Welcome to the Licensing/Registration Process

Before any prospective school owner decides to pursue school licensure or registration, consideration should be made to be certain that the owner and the institution  are in a position to be able to operate in compliance with all of the requirements set forth in Education Law and Commissioner's Regulations.  The New York office of the United States Small Business Administration has valuable information available to help assist people in starting small businesses.  This information is available on their website at www.sba.gov/ny/ny.

The licensing process for private trade and registered business schools/ computer training facilities is set forth under Article 101 of the Education Law and Part 126 of the Regulations of the Commissioner and Policy Guideline 3-0800.  The Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision (BPSS), within the Office of Higher Education of the State Education Department, has simplified the licensing and registration process so that all institutions that can satisfy the required standards can achieve licensure or registration.

If your institution is seeking licensure/registration, you must read the applicable laws and regulations and policy guidelines contained on this web site and follow the steps below in working with BPSS to secure the appropriate licenses:

    Submit the following applications and forms for evaluation:

    1. Application for School License/ Registration (BPSS-1) and $250 application fee

    2. Supporting Documents for Type of Ownership
      1. Sole Proprietorship - consent to do business from county clerk
      2. Partnership - copy of partnership agreement
      3. Corporation - certificate of incorporation, filing receipt, Secretary's Certificate, certificate of assumed name if applicable, a photocopy of either the stock ledger or each stock certificate that has been issued up to and including the next blank to be issued
    3. Commissioner's Consent - The document that verifies that a school has received approval from NYSED's Office of Counsel to file its corporation papers as an educational institution.

    4. Financial Documents (see Section 126.8 of the Commissioner's Regulations)
      1. the owner's balance sheet
      2. statement of the type and location of all bank accounts held by owner
      3. school's 12-month projection of operating expenses including profits and losses
    5. Personnel Applications (see Section 126.6 of the Commissioner's Regulations)
      1. Director application (BPSS-15) including $50 application fee and supporting documentation
      2. Teacher applications including $50 application fee for each, and supporting documentation
        1. Private school teacher (BPSS-17) - must be submitted with application for a Licensed Private School.
        2. Business school teacher (BPSS-16) - must be submitted with application for a Registered Business School. If previously licensed, submit a copy of valid document.
    6. Agent application (BPSS-18) (see Section 126.12 of the Commissioner's Regulations) including $100 fee and 2 passport size photos for each. An application must be submitted for any individual who both receives any type of payment from the school or corporation, and solicits, procures or enrolls students

    1. Curriculum Applications (BPSS-30) - see Section 126.4 of the Commissioner's Regulations. Prospective owners encountering difficulties while completing this application are encouraged to communicate with Bureau staff.

      This application must specifically describe the course of instruction including components such as: duration of the program, performance objectives, occupational objective(s), means and methods of instruction, etc.

    2. Quarters Application (BPSS-6) - see Section 126.5 of the Commissioner's Regulations.
      This is necessary to provide assurance that the facilities are satisfactory for the proper conduct of the school. The facilities must be properly equipped and meet local fire, health and building standards. Approval by the Education Department is contingent upon receipt of the following documents:

      1. Certificate of Occupancy - issued by local municipalities to verify that the premises is approved for use as a school

      1. Local Department of Health approval or letter from the local Department of Health stating approval not required

    1. Fire Department approval

    This is the one component that is not required with the initial submission of a license application package. However, a school license/registration cannot be released until a quarters approval has been confirmed. The prospective owner will be notified by Education Unit Staff when evaluation is nearing completion and that the quarters should be submitted.

    1. School Prepared Forms - the school will be required to develop a wide variety of forms that are instrumental in providing administrative, information and instructional services to the students. Please refer to Part 126.7 and 126.9 of the Commissioner's Regulations for enrollment agreement and catalog information.  

      Examples of these forms

    NOTE: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE BUREAU AT (518) 474-3969.

    Back to BPSS Home
    Last updated July 17, 2006
    URL:  http://www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss/steps.htm