No exemption from the requirements for degree authorization is considered to be permanent. The exemption granted is dependent upon the institution's maintenance of the conditions under which the exemption was granted.

Unless otherwise indicated, the provisions of this chapter do not apply to:

(1) Honorary credentials clearly designated as such on the front side of the diploma or certificate and awarded by institutions offering other educational credentials in compliance with state law.

(2) Any public college, public university, public community college, or public technical college or institute operating as part of the public higher education system of this state.

(3) Institutions that have received institutional accreditation from an association recognized by the council and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Provided:

(a) The institution has been continuously offering degree program(s) in Washington for fifteen years or more; and

(b) The institution was established originally within the state of Washington and has operated as the same organization continuously from that date until the present. An institution is considered to have operated as the same organization continuously if it has no significant alteration of primary location, ownership, majority control, other than routine board membership turnover, or incorporation and no closure involving cessation of substantially all organized instructional and administrative activity; and

(c) The institution has been accredited as a degree-granting institution for ten years or more by an accrediting association recognized by the council and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, and maintains such accreditation status; and

(d) The institution maintains eligibility to participate in Title IV financial aid programs.

(4) A branch campus, extension center, or off-campus facility operating within the state of Washington, which is affiliated with an institution domiciled outside this state, Provided:

(a) It has continuously offered degree programs in Washington for fifteen years or more; and

(b) It has held separate institutional accreditation as a free-standing institution for ten years or more by an accrediting association recognized by the council and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, and maintains such accreditation status; and

(5) Institutions offering instruction on a federal enclave solely to federal employees and their dependents. If the institution offers or advertises instruction for other persons, the institution shall be subject to authorization.

(6) Institutions recognized by the Washington state legislature as an accredited Washington degree-granting institution, provided the institution maintains all conditions specified in the legislation as part of the recognition.

(7) Tribally controlled Native American colleges.

(8) Institutions which offer program(s) of study whose sole stated objective is training in the religious beliefs of the controlling religious organization and/or preparation of students for occupations that are primarily religious organization-related, Provided:

(a) The institution's mission reflects its religious nature; and

(b) The institution's degree program(s) in title and abbreviation, curriculum content, and objectives reflect the strictly religious nature of the institution; and

(c) The institution's program(s) require a prescribed program of study, which must be successfully completed prior to the granting of a degree; and

(d) The institution's program(s) of study are represented in an accurate manner in institutional catalogs, web sites, and other official published materials; and

(e) The institution does not claim or publicize accreditation from an accrediting association that is not recognized by the council and the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

(9) In the case of institutions which offer both religious and secular programs, the secular programs shall be subject to the requirements of chapter 28B.85 RCW.

(10) Institutions not otherwise exempt which offer only workshops and seminars and institutions offering only credit-bearing workshops or seminars lasting no longer than three calendar days.

PDFWAC 250-61-060

Exemption criteria.