Out–of–State Institution Registration

Some postsecondary educational institutions located outside of California must register with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (Bureau) and follow certain laws and rules.

Who needs to register?

If you're an out-of-state school offering education in California but don’t have a physical location here, you likely need to register with the Bureau. To apply, complete the Registration or Re-Registration of Out-of-State Institutions application.

Who doesn’t need to register?

You do not need to register if your institution is:

• A nonprofit school that grants degrees and is accredited by a U.S. Department of Education–recognized agency.
  Note: The IRS must also recognize your nonprofit status under section 501(c)(3).
• A public college or university, including:
  • California Community Colleges.
  • A school run by the U.S. government, another state, a local government, or a federally recognized tribe.
  • A school created by a state or local government, and if all of these are true:
    • Your employees are government employees.
    • Your financial obligations are treated the same as the state or local governments.
    • You follow the same financial rules and public records laws as that state or local government.

How to verify registration

Check if a school is currently registered using our school search tool.

If you can’t find a school in the search and think it should be registered, let us know using our Contact Us form or file a complaint. You can also report issues with schools that are already registered.