Proprietary School Certification

Any school, business, training provider, or organization providing postsecondary education and/or training must be certified or qualify for an exemption to legally recruit, enroll, teach, or train Missouri students. In Missouri, this is called Proprietary School Certification. The Office of Postsecondary Policy thoroughly reviews each application and makes a determination based on the information provided.

Operating without certification or exemption from the department is against the law and can result in fines or other penalties. Proprietary school certification offers consumer protection by:

• Establishing standards for school operations
• Monitoring operations to ensure students are treated fairly
• Ensuring students receive education and training consistent with the school’s published objectives

Additionally, schools are required to complete a recertification application each year and report any changes related to the school’s status to the department. Failure to complete recertification or report changes timely could result in the loss of a school’s certification or exemption status.