93A-34. License required; application for license; fees; requirements for issuance of license.

(a) No person, partnership, corporation or association shall operate or maintain or offer to operate in this State a private real estate school as defined herein unless a license is first obtained from the Commission in accordance with the provisions of this Article and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission under this Article. For licensing purposes, each branch location where a school conducts courses shall be considered a separate school requiring a separate license.

(b) Application for a license shall be filed in the manner and upon the forms prescribed by the Commission for that purpose. The Commission may by rule set nonrefundable application fees not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each school location and fifty dollars ($50.00) for each real estate broker prelicensing or postlicensing course. The application for a license shall be accompanied by the appropriate fees and shall contain the following:

(1) Name and address of the applicant and the school;

(2) Names, biographical data, and qualifications of director, administrators and instructors;

(3) Description of school facilities and equipment;

(4) Description of course(s) to be offered and instructional materials to be utilized;

(5) Information on financial resources available to equip and operate the school;

(6) Information on school policies and procedures regarding administration, record keeping, entrance requirements, registration, tuition and fees, grades, student progress, attendance, and student conduct;

(7) Copies of bulletins, catalogues and other official publications;

(8) Copy of bond required by G.S. 93A-36;

(9) Such additional information as the Commission may deem necessary to enable it to determine the adequacy of the instructional program and the ability of the applicant to operate a school in such a manner as would best serve the public interest.

(c) After due investigation and consideration by the Commission, a license shall be issued to the applicant when it is shown to the satisfaction of the Commission that the applicant and school are in compliance with the following standards, as well as the requirements of any supplemental regulations of the Commission regarding these standards:

(1) The program of instruction is adequate in terms of quality, content and duration.

(2) The director, administrators and instructors are adequately qualified by reason of education and experience.

(3) There are adequate facilities, equipment, instructional materials and instructor personnel to provide instruction of good quality.

(4) The school has adopted adequate policies and procedures regarding administration, instruction, record keeping, entrance requirements, registration, tuition and fees, grades, student progress, attendance, and student conduct.

(5) The school publishes and provides to all students upon enrollment a bulletin, catalogue or similar official publication which is certified as being true and correct in content and policy by an authorized school official, and which contains the following information:

a. Identifying data and publication date;

b. Name(s) of school and its full-time officials and faculty;

c. School's policies and procedures relating to entrance requirements, registration, grades, student progress, attendance, student conduct and refund of tuition and fees;

d. Detailed schedule of tuition and fees;

e. Detailed course outline of all courses offered.

(6) Adequate records as prescribed by the Commission are maintained in regard to grades, attendance, registration and financial operations.

(7) Institutional standards relating to grades, attendance and progress are enforced in a satisfactory manner.

(8) The applicant is financially sound and capable of fulfilling educational commitments made to students.

(9) The school's owner(s), director, administrators and instructors are of good reputation and character.

(10) The school's facilities and equipment comply with all applicable local, State and federal laws and regulations regarding health, safety, and welfare, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws relating to accessibility standards for places of public accommodation.

(11) The school does not utilize advertising of any type which is false or misleading, either by actual statement, omission or intimation.

(12) Such additional standards as may be deemed necessary by the Commission to assure the conduct of adequate instructional programs and the operation of schools in a manner which will best serve the public interest.