Section 186 - Certificate of approval to operate a postsecondary institution(a) No person may operate a postsecondary institution without having obtained a certificate of approval from the Department. In order for the Department to issue a certificate of approval, a person must have the power to confer degrees from another state or territory, meet all of the statutory requirements in this subchapter, meet all of the regulatory requirements set forth in the Department's regulations adopted pursuant to this subchapter, and pay the application fee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Department may issue a certificate of approval to a person who has the power to confer degrees from another state or territory and meets the requirements of a reciprocity agreement to which the Department is a party. A certificate of approval is not transferrable. (1) If a person does not have approval to confer degrees from another state or territory and the person wishes to confer degrees, the person must obtain approval to confer degrees from the Department as provided in § 125 of Title 8.(2) Postsecondary institutions located outside of the United States and its territories may be considered for approval to confer degrees from the Department only upon accreditation from an accrediting agency.(b) The person's certificate of approval must be displayed on the person's website and made available to students upon request.(c) A certificate of approval is issued for a five-year period. A person must submit an application to renew a certificate of approval prior to the certificate of approval expiring.Added by Laws 2021, ch. 401,s 2, eff. 8/4/2022.