Here is a list of the basic requirements:
- The institution has been incorporated and registered with the purpose of education.
- The institution has a lease contract or owns the premises where it will operate.
- All appropriate city and county permits are in place and under the institution’s name.
- The owners and executive staff do not have felony records.
- The institution’s corporate bank account has enough funds to cover the first 12 months of operations.
- The facility has sufficient parking for staff, students, and guests.
- The facility provides the necessary accommodations for the programs to be offered.
- The faculty has the proper education, certifications, and experience required for the programs to be taught.
- The institution has enough administrative personnel, with experience and/or training for their respective duties.
- New institution financials and owner financials.
Additional application requirements that may apply depending on the type of institution:
- Approval by State Boards for programs such as Nursing and Pharmacy.
- Affiliation Agreements for programs that include an externship portion.
- Schools offering online programs must also present a contract for the online learning platform (LMS), Student Information System (SIS), and electronic library.
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:
- Initial Application Questions
- Florida Boards Approval Requirements
- Is Owning a School for You?
- Our Consulting Services
INITIAL APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Our Consulting Services
4 - WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A SCHOOL LICENSE IN FLORIDA?
- Complimentary Consultation
- Assistance with Florida vocational school, college, and university applications
- Allied Health school applications
- Beauty school applications
- Degree-granting, online, and hybrid school applications
- English as a Second Language (ESL) school applications
- Renewals, on-site visit preparation, new programs, and new location applications
6 - WHAT IS THE COST OF APPLYING FOR A SCHOOL LICENSE IN FLORIDA?
CIE Consultant - Open a School or College in Florida
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.
1 - HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE INITIAL PROVISIONAL LICENSE?
- The school prepares the application and secures all required documentation.
- The school submits to CIE the application, documentation, and fees.
- 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.
- The application is reviewed by CIE personnel preparing the agenda for the next CIE meeting.
- The school is included in a meeting agenda for provisional license approval.
- School owners and key personnel attend the meeting in person to address any questions the commissioners may have.
- 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.
5 - WHICH ARE THE DOCUMENTS TO BE PRESENTED WITH THE APPLICATION?
15 - REQUEST A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION
lnitial Application Questions
OUR CONSULTING SERVICES
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.
14 - PAGES WITH RELATED CONTENT
8 - WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH THE INITIAL PROVISIONAL APPLICATION?
12 - BEFORE YOU APPLY: DO YOUR HOMEWORK
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.
3 - WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A FLORIDA SCHOOL LICENSE?
Is Owning a School For You?
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.
Visit How to Complete CIE New Institution Application for a guide and tips on each one of the elements of the application. We recommend completing the steps listed below under Item 12 - Before you apply: do your homework.
Owning a school is a wonderful experience, as long as you enjoy being an educator or providing the means by which others get to improve themselves. Owning a school is hard work and requires a substantial monetary investment. The first years are the hardest since you are competing with institutions that provide federal financial aid to their students. However, the day your programs become eligible for financial aid all the work you have put forth will start to pay off. A well-administered school has a considerable sale value, so in the end, it always proves to be a wise investment for those who dedicate themselves to it fully.
- Conduct research on the schools in the area where you are planning to open
- Assess the programs offered and the community needs not being met
- Confirm the employment projections for your specific market
- Calculate the costs of establishing and operating your school and programs
- Confirm if any of the programs to be offered require board approval or facility approval
- Watch the CIE's commission meeting webcasts. CIE Meetings are conducted every other month. You will learn immensely by watching the commissioners and common situations schools face. On the day of the meeting, go to the Agenda and click on the webcast link.
Application 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.
Q&A Table of Contents
13 - Florida career school and college consulting services
14 - Pages with Related Content
15 - Request a complimentary consultation
9 - Which Florida boards require additional program approvals?
10 - What is the role of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)?
10 - WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION (DBPR)?
Interested in learning more? Visit the following pages for information on relevant topics for school owners:
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.
7 - WHAT ARE CONSIDERATIONS FOR INSTITUTIONS PLANNING TO OFFER ONLINE PROGRAMS?
9 - WHICH FLORIDA BOARDS REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROGRAM APPROVALS?
BAYSIDE PROJECTS
If graduates of your programs will require a state license, confirm with the corresponding board their requirements for curriculum and approvals. Visit The Florida Department of Health Boards and Councils page for their home pages.
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.
- Electrolysis and Laser
- Massage
- Pharmacy
- Microblading, Permanent Cosmetics, Tattooing
- Certified Nursing Assistant
- Practical Nursing
- Professional Nursing (nursing associate or bachelor's degree)
Here are the links to each board's home page:
11 - Should I become a school owner?
12 - Before you apply: Do your homework
2 - HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO OBTAIN A SCHOOL LICENSE IN FLORIDA?
Florida Board Approval Requirements
11 - SCHOULD I BECOME A SCHOOL OWNER?
IS OWNING A SCHOOL FOR YOU?
FLORIDA BOARDS APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS
The following documents and forms are required along with CIE's New Institution Applications:
Copies of the following:
- Lease agreement
- Corporation registration
- Zoning compliance permits
- Owners and staff resumes, licenses, and credentials
- Board approvals
- Admissions training certificates
Prepared for the application:
- School Catalog
- Enrollment Agreement
- Business Plan
- Projected Budget
- Program Outlines
- Online Delivery Forms
- Disclosure Forms for Nursing Schools
- Faculty Handbook
- Faculty Listing
- Organizational Chart
- Instructional and Personnel Notarized forms
- Advertising drafts
- Accreditation Status
- Financial Statements for the Institution
- Financial Statements for the Owners
- Proforma Balance Sheet
- Fee Forms
- Checklists
Additional documents may be required such as externship agreements and contracts for online delivery services depending on the scope of the institution and programs to be offered.
13 - FLORIDA CAREER SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CONSULTING SERVICES
1 - How do I apply for the initial provisional license?
2 - How long does it take to obtain a school license in Florida?
3 - What are the requirements to apply for a Florida school license?
4 - What is the application process for a school license in Florida?
5 - Which are the documents to be presented with the application?
6 - What is the cost of applying for a school license in Florida?
7 - What are the considerations for institutions planning to offer online programs?
8 - What resources are available to help with the initial provisional application?
We hope the information included on this page has answered your questions regarding opening a Florida institution. Still needing assistance with your school application? We are glad to help! Request a free consultation by calling 786-618-2277, emailing [email protected], or completing the free session request form. We are CIE consultants readily available to assist you with opening a school or college in Florida.