Distance Learning

Baylor College of Medicine is approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). As a member of NC-SARA, Baylor is authorized to enroll students from other NC-SARA member states. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance learning. Distance learning encompasses both distance education (i.e., instructor and student are in geographically separate locations) and supervised field experiences (e.g., clinical rotations in another state or country).

While the College offers select distance learning courses, it does not have any degree programs that are solely offered in a distance learning format. For more information about distance learning at the College, see the College’s Distance Learning Policy.

All students, including those participating in distance learning courses, must initially follow the Baylor grievance processes. If a student complaint is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, other resources include:

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
The THECB is the SARA portal agency for Texas. After exhausting the institutional grievance processes, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board student complaint process is available.

State Agency in Student’s State of Residence
Contact the state agency responsible for handling student complaints in the distance learning student’s state of residence. See a listing of the responsible state agencies.

The Baylor Institutional Refund Policy applies to all students, including distance learning students.

Where distance learning is included within a degree plan leading to professional licensure and/or certification, the College is in full compliance with all licensing authorities and certifying agencies.

School of Health Professions
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Anesthesia: The DNP program currently offers select courses in a distance learning format. The DNP Program – Nurse Anesthesia is accredited by the COA. Graduates are therefore eligible to take the National Certification Examination offered by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists and to apply for licensure/authorization from various state nursing licensing authorities.
Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics: The Orthotics and Prosthetics program offers distance learning through clinical rotations and online courses in states other than Texas as well as selected international rotations. The OP program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Graduates from a CAAHEP-accredited OP program are eligible to take the National Certification Examination offered by the American Board of Certification and to apply for licensure from various state licensing authorities.

School of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.): The M.D. program allows distance learning through U.S. extramural/away elective clinical rotations or international rotations, limited to those sites who are AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunity (VSLO) members or are associated with the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) program. The M.D. degree program is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Graduates are eligible to take the required examinations leading to licensure as a physician.

National School for Tropical Medicine
The National School for Tropical Medicine offers a Diploma in Tropical Medicine, a non-degree course in tropical medicine for healthcare professionals and students. This course is open to out-of-state students. Participants who complete the course are eligible to apply for the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene Certificate of Knowledge Examination.

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences does not currently offer distance learning courses or degree plans leading to professional certification or licensure.