California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

Indicate the types of institutions that your agency authorizes. 

• Note: Some agencies may refer to out-of-state public institutions as “private colleges” in their law.  If this is the case for your agency, please select “public, out-of-state degree granting institutions” for purposes of this Guide so that the out-of-state public institution will find appropriate information.
• Note: If your agency is a coordinating board, your agency may have one division with some authority such as program approval over in-state public institutions that are established per statute, which is structured differently than another division of your agency with state authorization authority over non-public institutions that they “license” pursuant to different statute(s).

____    Public, in-state degree granting institutions
____    Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions        
_X__    Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions 
____    Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions    
_X__    Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____    Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____    Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
____    Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
_X__    Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
_X__    Non-degree, for-profit institutions
____    Religious institutions
____    Tribally-controlled institutions
_____    Federal Institutions
_____    Municipal institutions

• For example, an agency may require an institution apply for licensure for institutional approval and also require the institution to apply for specific program(s) approval.

____ Institution   

____ Program   

_X__ Both

The Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (bureau) has oversight of California private postsecondary institutions that have a physical presence in California and offer postsecondary education to the public for an institutional charge. Certain out of state private postsecondary educational institutions must register with the bureau, pay a fee and comply with specific sections of the California Private Postsecondary Act of 2009. The bureau has limited oversight of these out of state registered institutions.

The bureau provides approval for the institution and the programs offered by the institution.

• Meaning as example, the state regulates an out-of-state institution for merely enrolling a student into a distance education program
• Meaning as example, a solely online program that does not have any internships and practicums

No

The bureau has regulatory authority over institutions that have a physical presence in California and offer postsecondary education to the public for an institutional charge. Certain out of state private postsecondary educational institutions, defined as private entities without a physical presence in California that offer distance education to California residents for an institutional charge, regardless of whether the institution has affiliated institutions or institutional locations in California, are required to register with the bureau. The bureau has limited regulatory authority regarding these institutions. The bureau does not approve the institution or its programs.

Yes and No

Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for: 
____ Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions
_X__ Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions
_X__ Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____ Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
____ Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
____ Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
____ Non-degree, for-profit institutions
____ Religious institutions
____ Tribally-controlled institutions
____ Federal Institutions
____ Municipal institutions

The bureau approves both accredited and non-accredited institutions, however degree granting institutions must obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Through the application process, the bureau verifies whether the institution has a California location.

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Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency? 

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The bureau does not have a definition for physical presence, however The Act, section 94858 defines a private postsecondary educational institution as a private entity with a physical presence in this state that offers postsecondary education to the public for an institutional charge.

The bureau has multiple types of approval applications (Approval to Operate an Institution Non-Accredited, Approval to Operate an Accredited Institution).    A list of the various applications can be found at: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/schools/applications.shtml. Institutions must complete the application and pay the associated fee(s). 

In accordance with the Act section 94887, an approval to operate shall be granted only after an applicant has presented sufficient evidence to the burau and the bureau has independently verified the information provided by the applicant through site visits or other methods deemed appropriate by the bureau, that the applicant has the capacity to satisfy the minimum operating standards.  The bureau shall deny any application for an approval to operate if the application does not satisfy those standards.

Laws: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/lawsregs/ppe_act.pdf

Regulations: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/lawsregs/regs.pdf

Applications: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/schools/applications.shtml

Workshop: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/schools/app_workshop.pdf

https://www.bppe.ca.gov/schools/applications.shtml

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There is a fee for each application. The fee must be paid prior to the processing of any application.  The fee schedule can be found in the California Code of Regulations (5, CCR) section 94930.5.  The fee is also listed on each application.

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Regulation: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/lawsregs/regs.pdf

Application: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/lawsregs/regs.pdf

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No

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Yes

Institutions subject to Bureau approval and registration requirements must pay into STRF, and their students are eligible for financial relief if their institutions or programs close or decline in quality or value.

https://www.bppe.ca.gov/students/strf.shtml

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Bureau-approved institutions are required to provide 100% refunds, less a reasonable deposit or application fee, to students who provide notice of cancellation through attendance at the first class session, or the seventh day after enrollment, whoever is later. Institutions must provide a pro-rata refund of moneys paid to students who completed 60 percent or less of the period of attendance. Institutions must provide full refunds to students in cases of institutional or program closure prior to student complete, unless a comparable teach-out option is available and the student chooses that option.

Institutions subject to Bureau approval.

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Out of state institutions are required to register with the Bureau. Beginning in 2022, the registration is valid for five years and must be renewed accordingly. Institutions are required to provide the Bureau with specified information related to the risks posed to students, and the Bureau may deny or place conditions on the registration of institutions that pose significant risks to Californians.

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The Bureau may issue administrative citations (The Act, section 94936), place an institution on probation, seek revocation of an institution’s approval to operate and seek reimbursement for the cost of investigation, through the administrative process (The Act, section 94937). The Bureau may deny or place conditions on the registrations of out-of-state institutions, limiting their ability to operate in California (The Act, section 94801.5).

https://www.bppe.ca.gov/lawsregs/prop_discgdlines.pdf

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The bureau has limited regulatory authority for registered out of state institutions. The bureau may enforce laws related to compliance with the Student Tuition Recovery Fund and its disclosure to students.

https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml

With the bureau’s limited authority complaints regarding out of state institutions are referred to the appropriate state or federal authority.

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Contact Name:

Title:

Agency:  Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education

Address:  PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA  95798-0818

Email: bppe@dca.ca.gov

Phone: (916) 431-6959 or Toll Free: (888) 370-7589

URL:  https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml

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The Act, section 94926 provides …….

At least 30 days prior to closing, the institution shall notify the bureau in writing of its intention to close. The notice shall be accompanied by a closure plan, which shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, all of the following:

(a) A plan for providing teach-outs of educational programs, including any agreements with any other postsecondary educational institutions to provide teach-outs.

(b) If no teach-out plan is contemplated, or for students who do not wish to participate in a teach-out, arrangements for making refunds within 45 days from the date of closure, or for institutions that participate in federal student financial aid programs arrangements for making refunds and returning federal student financial aid program funds.

(c) If the institution is a participant in federal student financial aid programs, it shall provide students information concerning these programs and institutional closures.

(d) A plan for the disposition of student records.

In addition, the Act, section 94927.5 provides…….

(a) Prior to closing, an institution shall provide the bureau with the following:

Copies of pertinent student records, including transcripts, in hardcopy or electronic format, as determined by the bureau, pursuant to regulations adopted by the bureau.

If the institution is an accredited institution, a plan for the retention of records and transcripts, approved by the institution’s accrediting agency, that provides information as to how a student may obtain a transcript or any other information about the student’s coursework and degrees completed.

The bureau has established a form and informational website regarding “Successful School Closures” https://www.bppe.ca.gov/schools/success_closure.shtml.  The voluntary “School Closure Plan Form” is available at: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/forms_pubs/closed_school.pdf.

If the institution has provided the records to the bureau, information about requesting transcripts may be found at:  https://www.bppe.ca.gov/students/transcripts.shtml

• Agency Name: Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
• Contact Phone: (916) 574-8900 or Toll Free (888) 370-7589
• Contact Address: PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, Ca 95798-0818
•  Contact Email: bppe.transcripts@dca.ca.gov
• Contact web site: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/students/transcript_req.pdf

Institutions may also name their own “Custodian of Record, whom is identified in the school closure plan.

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Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.