Prior to enrolling in an internship or other experiential learning activity (such as, but not limited to, clinicals, externships, student teaching, supervised field experiences, co-curricular courses, fellowships, seminars, etc.) outside of South Dakota students must:
- Be aware that some states have regulations that may limit or delay your ability to complete an internship or other experiential learning activity. This includes state employment laws, prior approval processes, and state licensing boards.
- Consult your professor and/or adviser.
- Review the SDSU State Authorization webpage.
- If after reviewing the SDSU State Authorization webpage, you are unclear of your state or country’s authorization status, consult the SDSU Continuing and Distance Education Office.
Prior to enrolling in a program that leads to professional licensure or certification students must:
- Consult SDSU personnel with direct oversight of the academic program.
- Reference the Professional Licensure and Certification webpage..
- Determine whether the educational program meets the licensure or certification requirements of the applicable state.
- SDSU is unable to admit and enroll students who will be physically located in a state at initial time of enrollment in the program in which the program does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification or SDSU has not yet determined to meet those requirements.
- If after reviewing the Professional Licensure and Certification webpage, you are unclear of your state or country’s authorization status, consult the SDSU Continuing and Distance Education Office.
Reporting Location
Application - General Admission
Every student must report a current address at the time of initial enrollment at SDSU. Prospective students should keep in mind that licensing and authorization requirements vary by state.
Application - Professional Licensure or Certification Program
Students working towards a program that leads to professional licensure or certification will be prompted during the program admission process to indicate where they intend to be physically located at initial time of enrollment (first day of class, first semester) in the program.
Registration
Prior to course registration, students are required to report where they will be physically located for each upcoming semester.
For each semester in the registration period, students will select one of the following options in Registration Self-Service:
- A state or territory they will be located in.
- That they will be located outside of the country.
- That they will not be attending or will have graduated prior to the start of the term and will not be enrolled.
Change in Location
In situations where a student’s educational plan changes after registration, they shall inform SDSU of any changes to their physical location. Students will have the opportunity to update their location at the time of attendance confirmation and at any time by modifying their location in Registration Self-Service.
Impact
A change a student’s physical location may impact the following:
- Receipt of financial aid or benefits.
- Ability to complete the degree program or course.
- Ability to sit for professional licensure or certification.
Student Responsibility
It is a student’s responsibility to contact SDSU personnel with direct oversight of their program if there is a change in physical location. By doing this, they can assist in ensuring that the educational program and activity you are pursuing or considering pursuing outside of South Dakota has authorization.