Frequently Asked Questions
As of August 04, 2011
This page contains useful information for individual citizens seeking basic information about Postsecondary Educational Institutions (PEI) and Proprietary Schools (PS) operating in Idaho. Additional information is provided for Institutions & School that wish to apply to operate inside Idaho. All requests for clarification should be referred to the State Coordinator for Private Colleges & Proprietary Schools at 208-334-2270.
Idaho Law: Under Title 33, Chapter 24 of Idaho Statute and Administrative Rule (IDAPA) 08.01.11 -- Postsecondary Educational Institutions (PEI = degree-granting) and Proprietary Schools (PS = non-degree) are private business entities or corporations that provide educational services or training courses to the public.
- Only PEI are authorized by the SBOE to award college-level or academic degrees. PS can only award Certificates of Course Completion or Diplomas.
- If a school offers even one (1) Associate Degree program it must register as a PEI regardless of the number of other certificate-level programs offered.
- There is No Inherent Right to grant college degrees: that authority comes only through proper registration with the Idaho State Board of Education.
Please Note: An Institution or school will not be eligible to participate in the Veteran's Benefits Assistance Programs, or state/federal student loan programs, or to become a Dept of Labor/Workforce Investment Act (DOL/WIA) or Idaho Div of Vocational Rehabilitation (IDVR) service provider, unless it is FIRST properly registered as a school with the (Idaho) State Board of Education.
Can a school choose to register as a PEI even if they don't offer college degrees?
Do all schools pay the same annual registration fee?
What does Gross Idaho Tuition Revenue (GITR) actually mean?
How does Idaho law define "Presence" in the state for registration purposes?
Do Online Only Institutions (located outside Idaho) have to register?
Exactly what is the purpose of the Surety Bond?
When are Criminal History Background Checks required on school employees required?
How can I tell the Diploma Mills from the legitimate schools?
Are there any schools that do not have to register with the State Board?
What is Accreditation and Why is that Important To Me?
Can non-degree career schools also be "accredited?"
Disposition of Student Records -- when a school closes/defaults, or your program is complete.
Can a school choose to register as a PEI even if they don't offer college degrees?
NO. Non-degree granting schools Must register as a Proprietary School
Top
Do all schools pay the same annual registration fee?
No. The fee is one-half of one percent of Gross Idaho Tuition Revenue (.005 x $GITR) for the previous registration year. Minimum fee is $100 / maximum fee is capped at $5000.
-- Every school pays their equitable fee based on the amount of business revenue they generate. It can go up or down from year to year as it follows the business income.
Top
What does Gross Idaho Tuition Revenue (GITR) actually mean?
GITR is school/business revenue generated inside the borders of Idaho. Revenue is generated at the "point of sale", meaning where the school is physically located and where the tuition is actually paid. Schools physically located outside Idaho probably Do Not generate GITR.
Top
How does Idaho law define "Presence" in the state for registration purposes?
"Presence" means physical presence. Idaho is a "Brick & Mortar" state. Only those schools that have teaching or business operations facilities inside Idaho need register. Recruiting Agents, attending school/job fairs, online course practicums/clinicals conducted inside Idaho, employing faculty who live in Idaho, etc, Do Not Count as Presence.
Top
Do Online Only Institutions (located outside Idaho) have to register?
Online Only schools located outside Idaho Do Not have to register. Also, if Adjunct Faculty just happen to live in Idaho, Recruiting activities at College Fairs or Job Markets, Online course practicum/clinicals, etc, ... none of these activities count as Presence under Idaho rules. (Refer more specific questions to the State Coordinator.)
Top
Exactly what is the purpose of the Surety Bond?
The Surety Bond is an insurance policy against a school closure before students have completed the entire program of instruction that they already paid for. (In 2009, the bond process replaced a Student Tuition Recovery Fund formula.)
-- If a school closes, The State Board will make claim against the Bond to recover 100% of pre-paid student tuition. Of course, it's preferable if the school arranges 'teach-outs' so students can complete their coursework at another school.
-- Schools must maintain proof of a Surety Bond, on the State Approved Form. The Bond must be kept in force during the entire registration year.
Note: The Bond Calculation Worksheet must be submitted with the application to document the required face value bond amount. If a bond will expire before the end of the registration year, the school must have a replacement bond in force immediately. There can be no lapse in bond coverage during the year. The State Board of Education must be named as the beneficiary on the Bond.
Top
When are Criminal History Background Checks required on school employees required?
Only if a school has, or will have, employees who conduct unsupervised contact with minors in the minor's home or at a secondary school. [see §33-2404, and Admin Rule (IDAPA 08.01.11, section 302.07]
Top
What is a Diploma Mill?
The term "Diploma Mill" refers to a school that offers, sells or issues college degrees, but in fact does not the proper authority to do so. In the USA there is no inherit right to grant college degrees. That authority is awarded Only through the individual State Education Authority (SEA). There is only one SEA in every state: in Idaho it is the State Board of Education.
Top
Are degrees & credits from Unaccredited Institutions or Diploma Mills transferrable? -- Can I use it to get a job or to take more higher education?
The vast majority of higher education institutions will not knowingly transfer/accept credits or degrees from an unaccredited school or Diploma Mill. In some states it is even illegal to knowingly use false academic credentials for employment or educational purposes.
Top
How can I tell the Diploma Mills from the legitimate schools?
The State Board publishes a list of all properly registered Institutions of Higher Education and Proprietary Schools in Idaho on its web pages. If the school you're interested in is Not on that list, you should ask a lot more questions before enrolling. You can always call or email the State Coordinator for Private Colleges and Proprietary Schools for more details.
-- Do Your Homework! The private educational services world is a "buyer beware" market. Although there are many reputable businesses out there providing quality education & training for your money, some could be disorganized, ill-equipped, or even dishonest. ALWAYS carefully investigate the school you're thinking of enrolling in. See the Advice to Consumers section below for more tips and ideas.
-- Legitimate schools always post clear department addresses, phone numbers, web/email contacts on their web sites. Most also include Accreditation information. If all you have is a contact form to fill in and 'someone will get back to you later" be very wary. ... and Never give out personal info (bank acct, credit card numbers, employer info, etc on the first contact.
Top
Are there any schools that do not have to register with the State Board?
Yes, [per §33-2403(4) and Rule 08.01.11-sec200.04 & 300.04] there are some schools that are Exempt from Registration for one reason or another. Contact the State Coordinator to ask if any particular school is listed. Currently, the State board exempts all Cosmetology/Barber, CNA, Driving, & Real Estate (including R.E. Appraisers) schools & training programs which are covered by another Board or Commission under Idaho Statute, Title 54.
Top
What is Accreditation and Why is that Important To Me?
Accreditation is the process by which schools and program of instruction leading to college degrees gain value and enforce the credibility of their academic standards. There are several types of Accreditation, but generally in order to be legitimate, schools must be Accredited by an agency Recognized by the U.S. Dept of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
-- Idaho requires both USDE and CHEA recognition before the State Board will award authority to grant college degrees in Idaho.
-- Always ask the school you're interested in to provide a copy of the Accrediting Agency's Approval Letter for the specific program of instruction you want to enroll in. General "institutional accreditation" is Not the same thing: The school may have overall approval, but if your Specific Program is Not accredited, your coursework and degree may not be transferrable or useful in finding employment.
[Please Note: The Idaho SBOE does not Accredit, Approve or Certify any specific course or program of instruction. Registration is Not an endorsement of the institution itself. Schools/businesses may only advertize that they are "properly registered with SBOE."]
Top
Can non-degree career schools also be "accredited?"
Yes, it is possible for Proprietary Schools to be "Accredited" at the Certificate level ... However, the word "accredited" is sometimes used rather loosely: in the case of most trade/career schools it means they meet some state or national governing board's curriculum or training standards so their graduates may sit for certification examinations. This is normally required before the state will issue an individual license to practice that trade. -- Receiving a License to practice the trade is Not the same thing as having proper authority to run a school teaching the trade to other people. That specific authority is awarded after the school owner/operator/instructors have obtained the proper instructor qualifications.
Top
Must I have academic or training curriculum approval from someone or can I just set my own standards?
SBOE registration is Not an approval of curriculum nor an endorsement of the school. All PS should have their training curriculum approved by the appropriate Idaho trade/professional Board or Commission, if one exists. Those Curriculum Approval Letter(s) are submitted with their annual registration application. If no such Idaho board or commission exists, then the national standards of trade/professional training or certification will apply.
[ Example: Since there currently is no ID state standards or certification ... All MASSAGE SCHOOLS should have Owner/Instructor certification & curriculum approval via the national-level Organizations: either FSMTB- Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or NCBTMB -National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
* An NCBTMB Assigned School Number = school's curriculum meets standards so students can sit for national qualification exam, which is accepted in Idaho.
Top
Disposition of Student Records -- when a school closes/defaults, or your program is complete.
Currently there is no requirement for Proprietary Schools or Private Colleges to keep students records after a closure. The Office of the State Board will NOT hold records of closed schools. As private business entities, it is inappropriate for these records to go to the State Archives. Therefore, it's important for current and former students to:
a.- Periodically request a complete record of academic and professional-technical coursework and KEEP those records in a safe place for future reference.
b.- Be Sure to request a full-Official transcript of all academic work from the school/college upon completing your program of study, or when leaving the school for any reason.
c.- If you have Not Already Done So ... and your former school is still Open/operating ... Contact them and request a complete-Official set of academic records Now, even if you have to pay for them to be copied.
d.- Remember, the 1st thing any higher education institution will ask to see is the records of all your past academic work. -- BE Sure you have it. NEVER Assume the school will be Open and your records will be available Forever!
Top
