Private Career Schools Licensing - School Resources

Many Oregonians are served by private career schools that provide specialized training and certificate opportunities in fields as diverse as computer technology, cosmetology, healthcare, real estate, business, and more. If you are a representative of a private career school, you will find necessary guidance here on state requirements. Our unit licenses career schools to provide training and certificate programs to students in Oregon. Without licensure from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), a private career school cannot legally operate in Oregon.

For more information on the HECC’s private career school-related authorities, see Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) and Administrative Rules (OARs), specifically ORS 345 and OAR 715-045. The Private Career Schools (PCS) unit is part of the HECC Office of Academic Policy and Authorization, Private Postsecondary Authorization team. Our office is a regulatory and licensing state office, and is not an accrediting agency.

School Resources: Forms and Procedures

Representatives of private career schools should review the requirements described below, which include guidance on new school applications and renewals, program additions, personnel registration, and background checks.

Currently Licensed Private Career Schools

Our office maintains lists of schools that are licensed by HECC to operate in the State of Oregon by field.

Private Career Schools Advisory Committee

The Private Career Schools (PCS) Advisory Committee advises HECC staff with respect to education provided by private career schools in Oregon. They also provide staff with feedback on new and updated policy, procedures, and laws.

• Learn more about the PCS Advisory Committee, including upcoming meeting materials.
  
• Subscribe to receive public meeting notices by email.
  

Student and Consumer Protection

Our office provides consumer alerts regarding the status of schools, and guidance for students considering private institutions in Oregon.

• Student Resources for Private Institutions: including information on transcript requests, resources when a school closes, and more
  
• Updates and Consumer Alerts: including important information on the status of schools
  
• Student Complaints: processes for making complaints pertaining to private career schools