Proprietary School License

Required for educational institutions with a physical presence in North Carolina that meet all of the following conditions: It is privately owned by a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation; It is established as a business entity or as a nonprofit charitable organization; It offers instruction to individuals who have completed their elementary and secondary education or are beyond the age of compulsory secondary school attendance and have demonstrated an ability to benefit from that instruction for the attainment of educational objectives, vocational objectives, or both; It charges tuition or receives any consideration from a student for any portion of the instruction in any form, including written or audiovisual material; It educates, trains, or claims or offers to educate or train students in a program leading toward examinations for licensing in a profession or vocation, employment at a beginning or advanced level, or a post-secondary educational credential below the associate degree level.

Other Information

Duration of License

Annually

Authority

GS 115D, Article 8

Exam: No Exam
License Type: Stand-Alone License

Fees

Application
$0.00
New License
$3,200.00
Renewal
$1,700.00
Reciprocity:
$0.00
Miscellaneous:
$50.00

Other Requirements

Applicants Must Pass A Review Of Instructional Programs, Faculty & Staff Qualifications, Facilities Including Local Ordinances Compliance, Finances, Bonding, Advertising, Charges, Textbooks, Student Services And Other Requirements Which Are Necessary For The School To Be Recommended To NC State Board Of Community Colleges For Licensing. Student Protection Fund: Renewal Assessment Fee based on statutory formula; Proprietary Schools must also carry a current and active guarantee bond.

Exemptions

The following institutions are exempt by statute: Nonprofit schools conducted by 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 religious institutions; Schools maintained or classes conducted by employers for their own employees where no fee or tuition is charged to the student; 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, 201; Classes or schools that the State Board, acting by and through the State Board of Proprietary Schools 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).

Licensing Authority

NC Community College System
Office of Proprietary Schools
200 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603-
919-807-7061

Please check with your local City, County or Municipality for area specific license requirements they may have.