How to Join

Eligibility for Membership

States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories may join SARA as “member states.” A state’s decision to seek membership in SARA is voluntary.
The state, territory or district must be a member of one of the four interstate regional compacts that administer SARA or must have concluded an affiliation agreement with such a compact covering SARA activity.
The state agency or entity responsible for joining SARA must have the legal authority under state law to enter into an interstate agreement that covers all of the elements of SARA.

States apply for SARA membership through a uniform state application process, demonstrating to the satisfaction of their regional compact that they meet the policies established for state membership in SARA.
State completes the standard SARA State Application and submits it to WICHE.
W- SARA Regional Steering Committee (RSC) and WICHE staff review the application to ensure that the state meets policies established in the SARA manual for state membership in SARA.
Upon recommendation of the RSC, WICHE approves or denies state application and notifies the state and NC-SARA of its decision.
States apply to WICHE for renewal every two years.

Detailed information about state membership and the state application process in SARA is in the SARA Manual, Section 2.