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State Authorizations

Below is a list of states in which Pacific Oaks College & Children’s School (“Pacific Oaks”) is currently enrolling students in its distance education programs. Either Pacific Oaks has been granted state authorization to offer distance education programs to students residing in (located in) that state where required, or Pacific Oaks is not subject to state authorization to offer distance education programs. At the present time, Pacific Oaks is not authorized to provide distance education in any states that are omitted from this list, and therefore will not accept enrollment applications from prospective students residing in (located in) those omitted states until authorization is obtained.

NOTE: If a student relocates to a state in which Pacific Oaks is not authorized to provide distance education, continued enrollment and/or receipt of federal student aid funding, including federal loans and Pell Grants, cannot be guaranteed. Relocation to a state in which Pacific Oaks is not authorized to offer distance education may also impact a student’s loan repayment or deferment status and/or other benefits, such as veterans’ education benefits. Students enrolled in distance education programs are encouraged to contact the Registrar’s Office to discuss any change in their legal state of residence prior to relocation to determine the impact of the change.

Alaska

Pacific Oaks College is exempt from authorization requirements by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education pursuant to AS 14.48 and 20 AAC 17 because the program is online or distance delivered and does not have a physical presence in the state.

A student who is a resident of Alaska and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here https://acpe.alaska.gov/ConsumerProtection

Arizona

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Arizona.

California

Pacific Oaks College has authority to operate in the State of California by way of an exemption granted by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education pursuant to California Education Code section 94874(i).

A student who is a resident of California and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://www.bppe.ca.gov/enforcement/complaint.shtml.

Colorado

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Colorado.

Florida

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Florida Commission for Independent Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Florida with certain exceptions.

Hawaii

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Hawaii Post-secondary Education Authorization Program and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Hawaii.

Idaho

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Idaho State Board of Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Idaho.

Illinois

Pacific Oaks College is authorized by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, by way of an exemption as an Institution with Limited Physical Presence in Illinois, to provide distance education programs to Illinois residents pursuant to 23 Illinois Administrative Code Section 1030.10.

A student who is a resident of Illinois and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://complaints.ibhe.org

Indiana

Pacific Oaks College is authorized by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education to enroll and offer online instruction or distance education to Indiana residents delivered from a campus in another state pursuant to Indiana Administrative Code IC 21-18.5-6-12.
A student who is a resident of Indiana and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://www.in.gov/che/2744.htm

Iowa

Pacific Oaks College is exempt from oversight by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission and is therefore permitted to offer certain online programs to Iowa residents.

A student who is a resident of Iowa and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/StudentComplaintForm

Kentucky

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Kentucky Council on Post-secondary Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs that do not contain a fieldwork component to students who reside (are located) in Kentucky with certain exceptions.

Louisiana

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Louisiana Board of Regents and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Louisiana.

Maine

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Maine Department of Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Maine.

Maryland

Pacific Oaks College is registered with the Maryland Higher Education Commission to offer certain online programs to Maryland residents.

A student who is a resident of Maryland and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://mhec.maryland.gov/institutions_training/Pages/career/pcs/complaint.aspx.

Massachusetts

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Massachusetts.

Michigan

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Michigan.

Mississippi

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Mississippi.

Missouri

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs that do not contain a fieldwork component organized by the institution to students who reside (are located) in Missouri with certain exceptions.

Nebraska

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Nebraska.

Nevada

Pacific Oaks College has also been issued an Experiential License by the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education to deliver accredited programs with fieldwork components per the current academic catalog to students who reside (are located) in Nevada with certain exceptions.

Pacific Oaks College is also able to deliver distance education programs that do not contain a fieldwork component to students who reside (are located) in Nevada with certain exceptions.

A student who is a resident of Nevada and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://cpe.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/cpenvgov/content/Students/Complaint%20Form%20Initial%202021.pdf

New Hampshire

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the New Hampshire Department of Education, Division of Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in New Hampshire.

New Jersey

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in New Jersey.

New Mexico

Pacific Oaks College has been deemed by the New Mexico Higher Education Department to meet the standards for State Authorization under the regulation of distance education pursuant to the Interstate Distance Education Act (Section 21-23B-1 et seq. NMSA 1978).

A student who is a resident of New Mexico and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here https://hed.state.nm.us/students-parents/student-complaints

North Carolina

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the North Carolina Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs that do not contain a fieldwork component to students who reside (are located) in North Carolina with certain exceptions.

Ohio

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Ohio Department of Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs that do not contain a fieldwork component to students who reside (are located) in Ohio with certain exceptions.

Oklahoma

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Oklahoma.

Oregon

Pacific Oaks College is authorized by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission Office of Degree Authorization to offer certain online programs to Oregon residents.

Students should attempt to resolve any grievances they may have with their school first. Should attempts to resolve these problems with appropriate school officials fail, or should the student be dissatisfied with the final outcome of the college complaint process, then the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), can respond to a formal complaint. Students may contact the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, 3225 25th St. SE, Salem, OR 97302 or by sending an email to [email protected]. Students may also access our Complaints web page at https://www.oregon.gov/highered/about/Pages/complaints.aspx

Pennsylvania

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Pennsylvania.

South Carolina

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the South Carolina Commission for Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in South Carolina.

South Dakota

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the South Dakota Secretary of State – Post-secondary Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in South Dakota.

Tennessee

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Tennessee.

Texas

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Texas Higher Ed. Coord. Board and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Texas with certain exceptions.

Vermont

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Vermont Agency of Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Vermont.

Virginia

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the Virginia State Council of Higher Education and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs to students who reside (are located) in Virginia.

Utah

Pacific Oaks College is registered with the State of Utah Department of Commerce pursuant to Utah Code Ann. § 13-34a-203 and thereby legally authorized by the State of Utah to operate educational programs beyond secondary education, including programs that lead to a degree or certificate. [This registration was obtained exclusively for POC’s online programs ONLY.]

A student who is a resident of Utah and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here https://dcp.utah.gov/complaints/manual.html

Washington

Pacific Oaks College is authorized by the Washington Student Achievement Council and meets the requirements and minimum educational standards established for degree-granting institutions under the Degree-Granting Institutions Act. This authorization is subject to periodic review and authorizes Pacific Oaks College to offer field placement components for specific degree programs. The Council may be contacted for a list of currently authorized programs. Authorization by the Council does not carry with it an endorsement by the Council of the institution or its programs. Any person desiring information about the requirements of the act or the applicability of those requirements to the institution may contact the Council at P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430 or by email at [email protected]." A student who is a resident of Washington and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint. Visit https://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints for information regarding the WSAC complaint process.

West Virginia

Pacific Oaks College is not subject to oversight by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and is therefore able to deliver distance education programs that do not contain a fieldwork component to students who reside (are located) in West Virginia with certain exceptions.

Wyoming
Pacific Oaks College is authorized by the Wyoming Department of Education to offer educational services to Wyoming students. A student who is a resident of Wyoming and who wishes to make a complaint about the institution should follow the process outlined here: https://1ddlxtt2jowkvs672myo6z14-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Wyoming-Department-of-Education-Student-Complaint-Process.pdf.

Program Specific Approvals

School of Education

Courses in the credential programs meet the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requirements for a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential or Preliminary Education Specialist Credential. Learn more.

School of Cultural and Family Psychology

The M.A. in MFT program satisfies all of the requirements of SB 33 and the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) (Business and Professions Code Sections 4980.36c, d e 4980.39, 4980.40, and 4980.41).

The MFT program prepares graduates to sit for the California MFT exam to earn a Marriage and Family Therapist License awarded by the California Board of Behavioral Science. Learn more.

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