Accreditations Approvals and Professional Licensure
Lesley University was founded in 1909 and is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Lesley University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) www.neche.org. Many individual programs are also accredited or approved by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and other organizations. The university is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) nasad.arts-accredit.org. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (www.mass.edu/home.asp) has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor (including Bachelor of Social Work), Master degrees (including Master of Education and Master of Social Work), Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, Master of Fine Arts in Photography, and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study in the fields of professional education and related educational services, general education, human services, mental health, and management and organizational behavior, certificates, and education leading to the degree of Associate in education and human services, and Doctors of Philosophy in Expressive Therapies, Educational Studies, and Counseling and Psychology. Program -specific accreditation and approval information is available on the university website at this link: lesley.edu/about/accreditations-state-approvals.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements
Lesley University is an approved SARA institution. As described by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the SARA portal entity for Massachusetts, SARA is an acronym for the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, which is an interstate agreement that allows colleges and universities located in a SARA member state to offer online classes in other SARA member states without needing to obtain authorization to do so from each state individually. SARA consists of a national network of member states, districts, and territories that agree to comply with the rules, policies, and procedures set forth by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). According to NC-SARA, membership in SARA includes 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and California is the only state that has not joined SARA.
California
Lesley University’s online education programs are offered to residents of California.
Lesley University is approved to operate pursuant to California Education Code (CEC) section 94890(a)(1), which approves Lesley University due to its accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Lesley is not subject to approval or exemption by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
Programs Leading to Professional Licensure
Lesley offers programs approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that meet current educational requirements for Initial, Professional, Specialist and Educator Licensure and Endorsements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts is a member state of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) and a signatory of the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which facilitates but does not guarantee the transfer educator licensure between member states (not necessarily immediate reciprocity).
Depending on your professional goals, where you reside or plan to teach, and the licensure structures that exist within that state, there are diverse pathways to licensure that may be relevant and some may require additional coursework, required tests, assessments, and/or classroom experiences. State licensing boards complete their own review of licensure applications and determine eligibility.
Many graduates join professions in education and mental health and well-being that require state licensure or benefit from national credentialing. More detailed information is available on the university website at Licensure and Credentialing Information. Please note that licensure requirements vary from state to state, are a matter of individual state legislation, and are outside the control of educational institutions. State licensing boards make determinations as to whether an applicant’s program of study meets the educational requirements for a license at the time of licensure application.
We strongly encourage prospective applicants who intend to pursue licensure or credentialing to review these Licensure and Credentialing Information documents for their respective programs of interest prior to applying to the program. This is in accordance with Lesley University’s participation in SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and with federal regulations.
Additional State Approvals
The most up to date information on additional state approvals can be found on the university website at Accreditations, Licensure and Degree-Granting Authority.
Maine
Maine participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
The Maine State Board of Education has approved authorization to Lesley University to offer the following programs: Curriculum and Instruction: Individually Designed M.Ed.
Maine consumer complaint information: http://www.maine.gov/doe/
Maine Department of Education
Attention: Complaint Investigator
23 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0023
207.624.6846
Massachusetts
Lesley University is recognized as a nonprofit organization under Massachusetts law and as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has granted Lesley University degree-granting authority for: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor, Master, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts and Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study, education leading to the degree of Associate in education and human services, and Doctor of Philosophy in: Expressive Therapies, Educational Studies, and Counseling and Psychology.
Massachusetts consumer complaint process: http://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp
Massachusetts Department of Higher Education
One Ashburton Place, Room 1401, Boston, MA 02108
617.994.6950
Program-Specific Accreditation
Education: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Mental Health & Well-being: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE).
- The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Drama Therapy Program is accredited by the North American Drama Therapy Association.
- The Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Dance Therapy Program is approved by the American Dance Therapy Association.
- The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Music Therapy Program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.
- The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education’s Commission on Accreditation.
- The Master of Social Work (MSW) is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on Accreditation.
Liberal Arts & Business: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
- The baccalaureate Business program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP).
College of Art and Design: All programs are encompassed under our institutional accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- Member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design
In addition to accrediting the university, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) has approved the programs listed below and granted “Plan Approval” to the programs listed below in italics:
Email: state.approvals@lesley.edu with questions about Lesley University accreditations and state approvals.