On November 1, 2019, the Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education finalized new regulations that inter alia imposed certain reporting and disclosure requirements on institutions receiving funding under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) and specifically Title IV of the HEA. The new requirements take effect July 1, 2020.
Of potential interest to licensure boards or certification bodies is the requirement under the new regulations that pertain to an educational program that “is designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in an occupation, or is advertised as meeting such requirements.” In such cases, the program must disclose information regarding whether completion of that program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that occupation, including—
- a list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;
- a list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;
- and a list of all States for which the institution has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification.
In addition, educational institutions are required to directly disclosure to its students if the program leading to professional licensure or certification falls in one of the latter two categories above.
The text of the entire regulation Student Assistance General Provisions, The Secretary’s Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, The Secretary’s Recognition Procedures for State Agencies, 84 Fed. Reg. 58,834 (November 1, 2019) can be found here: https://spelusolawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2019-23129.pdf. The specific disclosure requirements set forth above can be found at 34 CFR 668.43 (a)(5)(v) and 34 CFR 668.43 (c).