3 - HOW CAN I ACCESS CIE's MEETING AGENDA AND LINK TO WEBCASTS? ​

The Commission for Independent Education (CIE) is a division of the Florida Department of Education that has statutory responsibilities in matters related to nonpublic, postsecondary, educational institutions such as career schools, colleges, and universities. Institutions must obtain a Florida license to operate granted by CIE before opening their doors to the public or making any form of advertisement. ​


In keeping with the Florida Department of Education's goal of producing a seamless educational system, the commission's functions include consumer protection, program improvement, institutional policies and administration, data management, and the licensure of independent schools, colleges, and universities.​

13 - What should I expect after initial approval?

14 - What are the benefits of accreditation?

15 - Will our programs be eligible for federal financial aid funding?

16 - When can we apply for federal financial aid funding?

17 - When can we apply for SEVP certification and enroll individuals with an I-20 international student visa?

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Not all programs approved by a state Department of Education are eligible for federal financial aid. As a general rule, programs of 600 hours duration or more are eligible for financial aid. Our recommendation is for new institution owners to have this conversation with someone knowledgeable about the topic and make an informed decision on what programs to include in the initial application for the provisional license. Schools are not allowed to make changes or add programs until the school has achieved annual license status.

Q&A ​Table of Contents

11 - CIE IMPORTANT PAGES  ​

NEW INSTITUTION APPLICATION  

Yes, the process is the same for all schools applying in the State of Florida. Depending on the type of institution, additional requirements may apply. For example, schools with nursing programs must present the Florida Board of Nursing program approvals.  Schools with programs that include a practicum must present the affiliation agreements for the sites where students will complete their practical experience. Online schools must present copies of contracts with the platform to be used for the online delivery (LMS), and electronic library services.​

​​​​​14  - WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION?

​Commission ​​​​​​​General Information

Accreditation is not a requirement nor a prerequisite to obtaining a state license or permit to open a school. ​

LIFE AFTER INITIAL APPROVAL

Agendas and weblinks will be available on the CIE Agenda page a week or so before the meeting date. We will include links to them as soon as available.


Important Note: Institutions included in the agenda are required to attend in person and be available for any questions commission members may have. 

​​​​17 -  WHEN CAN WE APPLY FOR SEVP CERTIFICATION AND ENROLL INDIVIDUALS WITH A I-20 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS?

Learn about the Florida Commission for Independent Education (CIE) rules, deadlines, application, life after approval, and consulting services we provide  ​ ​​​​

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​​July 26 and 27, 2022 
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​Mission Inn Resort Club
10400 County Road 48
Howey-In-The-Hills, Florida 34737
800-874-9053​​

​​​​​​​1 - WHAT IS THE FLORIDA COMMISSION FOR INDEPENDENT EDUCATION?​

6 - IS THE FLORIDA LICENSE APPLICATION PROCESS THE SAME FOR ALL TYPES OF  INSTITUTIONS? ​

​​​​12 -  THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A NEW FLORIDA SCHOOL LICENSE

Licensed institutions considering enrolling nonimmigrant students need to complete the process of school certification with the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). To learn about the process, visit our page on SEVP School Certification.​

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12 - The application process for a provisional Florida school license

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​​​​16 - WHEN CAN WE APPLY FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID FUNDING?

2 - WHEN IS CIE's NEXT MEETING? ​​

​​Life After Provisional License 

Florida Commission for Independent Education Consultant​​

​​​​​20 - SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION 

​​​​​18 - NEW FLORIDA SCHOOL LICENSE CONSULTING SERVICES

A religious college or university may operate without governmental oversight if the college annually verifies by sworn affidavit to the commission required information as listed on the Florida Commission on Independent Education Religious Institution page. The commission may provide such religious institutions a letter stating they are not subject to governmental oversight.  Application for religious institution letter of exemption.​

4 - WHAT ARE CIE'S 2022 MEETING DATES AND DEADLINES? ​

OUR SERVICES 

Our Services 

​​​​15 - WILL OUR PROGRAMS BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID FUNDING?

New Institution Application 

​7 - HOW TO REQUEST AN EXEMPTION FOR A FLORIDA RELIGIOUS COLLEGE OR UNVERSITY ​

Prior to starting the work on the application, we recommend new school owners complete the homework included on our page Start a Vocational School or College in Florida. 


For a detailed explanation of the application process step by step, timing, requirements, documentation, fees, and the list of boards that also require approval visit How to Open a School or College in Florida. ​


Now that you are ready to get the work going, visit How to Complete CIE New Institution Application for an explanation of each one of the items of the provisional Florida license application and tips. You can do it!​

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The application process for a Florida license by an international university is the same as for any other institution, however, there are additional aspects to be considered. Among others, the international institution will be required to have a Florida campus, operate with personnel from the Florida campus, and meet all requirements as any other local institution applying for a provisional license in the State of Florida. The institution must be owned by a legal entity incorporated in the United States. We recommend international institutions is to take the time to inform themselves about all those additional elements before starting the process of application.​

Private higher education institutions are all required to first obtain a license to operate in Florida. Higher education refers to education that is provided by universities, colleges, vocational schools, trade schools, and career schools. It is also referred to as postsecondary education.  These institutions award degrees, diplomas, and professional certifications.​

​​Our services as Florida Commission for Independent Education consultants have helped many new owners with the license for their vocational schools, colleges, and universities. The commission requirements for initial approval and ongoing compliance are explained on this page. Included next, find the most common questions by new Florida school owners organized in four sections for easy access:


  • Commission General Information 
  • New Institution Application 
  • Life After Initial Approval
  • Consulting Services ​​

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9 - IS A LICENSE TO OPERATE THE SAME AS ACCREDITATION? ​

  • Complimentary Consultation 
  • Assistance with Florida vocational school, college, and university applications
  • Nursing school applications
  • Allied Health school applications
  • Beauty school applications
  • Degree-granting, online, and hybrid school applications
  • English as a Second Language (ESL) school applications
  • Florida Board of Nursing school applications
  • Renewals, on-site visit preparation, new programs, and new location applications​​​​

10 - IS ACCREDITATION A REQUIREMENT FOR A STATE LICENSE?  ​

The Commission on Independent Education meetings are conducted every other month: January, March, May, July, September, and November. Deadlines for new institution applications are usually five months in advance. Included next are the dates and deadlines for 2022:


​​March 29-30, 2022

Deadline: November 1, 2021

May 3-4, 2022
Deadline: January 1, 2022

July 26-27, 2022
Deadline: March 3, 2022
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September 29-30, 2022
Deadline: May 1, 2022

November 17-18, 2022
Deadline: July 1, 2022​​

Institutions that have received accreditation status from an approved accrediting agency may apply for federal student financial aid given all requirements are met, and programs are eligible. The process may take between 9 and 18 months. Timing varies depending on the Department of Education workload at the time your application is submitted.

All institutions require a license (or state approval) to operate. Schools may choose to pursue the status of accreditation after operating for a minimum of two years (depending on the chosen accrediting agency). For most institutions, accreditation status is not required. Certain Florida Boards and Councils may require programmatic accreditation such as the nursing board. Accreditation gives institutions the ability to provide Federal Financial Aid to students for programs that qualify (not all programs qualify for Federal Financial Aid). ​

Schools receive an annual onsite visit and are required to report information on enrollments, graduates, and placements each November. Renewals are also annual, as well as the payment of fees to the commission. We recommend institution owners familiarize themselves with the Commission's Rules and Laws in order to maintain compliance and avoid any situations that could keep the school on provisional status, or call for the closing of the institution. Watching CIE meeting webcasts is a must to keep abreast with your sector and regulation news.​

  1 - ​What is the Florida Commission for Independent Education?

  2 - When is the next CIE meeting?

  3 - How can I access CIE’s meeting agenda and link to webcasts?

  4 - What are CIE’s 2022 meeting dates and deadlines?

  5 - What type of institutions require a Florida License to operate?

  6 - Is the Florida license application process the same for all types of institutions?

  7 - How to request CIE’s exemption for a Florida religious college or university

  8 - What is the process for an international university to open in the United States?

  9 - Is a license to operate the same as accreditation? 

10 - Is accreditation a requirement for a state license? 

11 - CIE’s Important Links​

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COMMISSSION GENERAL INFORMATION

​​​​18 - New Florida school license consulting services

19 - Pages with related content

​​20 - Schedule a complimentary consultation​

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​​​​​​19 - PAGES WITH RELATED CONTENT

We hope the information included on this page has answered your questions regarding the commission and new school applications. Still needing assistance with your Florida school application?  We are glad to help! Request a free consultation by calling 786-618-277, emailing [email protected], or completing the free session request form.  Our experience as Florida Commission for Independent Education consultants is readily available to help you obtain state approval and maintain continuous compliance. ​​​

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8 - WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO OPEN IN USA?​

Accreditation is a requirement for most state and federal funding sources. Institutions may apply for accreditation between one to two years after receiving their first license to operate. The accreditation process takes an average of 18 months to 2 years, and the approval depends heavily on how well the institution has managed its records and operations for the past two years. Visit our page on school accreditation to learn about recommended accrediting agencies, eligibility requirements, and a checklist to get started. 

college students working on a lpatop

​​Interested in learning more? Visit the following pages for information on relevant topics for school owners:


​​​​​​13 -  WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER PROVISIONAL LICENSE?

5 - WHAT TYPE OF INSTITUTIONS REQUIRE A FLORIDA LICENSE TO OPERATE? ​

​​​BAYSIDE PROJECTS