Pennsylvania Department of Education - Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity

• Home Page web link   https://www.education.pa.gov/
• Statutes and Regulations Page web link http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/022/chapter741a/chap741atoc.html&d=
• Authorization Information Page web link https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education.html
• Application Information Page web link https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education.html
• Renewal Information Page web link https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education.html 

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).

__x__  Public, in-state degree granting institutions
__x__  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
__x__  Public, in-state, non-degree granting institutions
__x__  Public, out-of-state, non-degree granting institutions
__x__  Non-degree, not-for profit institutions
__x__  Non-degree, for-profit institutions
__x__  Religious institutions
__x__  Tribally-controlled institutions
__x__  Federal Institutions
__x__  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.

Out-of-State: Both

_____ Institution   

_____ Program   

__X__ Both

Out-of-State institutions are regulated if physical presence is established.

• 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. 

Degree-granting institutions: Out-of-state degree granting institutions who have a physical presence in PA must be authorized to operate in PA.

Non-degree granting institutions: If out-of-state non-degree-granting institutions recruit in PA, they must be registered.

New institutions approved to offer degrees shall have 3 years after commencing operations to obtain candidacy status for total institutional accreditation. Total institutional accreditation must be maintained.

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

• Out-of-state institutions that establish physical presence must be accredited.
• Out-of-State Degree-Granting Institutions with physical presence in PA: accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education and acceptable to the Department
• Non-degree: not required

No response provided

https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter31/chap31toc.html

It may trigger authorization if the out-of-state institution will have paid instructors teaching or overseeing the experience in PA.

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

No

No

No, if a participant in SARA; Yes, if not a participant in SARA

No, if a participant in SARA; Yes, if not a participant in SARA

No, if a participant in SARA; Yes, if not a participant in SARA

Title 22 Chapter 31 – §31.2

Physical presence—The operation of an entity that offers courses, programs, or degrees or maintains a campus, or an administrative, corporate or other address, including a post office box, telephone number, recruiters, instructors, advertising in local media and publications at a location in this Commonwealth.

An application form must be completed, and the appropriate fees must be in accordance with PA statute/regulation.

Any institution seeking authorization must contact the Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity, as stated on the Institution Resources Website.

N/A

Yes.

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education.html

Education Enterprise (Out-of-State Authorization): $10,000

Education Enterprise New Program: $1,400

Education Enterprise Renewal: $2,000 every 5 years

No.

N/A

N/A

No

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yes, but only for non-degree granting institutions.

Non-degree granting institutions.

22 Pa. Code Part III. State Board of Private Licensed Schools

N/A

• Education Enterprises are required to renew every five (5) years. Information to report includes accreditation status, program enrollment, program advisory committee members and meeting minutes from the past three meetings, current administration & faculty, admission requirements, and library and learning resources available to PA students.
• Education Enterprises must also submit an Annual Survey of Educational Programs in January of each year.
• Education Enterprises must comply with Act 16 of 2019 relating to the Fostering Independence Tuition Waiver Program.
• Education Enterprises need to provide assurance that federal student loan disclosures are given to students as required in Act 121 of 2018.

• Renewals: every 5 years
• Annual Reports: Annually by March 1  
• Annual Survey of Educational Programs: Annually by March 1

All information is public.

Reminders to submit reports are sent each year. Higher Education Reporting Website

N/A

It may lead to disciplinary actions, up to and including legal proceedings.

N/A

N/A

Students may submit a complaint form to the Pennsylvania Department of Education if the institution has a physical presence in PA. If the institution does not have a physical presence, the complaint is forwarded to the state in which the institution is located. Our division will cooperate in any way possible to assist the home state in review of the complaint.

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education/students-complaints.html

If the institution does not have a physical presence, the complaint is forwarded to the state in which the institution is located. Our division will cooperate in any way possible to assist the home state in review of the complaint.

Complaints are handled within the agency.

Contact Name: Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity

Title: Administrative Assistant

Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Higher Education, Access, and Equity

Address: 607 South Drive, 3rd Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Email: RA-HigherEducation@pa.gov

Phone: 717-783-6786

URL: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/education/programs-and-services/instruction/postsecondary-and-adult-education/students-complaints.html

N/A

Non-degree granting institutions must have a signed repository agreement at all times with another institution to keep records for 50 years in the event of a closure.

Degree-granting institutions must provide us with the location where records will be maintained.

Agency Name: The designated institution/company the institution has contracted with to keep records. A list is published on our website and kept in our office to update students when they call for information.

Agency/Entity Name: N/A
Contact Person:
Contact Phone:
Contact Address:
Contact Email:
Contact website:

N/A

N/A

Email

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