Family & Community Alternative Learning
Massachusetts Proprietary Schools

About Proprietary Schools

All private occupational schools must be licensed by or registered with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. A private occupational school, or proprietary school, is a privately owned and operated post-secondary school that charges tuition and is organized as either a non-profit or a profit-making venture primarily to teach vocational or occupational skills. There are three types of proprietary schools-business, correspondence, and trade. Three separate statutes regulate these schools, and all are overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department).

Schools must apply to the Department for an initial license in addition to submitting financial information to the Office of the State Auditor to determine the solvency of the school and to set the amount of surety. Proprietary school licenses are valid for two years, as long as required interim year documentation is filed with the Department in order to keep the license in effect. Additionally, schools must submit required financial information to the Office of the State Auditor each year.

The Commissioner of Education determines whether applicants are qualified to operate proprietary schools based on:

• the qualifications, training, and experience of the instructors employed or to be employed by the schools;
• the building facilities and equipment available or to be available for the instruction to be offered by the schools;
• the form and content of the courses to be offered by the schools;
• the particular field of instruction to be offered by the schools; and
• the form of any contract or agreement to be executed by prospective students.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the Office of Proprietary Schools at 781-338-6048, or email us at proprietaryschools@doe.mass.edu.