Virginia Law

A. Unless otherwise exempted from these regulations, all instructional offerings of a new or existing postsecondary school in Virginia are subject to this chapter, even when the credit awarded for those offerings may be transferred to a location outside Virginia.

B. A new postsecondary school must become certified to operate prior to engaging in activities related to postsecondary education via telecommunications activity, mail correspondence courses, or at a location within the Commonwealth.

1. The determination for certification of telecommunications activities or mail correspondence courses may be based upon, but not limited to, physical presence.

2. With the exception of degree programs, academic credit and other courses offered exclusively from outside the Commonwealth of Virginia through individual and private interstate communication, all telecommunications activities and mail correspondence courses are subject to the certification criteria required for all postsecondary schools.

C. Existing postsecondary schools must recertify compliance with certification criteria on an annual basis in order to continue offering postsecondary courses and programs.

D. Postsecondary schools operating branches in Virginia must certify each separately.

E. Noncertified postsecondary schools that seek to establish a postsecondary education consortium, agreement, partnership, or other similar arrangement with an existing certified postsecondary school must meet all requirements for certification as set forth in these regulations and must become certified to operate prior to engaging in postsecondary education activities within the Commonwealth of Virginia.