Obtaining a Florida School License

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We hope the information included on this page has answered your questions about starting an educational institution in Florida. Still needing assistance with your school application? We serve clients in all 50 US states and are accredited by the Better Business Bureau with a BBB A+ Rating. Count on us for help with your career school needs.

Request a free consultation by calling 786-618-2277, emailing [email protected], or completing the free session request form. We are readily available to help you start a vocational school or college in Florida and provide a consultation on continued compliance.

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Undergraduate: Associate & Bachelor Degrees
Graduate: Master & Doctoral Degrees
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Additional Programmatic Areas
Can't find the program you are considering for your new institution or accreditation? Let us know through our comment form. The list above only includes the most common areas of consulting. We will be happy to let you know if we are available to assist you with your specific program niche.

Getting Started

Considering opening a vocational school or college in Florida? Learn the basics to get started with the Commission for Independent Education (CIE) application to obtain a license to operate.

Start a Vocational School or College in Florida

THE PROCESS

Starting a vocational school or college in Florida requires obtaining a license that will allow your institution to offer degree, diploma, or certificate programs. The new institution application process includes 10 steps from planning to approval:

Prepare a business plan and projected budget
Register a Florida corporation
Lease or own a Florida campus location
Secure financial resources
Purchase instruction and operation equipment
Secure services and affiliation agreements
Hire faculty and administrative personnel
Submit the application, 24 exhibits, and fees
Satisfy all application review requests
The commission votes and grants the license

APPLICATION DUE DATES

There are six due dates annually for new institution applications:

January 1st
March 1st
May 1st
July 1st
September 1st
November 1st

On average, the licensing process takes 6 to 9 months for a complete well-prepared application. The commission expects applications to include all required exhibits. Let us help you prepare a winning package.

APPLICATION EXHIBITS LIST

Ready to learn more? Visit our Florida school application exhibits list page. Download the free reference guide. Understanding the exhibits required with the application is the first step in sizing this project's scope.

WATCH THE NOVEMBER 2024 MEETING LIVE

The Florida commission meeting is scheduled for the 21st & 22nd. The first day agenda is dedicated to degree granting institutions, and the second to vocational schools. It is open to the public and broadcast live on YouTube. Visit our CIE November 2024 Meeting page for information regarding the agendas and weblinks.

THE NEW SCHOOL APPLICATION

Visit Open a School or College in Florida for a review of the application and approval process with the Florida Department of Education. This page includes answers to common initial application questions, Florida Board requirements, and recommended homework to complete before starting the application process.

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION STEP-BY-STEP

Visit How to Complete CIE New Institution Application for a review of the 24 exhibits and submission process. This page includes tips on avoiding common mistakes and links to tutorial videos for many of the items.

COMMISSION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For answers to the commission's most common questions, visit our Florida Commission for Independent Education page. Among others, it includes the commission scope and responsibilities, the 2024 calendar, the difference between licensing and accreditation, and what to expect after initial approval.

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

We have helped many new Florida school owners obtain their career school and college licenses. Visit our Florida Consulting Page for a complete list of the services readily available to assist you. We can help you with the entire application process, including the planning, preparing the application documents, and operations training. Schedule a complimentary consultation today.

We are ready to assist you with your

Florida vocational school, college, university
License applications, renewals, adding programs
Change of ownership, adding a new campus

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