Agency Contact
Kevin LaMountain
602-542-5716
kevin.lamountain@azppse.gov
Additional Contact
Keith Blanchard
602-542-5769
Secretary of State Contact
Adrian Fontes
602-542-4285
sosadmin@azsos.gov
Topic 1: Important Agency Information to Note
Provide important web links:
- Home Page web link https://ppse.az.gov/
- Statutes and Regulations Page web link https://ppse.az.gov/resources/statutes-and-rules
- Authorization Information Page web link https://ppse.az.gov/institutions
- Application Information Page web link https://ppse.az.gov/institutions
- Renewal Information Page web link https://ppse.az.gov/
What types of institutions are subject to this agency’s authority? 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__ 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
____ 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
____ Religious institutions
____ Tribally-controlled institutions
_____ Federal Institutions
_____ Municipal institutions
Does your agency authorize specific academic programs offered by institutions, only institutions themselves, or both?
- 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
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 2: Authorization of Distance Education
Does your agency require exclusively online offerings offered by out-of-state institutions to be authorized?
No
Clarifying comments
No response provided
Topic 3: Accreditation by an Accrediting Agency Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Is accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for an institution to be authorized in your state?
No
If yes, please check all that apply as appropriate. Accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education required for:
No response provided
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
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 4: Physical Presence Policy
If your agency uses a physical presence standard, how does your agency define physical presence? Include sample triggers.
From Rules Document
10.“Operate” has the meaning specified in A.R.S. § 32-3001 and includes the concept of “physical presence” as defined by the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements Policies and Standards, dated August 19, 2014 (See http://nc-sara.org).
Web link for physical presence definition.
https://ppse.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/2016%20FINAL%20RULE%20REVISIONS%5B1%5D.pdf
Does a clinical/internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
NO
Does a virtual clinical / internship trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
NO
Does a faculty member residing in your state and teaching an online course trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
NO
Does advertising targeted to residents of your state trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
NO
Does having an administrative site in your state trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
YES
Does having a recruiter in your state trigger the requirement for authorization with your agency?
NO
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 5: Application Process
Please provide a short description of the application process to obtain state authorization.
All new institutions must submit a letter of intent. Once licensure is determined, the institution will complete the E-Licensing process (elicense.az.gov).
Web link for application.
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 6: Fees Associated with Authorization
Is there an application fee associated with the authorization process?
Yes
If yes, what is the fee or fee schedule?
R4-39-201. Fees
A. The filing fee for an original license to operate private vocational or degree-granting programs is $2,000.
B. The annual filing fee for a license renewal to continue to operate private vocational or degree-granting programs is the following amount based upon annual gross tuition revenues:
| Gross Tuition | Fee |
|---|---|
| <$50K | $750.00 |
| $50K – $249,999 | $975.00 |
| $250K – $499,999 | $1,375.00 |
| $500K – $999,999 | $1,800.00 |
| $1M – $2,499,999 | $2,300.00 |
| $2.5M – $6,999,999 | $2,750.00 |
| $7M – $9,999,999 | $3,100.00 |
| $10M – $13,999,999 | $4,200.00 |
| $14M – $19,999,999 | $5,000.00 |
| $20M and above | $6,000.00 |
Web link for fee information.
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 7: Surety Bonds
Does your agency require a Surety Bond for authorized out-of-state institutions?
Most institutions are required to secure a bond. That bond could be increased, decreased, or eliminated during the application review and board approval process.
Web link for surety bonds.
No response provided
Clarifying comments:
Would depend on the institution, accreditation status, financial status.
Topic 8: Student Tuition Recovery Fund
Does your agency have a Student Tuition Recovery Fund (or similar fund for higher education institution closure)?
Yes – All institutions, regardless of accreditation status, must pay into the Student Tuition Recovery Fund annually.
If yes, for what types of institutions?
All institutions
Web link for student tuition recovery fund.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mwaVkOoYW8nPwatp29p7UAdT-hgVGc5P/view
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 9: Tuition Refund Policy
Does your agency have a Tuition Refund Policy Requirement?
Yes – All institutions.
If yes, for what types of institutions?
All institutions
Web link for tuition refund policy.
No response provided
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 10: Reporting
What kinds of information or data must an institution report to your agency as a condition for continued institutional state authorization?
Accreditation, financial performance. Data collected at initial licensing and annually during renewal process.
How frequently do institutions report data?
Renewal cycle is one year
Is this information shared publicly?
Generic data is available through the boards annual report.
Web link for reporting.
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 11: Enforcement
What are possible consequences of institutional non-compliance?
Possible revocation of license, civil penalty.
Web link for enforcement information.
No response provided
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 12: Student Complaints - Non-SARA Participating Institutions
Please describe the process for handling complaints about non-SARA out-of-state postsecondary institutions or programs? (34 CFR 600.9(a))
Complete complaint form. Investigator will contact complainant.
Complaint process is for any school we license.
Web link for the non-SARA complaint form.
How does your agency handle a non-SARA complaint from a resident of its state that is against an out-of-state institution that the agency does not authorize?
We do not have authority to handle a complaint for an institution that we do not license. That would be forwarded to the appropriate state.
Is the non-SARA process handled all within your agency or do you divide consumer protection and student complaint duties dependent on the type of institution (Public, Private, Technical, etc.)?
Non-SARA complaints for private postsecondary institutions within the state of Arizona and licensed by the PPSE board and handled by the board. Public and Community Colleges complaints are handled at the institutional level or by the Arizona Board of Regents/Community College boards.
Who is the contact person or entity for your state for receiving non-SARA student complaints?
Contact Name – Keith Blanchard
Title – Deputy Director
Agency – Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
Address – 1740 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Email – keith.blanchard@azppse.gov
Phone – (602) 542-5769
URL – www.azppse.gov
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 13: Records Retention
When a higher education institution closes, what is the process your state uses to ensure that transcripts/records are kept available?
All schools that close are required to provide electronic records (in Parchment format) to the State Board within 30 days of closure.
From what agency or entity do students request their transcripts/records from a closed higher education institution?
Agency Name – Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education
Contact Person – Julie Klass
Contact Phone – 602-542-5717
Contact Address 1740 W. Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Contact Email – Julie.Klass@azppse.gov
Contact web site – www.azppse.gov
Clarifying comments:
No response provided
Topic 14: Additional Information
Is there anything else about the state authorization process in your state that institutions and others ought to know about?
No response provided
What is your preferred method of communication?
Please note: There could be additional state agencies with oversight of activities of your institution.

