Section R4-39-102. Licensure and Licensure Procedures

A.      The Board may issue a conditional, regular, or supplemental license to a private institution to operate vocational programs.

B.       The Board may issue a conditional, provisional, regular, or supplemental license to a private institution to operate degree programs or grant degrees.

C.      Licenses are effective for a 12-month period from the date of issuance.

D.      The Board shall issue the following licenses to private, voca- tional institutions:

1.        An original license of an accredited, private, vocational institution is a regular license to operate vocational pro- grams.

2.        A license renewal of an accredited, private, vocational institution is a regular license to continue to operate voca- tional programs.

3.        An original license of a new, non-accredited, private, vocational institution is a one-year conditional license to operate vocational programs.

4.        A license renewal of a non-accredited, private, vocational institution is a regular license to continue to operate voca- tional programs.

E.       The Board shall issue the following licenses to private, degree- granting institutions:

1.        An original license of an accredited, private, degree- granting institution is a regular license to operate degree programs or grant degrees.

2.        A license renewal of an accredited, private, degree-grant- ing institution is a regular license to continue to operate degree programs or grant degrees.

3.        An original license of a new, non-accredited, private, degree-granting institution that complies with the provi- sions of R4-39-106 is a conditional license to operate degree programs or grant degrees.

4.        A license renewal of a non-accredited, private, degree- granting institution that complies with the provisions of R4-39-107 is a provisional license to continue to operate degree programs or grant degrees.

F.       For the purpose of A.R.S. § 41-1073, the Board establishes the following licensing time-frames:

1.        For an original conditional or original regular license application to operate vocational programs or an original regular license application to operate degree programs or grant degrees:

a.         Administrative completeness review time-frame: 90 days;

b.        Substantive review time-frame: 90 days;

c.         Overall time-frame: 180 days.

2.        For a conditional or provisional license application to operate degree programs or grant degrees:

a.         Administrative completeness review time-frame: 90 days;

b.        Substantive review time-frame: 150 days;

c.         Overall time-frame: 240 days.

3.        For a regular license renewal application to continue to operate vocational programs, degree programs, or grant degrees or a supplemental license application:

a.         Administrative completeness review time-frame: 45 days;

b.        Substantive review time-frame: 90 days;

c.         Overall time-frame: 135 days.

G.      Within 90 days of receiving an original conditional or original regular license application to operate vocational programs or an original regular, original conditional, or provisional license application to operate degree programs or grant degrees, or within 45 days of receiving a regular license renewal applica- tion to continue to operate vocational programs, degree pro- grams, or grant degrees or a supplemental license application, the Board shall finish an administrative completeness review.

1.        If the application is complete, the Board shall notify the applicant that the application is complete and that the administrative completeness review is finished. The sub- stantive review will begin on the date the notice is served.

2.        If the application is incomplete, the Board shall notify the applicant that the application is incomplete and specify what information is missing and what deficiencies are found in the application. The administrative complete- ness review time-frame is suspended from the date the notice is served until the applicant provides the Board with a revised application containing all missing informa- tion and correcting all deficiencies.

a.         An applicant with an incomplete application shall submit a revised application within 60 days of receipt of notice.

b.        If the applicant cannot submit a revised application within 60 days of receipt of notice, the applicant may request an extension of no more than 30 days by submitting a written request, documenting the reasons the applicant is unable to meet the 60-day deadline, to the Board postmarked or delivered with 60 days of receipt of notice.

c.         The Board shall grant the request for an extension of the 60-day deadline if the Board determines that the extension of the 60-day deadline will enable the applicant to submit a revised application containing all missing information and correcting all deficien- cies.

d.        Upon receipt and review of the revised application, and within the administrative completeness review time-frame, the Board shall notify the applicant that the administrative completeness review is finished. The substantive review will begin on the date the notice is served.

e.         If the revised application containing all missing information and correcting all deficiencies is not submitted within the 60-day deadline or the time permitted by an extension, the Board shall close the application. An applicant whose application is closed and who later wishes to seek licensure, shall apply anew.

H.      Within 90 days from the date on which the administrative completeness review of an original conditional or original reg- ular license application to operate vocational programs, an original regular license application to operate degree programs or grant degrees, a regular license renewal application to con- tinue to operate vocational programs, degree programs, or grant degrees or a supplemental license application is finished or within 150 days from the date on which the administrative completeness review of an original conditional or provisional license application to operate degree programs or grant degrees is finished, the Board shall complete a substantive review of the application, which may include an onsite verifi- cation, and render a decision.

1.        If the Board finds that the applicant meets all require- ments defined in statute and rule, the Board shall grant the license.

2.        If the Board finds that the applicant fails to meet all requirements defined in statute and rule, the Board shall deny the license.

3.        If the Board finds deficiencies during the substantive review of the application, the Board shall issue a written request, specifying the additional documentation to be submitted and deadline for submission. The time-frame for substantive review of an application is suspended from the date the written request for additional documen- tation is served until the date that all documentation is received.

4.        When the applicant and the Board mutually agree in writ- ing, the Board shall grant extensions of the substantive review time-frame totalling no more than 30 days.

5.        If the requested documentation is not submitted by the deadline date, the Board shall close the application. An applicant whose application has been closed and who later wishes to seek licensure, shall apply anew.

Historical Note

Adopted effective June 27, 1985 (Supp. 85-3). Amended

effective November 14, 1997 (Supp. 97-4).