32-3021. Private vocational program license; qualifications; provision of information; exemptions

A. A person shall not operate a private vocational program unless the person holds a private vocational program license issued pursuant to this chapter. Each program offered by a private vocational program licensee shall be authorized on a private vocational program license. The board shall prescribe the manner in which the programs shall be identified on the license.

B. An applicant for a private vocational program license shall meet all of the following requirements:

1. Furnish a letter of credit, surety bond or cash deposit as provided in section 32-3023.

2. Make specific information concerning educational programs, including statements of purpose, objectives, course of study, policies, fees and other pertinent information, available to prospective students and the general public.

3. Be financially responsible and have management capability.

4. Maintain a qualified faculty.

5. Maintain facilities, equipment and materials that are appropriate for the stated program. All facilities shall meet applicable state and local health and safety laws.

6. Maintain appropriate records as the board prescribes that are properly safeguarded and preserved.

7. Use only advertisements that are consistent with the information made available as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection.

8. Provide courses of instruction that meet stated objectives.

9. Provide a grievance procedure for students.

10. Comply with all federal and state laws relating to the operation of a private postsecondary educational institution.

11. Other requirements the board deems necessary.

C. An applicant for a private vocational program license shall submit evidence of meeting the requirements prescribed in subsection B of this section to the board. The board shall verify the evidence submitted. Verification shall include on-site verification.

D. The filing of an application grants the board the authority to obtain information from any of the following:

1. A licensing board or agency in any state, district, territory or county of the United States or any foreign country.

2. The Arizona criminal justice information system as defined in section 41-1750.

3. The federal bureau of investigation.

E. The board, on application, may issue a private vocational program license to a new educational institution as provided in this section, except that the board shall establish separate minimum standards for licensure requirements of new educational institutions. These minimum standards may include the modification of licensure requirements as provided in subsection B, paragraphs 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of this section to meet the circumstances of new educational institutions. The board, on application, may issue a private vocational program license to an educational institution that is otherwise exempt under subsection F of this section. The board shall monitor the new educational institution to ensure compliance with the licensure requirements. The board shall issue a private vocational program license as provided in this subsection one time only to new educational institutions.

F. This section does not apply to any of the following:

1. A school licensed pursuant to chapter 3 or 5 of this title.

2. An instructional program or course sponsored by a bona fide trade association solely for its members.

3. Privately owned academic schools engaged in the process of general education that is designed to produce a level of development equivalent to that necessary to meet the requirements for entrance into a public community college or public university in this state and that may incidentally offer technical and vocational courses as part of the curriculum.

4. Schools or private instruction conducted by any person engaged in training, tutoring or teaching individuals or groups, if the instruction is related to hobbies, avocations, academic improvement or recreation and may only incidentally lead to gainful employment.

5. Schools conducted by any person solely for training the person's own employees.

6. An instructional program or course offered solely for employees and for the purpose of improving the employees in their employment if both of the following apply:

(a) The employee is not charged a fee.

(b) The employer provides or funds the program or course pursuant to a valid written contract between the employer and a program or course provider.

7. Training conducted pursuant to 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 141.

8. A school that solely provides an instructional program for certified nursing assistants and licensed nursing assistants and is licensed by the nursing board pursuant to section 32-1606, subsection B, paragraph 11.

9. A professional driving training school licensed by the department of transportation pursuant to chapter 23, articles 1, 2 and 3 of this title.

10. A training program approved by the board of examiners of nursing care institution administrators and assisted living facility managers that solely provides training for managers and caregivers of assisted living facilities.

11. A yoga teacher training course or program or a yoga instructional course or program.

12. A private instructional program or course that is less than forty contact hours in length and that charges a fee of less than one thousand dollars. For the purposes of this paragraph, " contact hour" means a fifty-minute session of scheduled in-class or online instruction.