Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational 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   
_X-1_ Private, in-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions  
_X-1_ Private, out-of-state, not-for-profit degree granting institutions  
_X-1_ Private, in-state, for-profit degree granting institutions 
_X-1_ 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 
_X-2_ 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

X-1, from above, the OBPVS licenses Degree Granting Private Institutions ONLY if those Institutions ALSO offer Non-Degrees and are not accredited. For the Degree elements the OBPVS defers to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education IF the OSRHE enforces a Standard.

X-2: Not if the Programs offered are, "intrinsic for the propagation of faith." But, if Non-Sectarian offerings are made (such as Business Administration or Nursing), yes the religious organization would need an OBPVS license of State Authorization.

• 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, unless the Institution is a) Degree Granting AND SARA-eligible/approved. Or, b) offers a token (SINGLE) Non-Degree Certificate Program AND maintains National or Regional Accreditation from a U.S. Department of Ed. approved Accreditor.

No response provided

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 

None

N/A

N/A

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

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Applications should be submitted complete in hard copy. Prior to submission, contact the OBPVS Director at nhouse@obpvs.ok.gov to determine when the Application's statutory Review Fee must be paid. However, submitting a token/single delayed item under separate cover shortly after the majority of documents are filed is permitted. Submission locks an Applicant's place in-line for the OBPVS review to be initiated on a 1st come, 1st served basis. The only exception is established by regulation and requires the OBPVS to review Change of Ownership type New School Aps. ideally within 30-days to maximize the OBPVS' protection of the School's existing Students. Following completion of a Change of Ownership review, the ordinary New School Ap. will regain its prior place in line. The Application puts many items on the record, such as Secretary of State filing copies. Those remain on-file and don’t have to be updated until changed by the Institution. The aim of the OBPVS is not to look for a reason to deny the Application, instead the Staff works with the Applicant to bring the Application into compliance with the State's standards. Also, the need to have questions about the Application answered and documents revised will not cause an Application to become denied.

The OBPVS strongly urges Applicants NOT to have the Catalog or the Enrollment Agreement professionally printed until AFTER the OBPVS completes its review, due to the likelihood that revisions will be required. Additionally, most Catalogs may be distributed electronically, although a School must make provisions to provide a hard-copy available upon request from a Prospect/Student. The Agency STRONGLY encourages Applicants to make sincere use of the Application Instructions (Form 1440CM) and the Checklists available within the primary Ap. Form (Form 1450CM), and to have questions answered BEFORE incurring excessive amounts of time to try to meet a potentially misunderstood requirement.

The OBPVS will allow/accept forms substantially-similar to its own, such as those required by an Accreditor, and following recipe of the initial Application in hard-copy, subsequent filings may be made electronically if the files are in .pdf, Word®, or Excel® and not too large to be accommodated within the State of Oklahoma's I.T. systems.

http://obpvs.ok.gov, SCHOOLS TAB, Applying for a License.

On the Website, there's a choice of downloading a ZIP File with all possible forms (not all forms apply to every Applicant) or individual Forms. Either method is free-of-charge. When using the ZIP File, the OBPVS suggests the Enabling Statue and Rules not be printed, because those will continue to be available on-line or could be saved electronically by the Applicant. Not printing those two (02) documents saves the majority of printing. If a form on the Website fails to download or becomes corrupted, please email nhouse@obpvs.ok.gov to request the form be transmitted via return email. Or, send a Check or Money Order to the OBPVS with the $25 Statutory Application Fee to be provided with the Application in a hard copy.

None

Yes.

$1,284 following a 7% increase enacted in 2021's Senate Bill 211, plus $200/person to license each Solicitor.

http://obpvs.ok.gov has not been updated for the Fee increases and other changes under SB 211.  For a complete list of OBPVS Fees, email nhouse@obpvs.ok.gov

Solicitors are defined at http://obpvs.ok.gov, RESOURCES TAB, Enabling Statute, Title 70 O.S. §21- 101 and exclude in-house Admission Reps. Following OBPVS licensing of the School, a Solicitor license Application may be submitted by an Institution at a future date for $100/person. 

New 2021 FEES - In April 2021, SB 211 increased all new school, new branch, and annual relicensing fees by seven percent (7%), the first increases since 2004. In addition, other fees were restructured to be paid by OBPVS service users, rather than implementing a larger across the Board increase. An example is the 3-levels of Catalog Change Review Fees. Previously a flat $50, the Fee is now $100, unless a Program(s) is changed (revised or added). Then, the Fee is $150 -- unless a Preliminary Review was conducted usually for an Accreditor that is $50. The Preliminary $50 is then applied against the post-Accreditor Catalog Change. Enrollment Agreement Changer Reviews now cost $40.

Yes

No response provided

Or, as an alternative, a Certificate of Deposit may be placed on deposit with an Oklahoma Financial Institution (Bank, S & L, Credit union)

No.

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes

The Policy applies to ALL Institutions that obtain an OBPVS License of State Authorization, although an Institution may have a different Policy as long as the "different" Policy is more beneficial or advantageous to a Student. Additionally, policy modifications are allowed for Seminars and short Programs, where the Rule has four (04) time periods starting with, "First Week," the Rule's policy does not make sense for Programs of less than a week.

http://obpvs.omes.acsitefactory.com/sites/g/files/gmc741/f/obpvs-form1390cm-rules.pdf. See OAC 565:10-11-3.

None

Annually, as part of the Relicensing process, Schools report the Numbers of Enrollees, Drop-outs, and Graduates BY PROGRAM and SOC Code, along with submitting CPA/PA-Prepared Financial Statements. The OBPVS is also authorized to make Data Calls, particularly in regard to Workforce Development efforts and Legislative Processes.

Annually on June 1st, as part of the Relicensing process. Plus, additional OBPVS submissions are authorized to be required as special Data Calls.

Yes, but, to-date, NOT by Institution name, only in the aggregate, by County, and/or by SOC Code.

LINK for Reporting Financials: http://obpvs.ok.gov, RESOURCES TAB, OBPVS Permanent Rules, OAC 565:10-27-1 and 27-2.

Fines may be assessed of $100 to $2,500. However, the OBPVS Board prefers that the Staff bring a School into compliance, and does not permit the Staff to budget fine/penalty revenues.

http://obpvs.omes.acsitefactory.com/sites/g/files/gmc741/f/obpvs-form1390cm-rules.pdf  See OAC 565:10-19-1.  In addition, statutory late fees are enabled at Title 70 O.S. §21-106(F.)

None.

The process is that same as in-state Institutions. The OBPVS forwards the Complaint to the Institution for its input and, if applicable, a potential resolution. The OBPVS typically will allow thirty (30) days for a detailed response, but may expedite the deadline for time-sensitive matters, or grant a single brief extension. The OBPVS forwarding may or may not contain a list of requested supporting documents to e provided. Upon receipt of the response the Agency may ask the Complainant or the Institution a follow-up questions(s). Complaints are determined based on the OBPVS' law and rules, the Complainant's Catalog and Enrollment Agreement under which she/he enrolled, and the Institution's established policies and procedures.

Note: Complainants are asked to submit only COPIES of documents, not the Complainant's originals.

http://obpvs.ok.gov/Websites/obpvs/images/DOCUMENTS/OBPVS-Form-1250CM.pdf

FYI: The Link has become corrupted.  Please telephone the OBPVS (405/528-3370) or email Director House to request a Complaint Form be emailed, FAXed, or mailed to you via USPS Mail.

The Process only applies to the Institutions that have an OBPVS License. Although, following OBPVS awareness and confirmation of training being offered or provided that requires a license, potential unlicensed Institutions must show a good faith effort to comply (license), or cease operating without a license. The unlicensed Institution's business decision not to license with the OBPVS is most often memorialized on the Institution's Website with one of two, alternative simple disclosures. 1) "Enrollment of Oklahoma residents is not available at this time." Or, 2) "Oklahoma residents are not eligible to receive training at this time."

No

• Phone: 405/528-3370, Ext. 24

None

The OBPVS has unsuccessfully asked the Legislature to strengthen our laws for seven (07) years. For now, while the OBPVS continues to lack statutory authority, the OBPVS strongly encourages a closing School to a) do something responsible with the Transcripts, b) make permanent arrangements for record safekeeping and issuance, c) record and provide those details to the OBPVS for dissemination to future interested persons, and d) update the information on file with the OBPVS when revised.

Phone: 405/528-3370, Ext. 21

There is presently no statutory fee for a Transcript to be issued by the OBPVS for the FEW School's for which Transcripts are held through special permission from the Office of the Oklahoma attorney general. However, the OBPVS requires its own Transcript Request Form, or a substantially similar form be submitted as long as a live or electronic Student Signature is provided.

In addition, the OBPVS has lists of who the last-known holders of Transcripts are for many other Schools going back into the 1970s or 1980s.

Timeframes - The OBPVS Staff dropped to two (02) FTEs in March 2018. Until Fall 2019, the remaining Staff kept up with initial New School Ap. Reviews to complete the reviews within thirty (30) days of receipt. Following multiple serious Staff and family illnesses and accidents in 2021 and 2022, the Agency's issue of initial review inquires fell to 9+ months. During 2023, the OBPVS continues to strive to reduce the time necessary for New School Applicant initial review questions to be issued between sixty (60) and ninety (90) days. AFTER the OBPVS issues its initial review questions, the Applicant has a deadline of one hundred twenty (120) days to complete the applications and become licensed (unless OBPVS-caused delays occur).

NOTE: Until the OBPVS achieves its 60 to 90 day New School Ap. review goal, Applicants may communicate with the OBPVS Director at nhouse@obpvs.ok.gov to ascertain if incurring an application-related expense may be delayed or postponed without stalling the Application's review. Examples include the purchase of a Surety Bond, leasing facility space, and hiring instructors.

No response provided

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