The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education licenses non-public postsecondary institutions that operate or recruit within the state to ensure that institutions comply with state regulations, maintain educational quality, and provide consumer protection for students and business owners.

Licensure is a legal requirement for any institution offering postsecondary education in South Carolina, whether based in South Carolina or out-of-state unless exempted. This includes both degree- and non-degree-granting institutions and requires meeting facility and program standards to comply with state regulations. 

For first-time applicants, the process can seem intimidating. 

“The process is meant to be thorough. It allows the potential business owner to consider their decision and ensure they meet regulations,” said Dr. Jessica Berry, Acting Director of Academic Affairs at CHE.

Nivia Green, whose business Excellence in Healthcare focuses on training nursing assistants, said the licensing experience was a challenging yet rewarding journey. 

“I learned a whole lot and now I respect the process because I saw how it protects the student, but it also protects me as a business owner,” Green said. 

Green’s commitment to excellence led her to the licensing process, which she completed to ensure that her institution could operate legally while maintaining the high standards she believes are essential for her students’ success. 

“I want to make sure that I can give them the individualized care and compassion and sometimes encouragement and nurturing that they need," Green said. "Here I don’t concentrate on the quantity of students I can get, but the quality of information I give them.”

For institutions seeking to become licensed, the CHE offers the following essential tips:

1. Develop a Plan

Licensure is a detailed and demanding process, but thorough planning can ease the journey. Some things to consider when developing a postsecondary education program are:

• Market demand and need for the institution and its program(s)
• Program format (distance learning ONLY, hybrid, residential, or solicitation/recruitment)
• Appropriate facilities/space for the type of program(s) and number of students
• Curriculum requirements: these may be industry-specific or tied to standards and best practices needed to be eligible for certification/workforce readiness.
• Materials, equipment, and accessibility to student resources
• Partnerships with or access to clinical, internship/externship, or apprenticeship sites
• Any specific timeframes or costs associated with your program/institution that need to be met
• Who will be teaching, and who will oversee administrative tasks? Do they meet the criteria for teaching at the institution?

2. Do Your Research

• Research all types of state licensing requirements carefully. Outside of the CHE licensing requirement, these can also include other permits or inspections, such as a business license, a fire inspection or certificate of occupancy, insurance and bond requirements, proof of licensure from other states, approvals from accrediting bodies, site visits, and or safety and compliance audits.
• Be sure to familiarize yourself with both state and federal requirements for your program.
• Research to confirm if your institution requires oversight from more than one agency/organization. Consider external entity timelines, and plan to submit paperwork in advance if licensure is required for time-sensitive participation in other programs.
• DO NOT begin operation or recruitment until all requirements have been met.

3. Make Your Programs Your Own

• With so many educational programs available, identify what makes yours unique.
• While many programs have professional guidelines to follow, refrain from copying curricula or plagiarizing materials from other institutions.
• It is not recommended that you use generic application templates from other institutions to create your catalog, enrollment agreement, transcripts, etc.

4. ALL institutions must complete an intake and orientation process before applying for licensure.

• Applicants are provided copies of regulations and statutes, forms, checklists, sample documents, and required disclosures (if applicable). Reading through the packet helps individuals gather the required materials and streamlines the process.
• Once you have completed that process, review the entire application package before submitting materials. Keep in mind that licensure will take time.

5. Ask Questions

If there is any uncertainty about the process, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. The CHE is there to help guide institutions through the requirements and paperwork. 

While navigating the CHE’s licensing process can be complex, with patience and preparation, your institution can successfully operate in South Carolina—just like Nivia Green, who successfully navigated the licensing process and is providing excellence in healthcare education. 

For questions or additional information, visit the CHE licensing of Non-Public Postsecondary Institutions web page or contact the licensing staff: Argentini Anderson, Ph.D. (Assistant Director) (803) 856-0511, Matthew Hartenstine (Program Coordinator) (803) 479-5996, Ende' Clark (Program Coordinator) (803) 856-0540.