North Carolina Community College System-Office of Proprietary Schools
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1: Important Agency Information to Note
The Office of Proprietary Schools acts as the administrative body of the State Board of Proprietary Schools. The State Board of Proprietary Schools is under the North Carolina Community College System. The State Board of Community Colleges licenses proprietary schools upon the recommendation of the State Board of Proprietary Schools. Proprietary Schools are regulated pursuant to N.C.G.S. Article 8, Chapter 115D and Title 2 of the State Board of Community Colleges Code.
2: Types of Educational Providers Authorized
____ 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
_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
_X__ Non-degree, for-profit institutions
____ Religious institutions
____ Tribally-controlled institutions
____ Federal Institutions
____ Municipal institutions
_____Institution _____Program __X___Both
No response provided
3: Accreditation
No
No response provided
Accreditation 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
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4: Exemptions
§ 115D‑88. Exemptions. It is the purpose of this Article to include all private schools operated for profit: Provided, that the following schools shall be exempt from the provisions of this Article: (1) Nonprofit schools conducted by (i) charities that are exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code where no fee or tuition is charged to the student or (ii) religious institutions. 1 NC General Statutes- Chapter 115D Article 8(2) Schools maintained or classes conducted by employers for their own employees where no fee or tuition is charged to the student. (3) (4) (4a) (4b) (4c) (5) (6) Courses of instruction given by any fraternal society, civic club, or benevolent order, which courses are not operated for profit. Any school for which there is another legally existing licensing or approving board or agency in this State. Classes or schools that are equipment‑specific to purchasers, users, classes, or schools offering training or instruction to acquaint purchasers or users with equipment capabilities. Repealed by Session Laws 2011‑21, s. 2, effective July 1, 2011. Schools Classes or schools that the State Board, acting by and through the State Board of Proprietary determines are avocational, recreational, self‑improvement, or continuing education for already trained and occupationally qualified individuals. Any established university, professional, or liberal arts college, public or private school regulated or recognized pursuant to Chapter 115C of the General Statutes or by any other State Agency, or any State institution which has heretofore offered, or which may hereinafter offer one or more courses covered in this Article: Provided, that the tuition fees and charges, if any, made by such university, college, high school, or State institution shall be collected by their regular officers in accordance with the rules prescribed by the board of trustees or governing body of such university, college, high school, or State institution; but provisions of the Article shall apply to all proprietary schools as defined in this Article, and operated within the State of North Carolina as such institutions, except schools for which there are other legally existing licensing boards or agencies. Any institution that is exempt from licensure pursuant to G.S. 116‑15(c). (1955, c. 1372, art. 30, ss. 1, 2; 1957, c. 1000; 1961, c. 1175, s. 2; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 1983, c. 768, s. 10; 1987, c. 442, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 877, s. 2; 2011‑21, s. 2; 2011‑308, s. 2.)
No response provided
5: Authorization of Distance Education
A physical presence is required.
No response provided
A physical presence is required.
No response provided
6: Physical Presence Policy
A physical presence is required for proprietary licensing in NC. It is commonly triggered by leasing or owning a physical location in North Carolina, specifically targeting ads to North Carolina citizens through local media or billboards (local advertising does not include general or national advertising), maintaining teaching or other faculty in North Carolina, or actively maintaining locations in North Carolina to recruit and enroll North Carolina residents. Without a physical presence, the institution would not be required to obtain proprietary licensing in NC for non-degree vocational programs. I would refer you to the Distance Education statement on our website: https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/about-us/state-board/state-board-of-proprietary-schools/distance-education/.
Please note that our response is limited to non-degree vocational programs. The UNC System Office has exclusive authority to license degree programs in our state. If the institution offers any degree programs, it must contact that entity to determine if licensing is required.
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7: Student Complaints - SARA Participating Institutions
Within Office of Proprietary Schools
Scott Corl; corls@nccommunitycolleges.edu
No response provided
8: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
A physical presence is required for licensing. We do not regulate out of state institutions and would refer students to that state’s regulatory agency or the NC Attorney General’s Office for NC students.
No response provided
A physical presence is required for our oversight.
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9: Surety Bonds
A physical presence is required for licensing. Licensed proprietary schools are currently required to have a surety bond the first five years of licensing.
There is no web link. The bond must be downloaded from within our licensing portal.
No response provided
10: Tuition Refund Policy
Yes.
All licensed proprietary schools.
The policy and regulations shall provide for, at a minimum, a full refund if a student withdraws before the first day of class or the school cancels the class and a seventy‑five percent (75%) refund if the student withdraws within the first twenty‑five percent (25%) of the period of enrollment for which the student was charged.
11: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
Yes
All licensed proprietary schools.
No response provided
12: Reporting
Enrollment and graduation
annually
No
No response provided
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13: Enforcement
License suspension or withdrawal.
State Board Code - NCCCS (nccommunitycolleges.edu) –see Title 2
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14: Application Process
Preliminary Application/Checklist for Initial Licensing/Portal Application/Proprietary Board Recommendation/NC Community College Board licensing.
No response provided
15: Fees Associated with Authorization
2A SBCCC 300.6 North Carolina Proprietary School Fee Schedule Each proprietary school subject to Article 8 of Chapter 115D shall make payment as directed by the SBPS according to the following fee schedule:
(1) Initial license - $5,000.
(2) Annual license renewal - $2,500. Any license renewal application submitted through the North Carolina Proprietary Board Licensure Portal after March 1st shall be assessed a $500 late fee.
(3) Program additions - $200.
(4) Program revisions - $200.
(5) School relocations - $500.
(6) Remote sites - $1,000 initial site fee, plus annual renewal fee of $750.
(7) Site assessments to verify statutory or SBCC Code compliance, or to approve program additions or changes - $500.
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16: Records Retention
School should transfer all records to the NC Archives.
NC Archives --home-page | NC Archives (ncdcr.gov)
Agency Name:
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17: Additional Information
No response provided