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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    This page includes resources for new school applicants seeking licensure/registration.

    Applying for Licensure or Registration

    In accordance with the Private Licensed Schools Act, 24 P.S. § 6502, a Private Licensed School is a school or classes operated for profit or tuition that provides instruction to prepare an individual to pursue employment in the skilled trades, industry, business, or in a field of study.  Private Licensed Schools may offer occupational diplomas, certificates, and/or specialized associated degrees.

    An entity offering programs or courses which performs the functions listed below must be licensed/registered before advertising, enrolling, or providing instruction unless specifically exempt from licensure in accordance with 24 P.S. § 6502 and 22 Pa. Code § 73.42.  If you are unsure if the intended instruction would be exempt from licensure, please contact Board staff.

    The functions are (1) offering classes or maintaining a school (2) for profit, tuition, or fees (3) contracting directly with individuals, rather than through a third-party contract (4) preparing individuals to pursue an occupation for employment.

    Schools or classes with a physical presence in Pennsylvania must be licensed.

    Schools or classes with a physical presence out-of-state who wish to directly solicit, advertise to, or enroll Pennsylvania residents, or who wish to place students on externship in Pennsylvania, must be registered prior to doing so.

    The application process is the same for both licensure and registration.

    All applicants are required to attend the New School Orientation Seminar prior to applying.

    All applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the Private Licensed Schools Act (statute), regulations, and Board policy memos prior to attending the New School Orientation Seminar or applying for licensure/registration and program approval.

    Meeting Information: Upcoming Board Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

    ​​​Quarterly Financial Reporting: Quarterly Financial Reporting Submission Deadlines

    Board Staff Contact Information: 717-783-8228 | RA-PLS@pa.gov

    Applicant Information

    All applicants seeking licensure/registration as a Private Licensed School are required to attend the New Applicant Orientation Seminar. Participation is required within the 12 months PRIOR to applying. The fee for the seminar is $300 per three (3) participants.

    The seminar presentation slides available below are provided as reference materials only.

    New School Application

    Detailed instructions for preparing the Board's financial reporting form, PDE-2006, are available here:

    Additional information on financial reporting is also available here:

    Applicants may also wish to review the Financial Reporting component of the New Director Seminar; presentation slides are available here for reference:

    Schools applying for licensure or registration shall embed within the New School Application evidence of surety, the purpose of which is to reimburse the unearned tuition due students whenever the licensed or registered school closes. Schools may select one of the following forms of surety or a combination thereof, in sufficient amount to meet the minimum requirements:

    Recognizing that a strong private school system is an important part of the educational continuum and that a unique relationship is established between student and school, schools applying for licensure or registration are required to certify compliance with the Board's statement on reasonable service and business ethics. This form is to be printed, signed, scanned, and embedded within the New School Application.

    Admission Representative

    A representative acting on behalf of a private licensed school, who solicits or procures enrollment through an enrollment agreement, at a location off school premises, is mandated to be licensed/registered as an Admission Representative by the Board. 

    In accordance with 24 P.S. § 6506 and 22 Pa. Code § 73.41, § 73.71 and § 73.75, no person shall solicit or procure prospective students to enroll, at a location off school premises, unless they are licensed/registered by the Board.  Admission Representatives licensed/registered by the Board are limited in authority and may not solicit students to enroll in a school other than the one they are licensed/registered to represent. 

    In accordance with § 73.72, an individual applying for an Admissions Representative's license/registration shall be at least 18 years of age and shall apply on the form prescribed by the Board.

    In accordance with 24 P.S. § 6508(b)(2) and 22 Pa. Code § 73.74, the duration of the original license shall be for one year, shall be renewed annually, and shall be effective from the date of issue until the first day of the month of the original issue the following year. 

    In accordance with 22 Pa. Code § 73.151(4) the annual fee for Admissions Representative licensure/registration is $600. 

    In accordance with 24 P.S. § 6513 and 22 Pa. Code § 73.182, the Board may refuse licensure/registration or pursue enforcement action, including suspension or revocation of licensure/registration, if it finds (7) a licensed/registered Admissions Representative has failed or refused to display or produce their license when requested to do so by prospective students or designated officials of the Board, (10) the school is employing Admissions Representatives who have not been licensed/registered by the Board, (16) a licensed/registered Admissions Representative has solicited prospective students to enroll in a school in which they have not been licensed/registered by the Board or which is not listed on their license, or if the Board finds that a school or an Admissions Representative has violated any statute or regulation. 

    In accordance with 22 Pa. Code § 73.73, the following changes in the status of an Admissions Representative shall be reported to the Board: (1) a change of home address for an Admissions Representative shall be reported within 14-calendar days, (2) the termination or resignation of an Admissions Representative shall be reported within 14-calendar days. The representative shall surrender his license to the school and the school shall forward the license to the Board along with the report. 

    Schools and Admissions Representatives are mandated to honestly promote the school and its programs by ensuring that all student publications, advertising, and printed materials contain full and accurate information.  Schools are mandated to ensure that all Admissions Representatives are completely trained and familiar with the school and its programs, as well as to monitor the activities of Admissions Representatives on a regular basis. 

    At Executive Session on October 31, 2022, the Committee determined upon review of the statute, regulations, and policies that the spirit of the law does not require Admissions Representatives to be licensed who telework from a permanent location approved by the school in lieu of physically reporting to the school or administrative offices to engage in solicited or unsolicited recruitment and/or enrollment of students with the State Board of Private Licensed Schools.

    New Program Application

    New School Applications must be accompanied by at least one New Program Application.

    In addition to the Private Licensed Schools Act, regulations, and Board policy memos, some fields of study and professional certifications have additional curriculum standards, licensure requirements, and/or accreditation requirements. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all standards and requirements are met for all organizations, Boards, agencies, and accrediting bodies with program oversight prior to submitting applications for Board review.  Approval letters are to be embedded in the submitted New Program Application.

    In addition to all other State Board of Private Licensed School new program application requirements, the items outlined in Board Policy Memo #93 must be submitted by schools applying to offer Commercial Truck Driving training programs.  This is done by completing the corresponding worksheet within the New Program Application and embedding the required evidence.

    The Board has established a limit of three New Program Applications per school per Board meeting.

    New School Orientation Seminar: $300 per three attendees

    New School Application: $7,500
    (includes the one required New Program Application)

    New Program Application: $1,400 per application
    (limit of three New Program Applications per school per Board meeting. Note: one New Program Application fee is included in the New School Application fee.)

    New School Site Visit: $750

    Remote Site Visit: $750
    (a site visit and site visit fee are required if the school intends to utilize an off-campus remote site location for any nondidactic skills training, such as a driving range, medical clinicals, kitchen, welding stations, etc.  The fee is $750 per site.)

    Applications must be submitted electronically to the Division's SharePoint site by 5:00PM EST on the deadline date (no exceptions will be made).

    Fees must be received in the Division's office by 5:00PM EST on the deadline date (no exceptions will be made).

    New School Applications and New Program Applications must be submitted electronically to the Division's SharePoint site by 5:00PM EST on the deadline date (no exceptions will be made).

    Please reference the submission instructions included in the applications for additional and more specific instructions.

    Nationally or regionally accredited Private Licensed Schools may apply to elevate diploma programs to award either the Associate in Specialized Business (ASB) or Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) degree.

    To apply, the initial diploma program intended for elevation must be taught for a minimum of one year.  After the initial diploma program application is approved for specialized associate degree status, the one-year requirement is waived on additional diploma program elevation applications.

    Specialized associate degrees require academic standards and regulations be met beyond those of PLS diploma program approvals.  Additional fees are also required.  Schools interested in offering specialized associate degrees should contact Board staff for additional information.  

    Please allow 10-14 business days from the time of mailing for your documents to be received in our offices. It may prove beneficial to send critical and/or time-sensitive items by trackable means.  Providing the tracking information to Board staff will allow them to confirm if the mail item has been received by PDE, even if it has not yet been delivered directly to our office. 

    Please be sure to include any pertinent information with all correspondence.  Indicate the name of the school and specifically what the item pertains to. 

    Pennsylvania Department of Education
    Division of Law Enforcement Education and Trade Schools
    State Board of Private Licensed Schools
    607 South Drive, Floor 3E
    Harrisburg, PA 17120​