Mississippi Commission of Proprietary School and College Registration

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 
__X__    Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions    
__X__    Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions
__X__    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.

NO

____ Institution   

_____ Program   

_____ Both

The Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration (CPSCR) is responsible for the administration of the Mississippi Proprietary School and College Registration Law, Title 75, Chapter 60, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.  CPSCR serves as the state approval and licensing authority for proprietary schools offering vocational/occupational/technical post-secondary education.

CPSCR does not authorized any institutions offering academic programs, only vocational/technical/occupational programs.

• 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

Any institution not based in the State of Mississippi, whether or not it offers instruction to residents of Mississippi only over the Internet, is determined to need a Certificate of Registration issued by the Commission to offer postsecondary instruction in the State if they engage in at least one of the following activities:

1. The institution maintains a telephone number with a Mississippi area code;
2. The institution maintains a postal address with a Mississippi zip code;
3. The institution markets and/or recruits Mississippi students via any means of media which originates in Mississippi;
4. The institution maintains an Internet URL which originates in Mississippi or utilizes an ISP which is based in Mississippi;
5. The institution provides payment reportable for income tax purposes via either a W-2 or Form 1099 to any individual resident of the State for any purpose associated with the institution’s Mississippi students.

No

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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

For institutions wishing to offer degrees, accreditation is required from an accrediting agency recognized/approved by the US Department of Education. Institutions offering diploma or certificates, accreditation is not required. However, all state laws on professional licensure must be adhered to by all registered CPSCR schools.

Any institution not based in the State of Mississippi, whether or not it offers instruction to residents of Mississippi only over the Internet, is determined to need a Certificate of Registration issued by the Commission to offer postsecondary instruction in the State if they engage in at least one of the following activities:

1. The institution maintains a telephone number with a Mississippi area code;
2. The institution maintains a postal address with a Mississippi zip code;
3. The institution markets and/or recruits Mississippi students via any means of media which originates in Mississippi;
4. The institution maintains an Internet URL which originates in Mississippi or utilizes an ISP which is based in Mississippi;
5. The institution provides payment reportable for income tax purposes via either a W-2 or Form 1099 to any individual resident of the State for any purpose associated with the institution’s Mississippi students.

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

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

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Any person interested in making application for a certificate of registration or an agent's permit under the Mississippi Proprietary School and College Registration Law should contact, in writing;

Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211

The application packet fee is $25.00 and must be submitted by check or money order.

After receipt of the written request and a $25.00 application fee, each prospective applicant will be emailed access login to the online registration system, a copy of the Mississippi Proprietary School and College Registration Regulations, MS Law.

In your letter, please state:
1 - Type of School
2 - Location/Proposed Location
3 - Estimated date of opening/Offering Programs
4 – Email Address

https://www.mccb.edu/cpscr-application-process

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Application fee: At the time you apply, the fee of $3000+ ($2500 for the application & $500 for each agent license). All completed applications must be submitted 30 days prior to a Commission meeting.

Review the Fee schedule in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

Review the Fee schedule in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

The CPSCR fee schedule in located in the CPSCR Regulations for State Oversight - https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

Yes – All CPSCR registered institutions are required in statute to carry a surety bond.

The CSPCR office should be contacted for a copy of the MS forms required as part of the application process.

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No, MS does not have a Student Tuition Recovery Fund. All schools carry a surety bond as part of their required state authorization from CPSCR. Miss. Code Ann. § 75-60-17 allows CPSCR to make claims to the surety bond for processes related to school closure and student refunds of unearned tuition.

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No

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Out-of-state institutions not required to register with CPSCR must submit a letter of continued compliance with out-of-state criteria each year.

Annually

No

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

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Regulation 3.21, 3.22, & 3.23.

https://www.mccb.edu/regulations-and-guidelines

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Complaints on institutions not directly authorized by CPSCR, should direct their complaint to the home state in which the institution is located. However, MS residents may contact CPSCR for information.

https://www.mccb.edu/cpscr-complaints

Complaints on institutions not directly authorized by CPSCR, should direct their complaint to the home state in which the institution is located. However, MS residents may contact CPSCR for information.

Complaints about academic institutions will be referred to MCCA. Otherwise, CPSCR can facilitate an investigation. Depending upon the nature of the complaint, the matter may be referred to the MS AG’s Consumer Protection Division.

Contact Name: Kim Verneuille, Ed.D.
Title: Director
Agency: Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration
Address: 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211
Email: kverneuille@mccb.edu
Phone: 601-432-6185
URL: https://www.mccb.edu/offices/proprietary-schools

CPSCR, MCCA and the AG are the primary/central contacts for complaints.

https://www.mccb.edu/closed-schools-and-transcripts

Agency Name: Commission on Proprietary Schools and College Registration
Contact Person: Kim Verneuille, Ed.D. or Megan Atkins
Contact Phone: 601-432-6185 or 601-432-6518
Contact Address: 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211
Contact Email: transcriptrequest@mccb.edu
Contact website: https://www.mccb.edu/closed-schools-and-transcripts

Before the end of FY2024, CPSCR will have a working partnership for Diploma Sender to handle the closed school records for students.

Rules and regulations are always being reviewed and updated. Please contact the CPSCR office with specific questions.

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