Indiana Office for Career and Technical Schools

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                 
____     Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions 
____     Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions  
____     Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
____     Private, out-of-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
_X__     Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
_X__     Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
____     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.

_X___ Institution     

_____ Program     

_____ Both

OCTS Authorization is defined by Indiana Code (IC 22-4.1-21-2) Certification of a status of approval or authorization to do business as a postsecondary proprietary educational institution. OCTS provides authorization at the institutional level and does not provide program or curriculum approval.

• 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

Yes

If the institution is 100% online and located in Indiana, they require authorization. If the institution is 100% online and located outside of Indiana, and they come into Indiana for conducting training at a physical location, for the solicitation or enrollment of Indiana residents, they require authorization. If the 100% online institution advertising, soliciting, or enrolling students in Indiana or wishing to be included on Indiana’s Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), they require to be regulated by OCTS.

No

N/A

Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for:
_____  Public, out-of-state degree granting institutions                 
_____  Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions 
_____  Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions  
_____  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

Regional or national accreditation is not required for OCTS accreditation.

Physical presence, conducts training, and performs solicitation or enrollment of residents in Indiana.

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

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

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See c below.

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

Institutions must submit a Determination of Status Questionnaire for OCTS to determine if the institution meets the definition of a non-degree granting, non-credit bearing, postsecondary proprietary educational institution. Once it is determined that the institution requires accreditation, the institution will complete the New School Orientation then submit the Initial Application for Authorization including all documentation and fees and a comprehensive site visit. Authorization is not guaranteed to be awarded, OCTS authorization is not a license. If Temporary Authorization is awarded, the institution will operate for up to 11 months before the Application for Full Authorization is required to be submitted. Once Full Authorization is awarded, the authorization status will last for one year and an annual renewal application, documentation and fees is required.

Currently, working to digitalize the OCTS process, including Determination of Status Questionnaire and application for authorization.

Yes

Initial Application Fee

• In-state $1,000
• Out-of-State $2,000
• Accreditation Renewal $500

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

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Yes

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

The Surety Bond amount is determined by the amount of tuition and fees the institution incurs during the previous year.

Yes

All institutions are regulated by OCTS.

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

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Yes

All institutions are regulated by OCTS.

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

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Program information (name, cost, length, credential earned); student level data (graduation rate, graduation & drop, placement (if applicable)).

Student level data is reported quarterly

No

None – spreadsheet is emailed to OCTS@dwd.in.gov

Currently, working to digitalize the OCTS process, including data reporting.

If the institution does not submit documentation by the expiration date, the institution’s authorization status will be suspended until the documentation is submitted and deemed valid. If the institution does not submit the quarterly payment to the Career College Student Assurance Fund (CCSAF) by the due date, the institution’s authorization status will be suspended until the CCSAF payment is received. If the institution is suspended AND the CCSAF payment is not received by the due date, the institution’s authorization status may be revoked, and the institution will not be able to obtain authorization in Indiana for 5 years.

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Students filing claims need to meet the requirements:

1. Be a current or former student (within 5 years) in a program at a school regulated by OCTS.
2. Follow and exhaust the school’s complaint resolution process with the school directly; or provide a detailed explanation as to why the school’s complaint process was not completed.
3. File a formal claim with OCTS by completing the online Student Complaint Form, and attaching the following documents:

• A statement of the facts supporting the claim and outlining the problem, and
• A copy of the enrollment agreement signed by the student, and
• Copies of all receipts for tuition paid by cash, check, money order or credit card, and
• Any other material which substantiates the claim.

When the student’s initial claim is determined valid by OCTS, OCTS will forward a copy of the claim to the school, and the school will have three weeks to respond.  Upon receipt of the school’s response, OCTS will adjudicate the claim and issue a final determination.  Both the student and the school will receive notification of the OCTS final determination.

www.octs.dwd.in.gov

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OCTS handles all student complaints for institutions accredited by OCTS.

Contact Name: Jessica Deaton

Title: Director of Indiana Office for Career and Technical Schools (OCTS)

Agency: Department of Workforce Development

Address: 10 N Senate Ave, Rm 308, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Email: OCTS@dwd.in.gov

Phone:

URL: https://www.OCTS.dwd.in.gov

OCTS currently only accepts written student complaints using the Student Complaint Form.

OCTS can only order a tuition refund if a portion or all the tuition payment is out-of-pocket. If the complaint is ADA or EO in nature, the student is referred to the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.

If OCTS is aware ahead of the closure, OCTS requests the records to be sent to OCTS. OCTS will then service the records or they will be sent to the Indiana Archives and Records Administration.

Agency Name: OCTS or IARA
Contact Person: Barbara Buffington
Contact Phone:
Contact Address: 10 N Senate Ave, Rm 308, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Contact Email: OCTS@dwd.in.gov
Contact web site: https://www.in.gov/dwd/2731.htm

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