Section 1450.275  Pre-License Schools

a)         In accordance with Section 30-5(a) of the Act, any person or entity seeking approval to provide pre-license education shall submit an application on forms provided by the Division along with the appropriate fee required by this Part. The Division shall, after review by the Advisory Council, approve a pre-license school if it meets certain minimum requirements and pays the required fee as provided in the Act and this Part.

b)         The program of education for a pre-license school shall:

1)         Be approved by the school's governing and/or supervising body;

2)         Use instructors who have a valid license as a pre-license instructor as set forth in the Act and Section 1450.278;

3)         Have a curriculum that conforms to the standards of Section 1450.276;

4)         Administer a final course examination as outlined in Section 1450.276.

c)         Facilities

1)         A pre-license school must provide an office in Illinois for the maintenance of all records, office equipment and office space necessary for customer service.

2)         The premises, equipment and facilities of the pre-license school shall comply with all applicable community fire codes, building codes, and health and safety standards.

3)         The pre-license school is subject to inspection prior to approval or at any time thereafter by authorized representatives of the Division. The inspection shall be during regular business hours, with at least 24 hours' advance notice of the inspection.

4)         No pre-license school shall be maintained in a private residence.

5)         Whenever a pre-license school intends to operate a branch location, an application shall be submitted to the Division for each branch location. Each application shall be accompanied by the fee as required by this Part.

6)         No pre-license school shall allow the school premises or classrooms to be used during class time by anyone to directly or indirectly recruit students to become affiliated with a licensee. Instructors and school administrators shall promptly report to the Division any such efforts to recruit students.

d)         Administration

1)         Pre-License schools shall use only licensed pre-license instructors.

2)         No licensed pre-license school shall advertise that it is endorsed, recommended, or accredited by the Division. The pre-license school, however, may indicate that the school is licensed by and the course of study has been approved by the Division.

3)         Every pre-license school shall submit to the Division, upon its request, a schedule of all courses to be taught and when and where they will be taught. The Division shall be notified of any changes to that schedule.

4)         The pre-license school shall provide a prospective student prior to enrollment with information that specifies the course of study to be offered, the tuition to be charged, the school's policy regarding refund of unearned tuition when a student is dismissed or withdraws voluntarily or through hardship, any additional fee to be charged for supplies, materials or books that become the property of the student upon payment, and other matters that are material to the relationship between the school and the student.

5)         Each pre-license school shall maintain for each student a record which shall include the course of instruction undertaken, dates of attendance, and areas of study completed satisfactorily. Each student's record shall be maintained by the pre-license school for a period of 5 years and shall be available for inspection by the student or by the Division or its designee during regular business hours.

6)         A licensed pre-license school shall upon request give evidence of the financial resources available to equip and maintain the school, as documented by, e.g., a current balance sheet or an income statement.

7)         The Division shall be reimbursed by any out-of-state pre-license school for all reasonable expenses incurred by the inspector to inspect its facilities.

e)         The Division shall notify administrative officials of the applicant in writing within 15 days after its approval or disapproval. In the event the applicant is disapproved, the reasons will be detailed and the applicant advised that the applicant may request a hearing as provided for in Section 30-5 of the Act.

f)          The Division shall be notified of all proposed changes in ownership of a pre-license school on forms provided by the Division 30 days prior to the change in ownership.

(Source:  Amended at 30 Ill. Reg. 11075, effective June 8, 2006)