Starting a Private Career School

Contact the Workforce Board by calling 360.753.5662 for instructions on filing a private career school application. Prior to filing, you are encouraged to review " How to do Business in Washington State" at access.wa.gov/business/index.aspx and the Private Career School Handbook which lists all of the relevant WACs and RCWs. You can also request an orientation at the Board's office in Olympia. The orientation is an opportunity for you to discuss your business plan with a program specialist who will help you determine the viability of your proposal and give you instructions on completing the application.

In addition to the private career school license, you must conform to other regulatory requirements. You must:

• Obtain a Master Business License from the Washington Department of Licensing
• Register with the Washington Department of Revenue
• Obtain a charter from the Secretary of State's Office if you will be operating a limited partnership or corporation.
• Conform to any local ordinances governing small businesses within the city or county where you will be operating.
• Licensing Forms
  • Form 1 - Initial License Application
  • Form 2 - License Renewal Application
    • Form 2a - License Renewal Application (Mini) - required every two years.
  • Form 3 - Owners/Shareholders/Trustees/Members - identifies the owners of the school.
  • Form 4 - Corporate directors - identifies the directors of the school if it is a corporation.
  • Form 5 - Auxiliary facility application - required if classes or class work will be conducted outside the school's main facility.
  • Form 6a - Current Employees - a list of current employees of the school.
  • Form 6b - Employee/Sales Agent Experience Record - a record of prior employment of an employee or sales agent employed by the school.
  • Form 6c - Sales Agent Registration
  • Form 7 - Bank and Other Major Credit Reference
  • Form 8 - Catalog/Brochure Checklist - identifies the items that need to be in the school's catalog and brochures.
  • Form 9 - Enrollment Agreement or Contract Checklist - lists the items that must be in the school's enrollment agreement or contract with students, and provides a sample enrollment agreement.
  • Form 10 - Financial Statement
    • Form 10a - Mini-Financial Statement - to be used every two years with the mini-renewal application.
    • Form 10b - Financial Statement for Initial License Application
    • Guidelines for completing financial statements
  • Form 11 - PVSA Change Notification Form - to be used when with a change of school director, location or name.
  • Distance Learning Application
  • Exemption Application - used when the school provides classes or training in test preparation, i.e., state bar or CPA license examination.
  • Exemption Renewal Application
  • Exemption Sites Application - provides list of locations where exempt activities are taking place.
  • Fee Schedule - allows school owners to calculate their license fees and contributions to the State Tuition Recovery Trust Fund.
  • Sample Transcript - provides a sample of what a school transcript should look like.
  • Sample Student Admissions Application
  • Add A Program Application