Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools

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

• 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

“Private Occupational School” or “school” defined as any entity or institution for profit or not for profit located within or without this state that offers educational credentials or educational services that constitute occupational education in this state and that is not specifically exempt from the provisions of this article 64.

“Degree” applies to Associate degree.

A program can only be approved by the Board for approved institutions

• 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

Only for out-of-state institutions offering purely online programs AND actively soliciting, recruiting, and/or enrolling Colorado residents as students.

For out-of-state institutions offering purely online programs AND actively soliciting, recruiting, and/or enrolling Colorado residents as students.

No

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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

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Yes, the definition can be found at BB in the definitions section of the Rules and Regulations:

"Physical presence" means a school that delivers educational services within Colorado, including any combination of factors lending to the determination that the institution maintains a physical presence within the state, including, but not limited to, the presence of a physical facility or equipment, whether owned, leased, rented, or provided without charge; the physical location of student records; or the presence of a resident director or similar administrator.

https://highered.colorado.gov/laws-regulations

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

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A school must submit a complete and accurate application. The Program Coordinator reviews the application, the Deputy Director reviews the application, then the application is given to the Board for approval. All documents pertaining to obtaining approval can be found here.

https://highered.colorado.gov/school-forms

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Yes

$5,000 for a New In-State School Application

$2,500 for a New Out-of-State Application

$300 per in-state and out-of-state agent permit

https://highered.colorado.gov/fee-schedule

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Yes

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$50,000 bond is required for all out-of-state institutions.

No

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Yes, all.

All

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Quarterly assessments – currently must submit number of students enrolled every quarter plus a $5.00 fee per student.

Quarterly

No

https://highered.colorado.gov/school-resources/required-filings

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Possible consequences can be revocation of the certificate of approval, summary suspension, cease and desist, subpoena, notice of noncompliance, notice of nonrenewal. All duties and powers of the board can be found in the Statute.

https://highered.colorado.gov/laws-regulations

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Complaints pertaining to deceptive sales/trade only for out-of-state institutions, to be filed online.

 https://highered.colorado.gov/complaint-procedures

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DPOS/the Board handles the entirety of the complaint process, investigation and determination.

• Contact Name: Mary Kanaly
• Title: Deputy Director
• Agency: Division of Private Occupational Schools
• Address: 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver, CO 80202
• Email: mary.kanaly@dhe.state.co.us
• Phone: 303-974-2670
• URL: https://highered.colorado.gov/complaint-procedures

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The closure and transcript deposit process and requirements can be found here.

• Agency Name: Division of Private Occupational Schools (if a third party such as Parchment.com is not the official custodian of records)
• Contact Person: Bernadette Esquibel
• Contact Phone: 303-862-3001
• Contact Address: 1600 Broadway, Suite 2200 Denver, CO 80202
• Contact Email: bernadette.esquibel@dhe.state.co.us
• Contact web site: https://highered.colorado.gov/DPOS/Payments/Transcript_Request.aspx

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