We help new school owners obtain a Florida license with the Commission for Independent Education (CIE). Learn about the application, requirements, deadlines, and services we provide.
Opening a Florida School
We are CIE consultants who assist new owners open a school or college in Florida. On this page, we are presenting the most common questions regarding the new institution application process with the Florida Department of Education. We have organized the information in four sections for easy review:
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Initial Application Questions
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Florida Boards Approval Requirements
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Is Owning a School for You?
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Our Consulting Services
lnitial Application Questions
Visit How to Complete CIE New Institution Application for a guide and tips on each one of the elements of the application.
Once the application is submitted, the process could take between six months to a year, depending on the experience of the applicant with the elements required by the commission, and the understanding of the Florida Statues Rules and Law.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A FLORIDA SCHOOL LICENSE?
Here is a list of the basic requirements:
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The institution has been incorporated and registered with the purpose of education.
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The institution has a lease contract or owns the premises where it will operate.
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All appropriate city and county permits are in place and under the institution’s name.
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The owners and executive staff do not have felony records.
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The institution has a corporate bank account with sufficient cash on hand.
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The facility has sufficient parking for staff, students, and guests.
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The facility provides the necessary accommodations for the programs to be offered.
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The faculty has the proper education, certifications, and experience required for the programs to be taught.
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The institution has enough administrative personnel, with experience and/or training for their respective duties.
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New institution financials and owner financials.
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Additional application requirements that may apply depending on the type of institution:
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Approval by State Boards for programs such as Nursing and Pharmacy.
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Affiliation Agreements for programs that include an externship portion.
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Schools offering online programs must also present a contract for the online learning platform (LMS), Student Information System (SIS), and electronic library.
WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A SCHOOL LICENSE IN FLORIDA?
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The school prepares the application and secures all required documentation.
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The school submits to CIE the application, documentation, and fees.
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The application gets assigned to a program specialist. The review process includes requests for additional information, documentation, or modifications to the documentation previously presented until the application is deemed complete.
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The application is reviewed by CIE personnel preparing the agenda for the next CIE meeting.
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The school is included in a meeting agenda for provisional license approval.
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School owners and key personnel attend the meeting in person to address any questions the commissioners may have.
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During the meeting, the commissioners will vote and agree on one of the following: (1) approve the school provisional license, (2) provide additional time for the school to resolve any pending items/issues and come back the following meeting, or (3) deny the license.
WHICH ARE THE DOCUMENTS TO BE PRESENTED WITH THE APPLICATION?
Visit our New Florida School Application Exhibits Page for a list of documents and forms required along with the Provisional License Application
WHAT IS THE COST OF APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL LICENSE IN FLORIDA?
pplication fees vary depending on the type of school and expected enrollments for the first 12 months. Complete CIE's Application Fee Form with your school’s estimated data to calculate. The student protection fund fee is $ 500, and the criminal justice fee is $50 per owner and school director. In addition, you will have the CPA fees for preparing the school financials, owner financials (one per owner), projected budget, and proforma balance sheet.
WHAT ARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONS PLANNING TO OFFER ONLINE PROGRAMS?
Institutions planning to offer their programs online or on a hybrid modality are required to present documentation to prove the following have been implemented: a learning management system (LMS), a student information system (SIS), student online access to their records, online library resources, distance education policies, data security policies in compliance with FERPA, as well as the admissions process to confirm English proficiency for international students.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH THE INITIAL PROVISIONAL APPLICATION?
At the bottom of CIE's New Institution Application page, you will find tutorials on how to complete several of the application documents. We recommend watching the webcast of the commission meetings, especially the portion of the agenda when new school applications are presented for provisional approval.
Florida Board Approval Requirements
WHICH FLORIDA BOARDS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROGRAM APPROVALS?
If graduates of your programs will require a state license, confirm with the corresponding board their requirements for curriculum and approvals.
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Included next is a list of commonly offered programs that require board approval. CIE will not issue the school's provisional license until such approvals are secured.
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Electrolysis and Laser
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Massage
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Pharmacy
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Microblading, Permanent Cosmetics, Tattooing
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Certified Nursing Assistant
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Practical Nursing
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Professional Nursing (nursing associate or bachelor's degree)
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION (DBPR)?
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is the agency charged with licensing and regulating businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, such as cosmetologists, veterinarians, real estate agents, and pari-mutuel wagering facilities. Even when your institution will not need their approval, your students may require to apply for a license and take an examination. It is very important schools observe their regulations and prepare their students in order to become proficient in their field of study. Visit DBPR list of regulatory boards.
Our Consulting Services
FLORIDA CAREER SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CONSULTING SERVICES
We have helped many new Florida school owners obtain their career school and college licenses. Visit our Florida Consulting Page for a complete list of the services readily available to assist you. We can help you with the entire application process, including planning, preparing the application documents, and operations training. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.
We are ready to assist you with your
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​Florida vocational school, college, university
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Initial license application
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Renewals, adding programs
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​Change of ownership, adding a new campus
OUR AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Nursing Programs
Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctor in Nursing Degrees, Practical Nursing, PN to RN Bridge Program, RN to BSN Bridge Program, Nursing Assistant (CNA).
​Allied Health Programs
Home Health Aide (HHA), Nursing Assistant (CNA), Phlebotomy, Electrocardiography (EKG), Medical Assistant, Billing and Coding, Patient Care Technician (PCT), Dialysis, Pharmacy, and Dental Assisting.
Beauty Programs
Cosmetology, Full Specialist, Nail Technician, Facial Specialist, Aesthetician, Barber, Restricted Barber, Massage, Permanent Makeup, Tattoo Professional, Electrology and Laser.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
English programs for speakers of other languages.
Degree Programs
Business & Management Degrees
Education Degrees
Technology Degrees
Health Sciences Degrees
Undergraduate: Associate & Bachelor Degrees
Graduate: Master & Doctoral Degrees
College Credit Certificates
Additional Programmatic Areas
We also assist schools with additional training areas such as trade skills, construction, automotive, and information technology. Can't find the program you are considering for licensing or accreditation? Let us know through our comment form. We will be happy to help you with your specific program niche.
Six Reasons to Hire Our Services
We believe every client deserves expert guidance, responsive service, and practical solutions. That's why we're committed to helping you move your project forward with confidence—every step of the way.
Subject Matter Experts
Proven Results, Delivered on Time
Personalized Mentoring & Training
Industry Best Practices
Scalable, Cost-Effective Solutions
BBB Accredited with an A+ Rating
We are BBB A+ Accredited
A trusted business with recognized integrity
Bayside Projects is proud to be accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and maintain an A+ Rating, the highest rating awarded by the organization. This recognition reflects our commitment to ethical business practices, transparency, responsiveness, and providing reliable consulting services to the institutions and organizations we serve.
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Request Your Free Consultation Today!
We hope the information included on this page has answered your questions regarding opening a Florida institution. Still needing assistance with your school application? Count on us for help with your institution's needs. Request your complimentary consultation by calling 786-618-2277, completing our Complimentary Consultation Request form, or emailing info@baysideprojects.com.. We are CIE consultants readily available to assist you with opening a school or college in Florida.