Requirements for licensing a private career school

After you speak with the Workforce Board about your operational plans and complete your online application form, you will need to provide the following items:

Business plan, containing, at a minimum, descriptions of:
a.The school and its operations.
b. Capital equipment and supplies.
c. Market and competitive analyses.
d. Advertising and sales strategies.
e. Loan information and credit line (if applicable).
f. Breakeven analysis.

Educational program descriptions for each proposed program including:
a. Title, objective, and outline showing course sequence.
b. Number of clock or credit hours of instruction and how this is figured.
c. Instructional method, such as distance learning, lecture, lab, computer-assisted.
d. Instructional aids and facilities, including pictures of building/space.
e.Type of completion document (certificate or diploma).
f. Maximum number of students per class.
g. Charges including tuition, registration fees, books, supplies, lab fees, etc.
h. Primary occupations for students completing the program.

Below is other information you will need to supply:

1. For new schools that have operated a business in the past year, a financial statement covering the most recently completed fiscal year.

2. A recent credit report from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion or other credit rating firm recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

3. A copy of the "Ability-to-Benefit" test the school will use if it accepts students without a high school diploma or GED. (Develop your own test or use a standard test recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.)

4. License Fee and Tuition Recovery Trust Fund Fee payable to the Washington State Treasurer. (See the Fee Schedule to calculate these fees.)

5. Auxiliary facility and sales agent fees, if applicable.

6. Copy of the school's draft Catalog and Enrollment Agreement with the Debt Acknowledgement Notice. (Click here to see an enrollment agreement checklist, sample enrollment agreement and debt acknowledgement template.)

7. Three signed Bank and Other Major Credit Reference forms, listing three different credit references, one of which must be a financial institution.

8. A Sample Transcript and Sample Registration Form.

9. A Distance Learning Application and a contract addendum describing the refund policy for distance learners, if your school offers distance learning.

10. Copies of other state licenses or other documentation verifying the applicant school is legally authorized to conduct business as a private vocational school, if the school's physical location is not in Washington.