US Code

Public Law 119-83 (04/13/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 3675

Approval of accredited courses

(a)
(1)
section 3672 of this title A State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency, may approve accredited programs (including non-degree accredited programs) not covered by when—
(A)
such courses have been accredited and approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association;
(B)
20 U.S.C. 111
1 See References in Text note below.
such courses are conducted under the Act of ( et seq.); 
(C)
such courses are accepted by the State department of education for credit for a teacher’s certificate or a teacher’s degree; or
(D)
42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(f)(2)(A)(i) such courses are approved by the State as meeting the requirement of regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under sections 1819(f)(2)(A)(i) and 1919(f)(2)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act ( and 1396r(f)(2)(A)(i)).
(2)
(A)
For the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of Education shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations which that Secretary determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of training offered by an educational institution.
(B)
section 3672(e) of this title Except as provided in , a State approving agency may utilize the accreditation of any accrediting association or agency listed pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for approval of courses specifically accredited and approved by such accrediting association or agency.
(3)
(A)
An educational institution shall submit an application for approval of courses to the appropriate State approving agency. In making application for approval, the institution (other than an elementary school or secondary school) shall transmit to the State approving agency copies of its catalog or bulletin which must be certified as true and correct in content and policy by an authorized representative of the institution.
(B)
Each catalog or bulletin transmitted by an institution under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall—
(i)
state with specificity the requirements of the institution with respect to graduation;
(ii)
section 3676(b) of this title include the information required under paragraphs (6) and (7) of ; and
(iii)
include any attendance standards of the institution, if the institution has and enforces such standards.
(b)
As a condition of approval under this section, the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency, must find the following:
(1)
The educational institution keeps adequate records, as prescribed by the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency, to show the progress and grades of the eligible person or veteran and to show that satisfactory standards relating to progress and conduct are enforced.
(2)
The educational institution maintains a written record of the previous education and training of the eligible person or veteran that clearly indicates that appropriate credit has been given by the educational institution for previous education and training, with the training period shortened proportionately.
(3)
section 3676(c) of this titlesection 3676 of this title The educational institution and its approved courses meet the criteria of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (15), (16), and (18) of (or, with respect to such paragraphs (14) and (15), the requirements under such paragraphs are waived pursuant to subsection (f)(1) of ).
(4)
The educational institution—
(A)
20 U.S.C. 1070 is approved and participates in a program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( et seq.); or
(B)
does not participate in such a program and the Secretary has waived the requirement under this paragraph with respect to the educational institution, and submits to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives notice of such waiver, because the Secretary determines that the educational institution—
(i)
elects not to participate in such a program;
(ii)
cannot participate in such a program; or
(iii)
is in the process of making a good-faith effort to submit an initial application for approval to participate in such a program, except that a waiver under this clause may not be provided for a period of longer than 36 months.
(5)
section 3673(e)(3) of this title The educational institution agrees to, not later than 30 days after any date on which such educational institution becomes subject to an action or event described in , submit to the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency, a notification of such action or event in such form and containing such information as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(6)
The educational institution makes available to each eligible person or veteran a copy of the person or veteran’s official transcript in a digital format.
(c)
(1)
A State approving agency may approve the entrepreneurship courses offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses.
(2)
15 U.S.C. 632(a) For purposes of this subsection, the term “entrepreneurship course” means a non-degree, non-credit course of business education that enables or assists a person to start or enhance a small business concern (as defined pursuant to section 3(a) of the Small Business Act ()).
(3)
Subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) shall not apply to—
(A)
an entrepreneurship course offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses; and
(B)
a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses by reason of such provider offering one or more entrepreneurship courses.
(4)
section 3684(a)(1) of this title Notwithstanding paragraph (3), a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses shall maintain such records as the Secretary determines to be necessary to comply with reporting requirements that apply under with respect to eligible persons and veterans enrolled in an entrepreneurship course offered by the provider.
(d)
(1)
section 3672(b)(2)(A)(i) of this title The Secretary shall submit to Congress an annual report on any waivers issued pursuant to subsection (b)(4) or .
(2)
Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include, for the year covered by the report, the following:
(A)
The name of each educational institution for which a waiver was issued.
(B)
The justification for each such waiver.
(C)
The total number of waivers issued.

Pub. L. 88–126, § 177 Stat. 159 Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(8)80 Stat. 21 Pub. L. 94–502, title V90 Stat. 2399 Pub. L. 96–466, title VIII, § 801(d)94 Stat. 2216 Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A)103 Stat. 2092 Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)105 Stat. 406 Pub. L. 102–568, title III, § 312106 Stat. 4330 Pub. L. 103–446, title VI, § 605(a)(2)(A)108 Stat. 4672 Pub. L. 104–275, title I, § 103(c)110 Stat. 3326 Pub. L. 108–183, title III, § 305(a)117 Stat. 2660 Pub. L. 108–454, title I, § 110(c)(1)118 Stat. 3605 Pub. L. 111–377, title II, § 203(c)124 Stat. 4125 Pub. L. 114–315, title IV130 Stat. 1558 Pub. L. 116–315, title I, § 1015(a)134 Stat. 4945 Pub. L. 118–210, title II138 Stat. 2763–2765 (Added , , , § 1775; amended , , ; , §§ 504, 513(a)(2), , , 2402; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 3675 and amended , (c)(1), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 408(b), 409(c), 410(b), , , 1560, 1561; , , ; , §§ 205, 206(a), (b)(2)(B), 207(a), (b)(3), , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act Feb. 23, 1917, ch. 114 39 Stat. 929 Pub. L. 105–33, title VI, § 6201111 Stat. 653 section 11 of Title 20Act of , referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(B), is , , known as the Smith-Hughes Vocational Education Act, which was classified to sections 11 to 15 and 16 to 28 of Title 20, Education, prior to repeal by , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 89–32979 Stat. 1219 section 1 of Pub. L. 89–329section 1001 of Title 20The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A), is , , . Title IV of the Act is classified generally to subchapter IV (§ 1070 et seq.) of chapter 28 of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see , set out as a Short Title note under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–210, § 207(b)(3)2025—Subsec. (b)(3). , substituted “(15), (16), and (18)” for “(15), (16), and (17)”.

Pub. L. 118–210, § 206(b)(2)(B), substituted “(15), (16), and (17)” for “(14), (15), and (16)”.

Pub. L. 118–210, § 20520 U.S.C. 1070Subsec. (b)(4). , amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: “The educational institution is approved and participates in a program under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( et seq.) or the Secretary has waived the requirement under this paragraph with respect to an educational institution and submits to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives notice of such waiver.”

Pub. L. 118–210, § 206(a)Subsec. (b)(5). , added par. (5).

Pub. L. 118–210, § 207(a)Subsec. (b)(6). , added par. (6).

Pub. L. 116–315, § 1015(a)(1)2021—Subsec. (b)(4). , added par. (4).

Pub. L. 116–315, § 1015(a)(2)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 114–315, § 408(b)(1)section 3672 of this title2016—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “A State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency,” for “The Secretary or a State approving agency” and “not covered by ” for “offered by proprietary for-profit educational institutions” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 114–315, § 408(b)(2)(A)Subsec. (b). , substituted “the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency,” for “the Secretary or the State approving agency” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 114–315, § 408(b)(2)(B)Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency” for “the Secretary or the State approving agency”.

Pub. L. 114–315, § 410(b)Pub. L. 114–315, § 409(c)(1)Subsec. (b)(3). , which directed amendment of subsec. (b)(3) by substituting “(3), and (14)” for “and (3)”, could not be executed because the words “and (3)” did not appear after amendment by . See below.

Pub. L. 114–315, § 409(c)(2)section 3676 of this title, inserted before period at end “(or, with respect to such paragraphs (14) and (15), the requirements under such paragraphs are waived pursuant to subsection (f)(1) of )”.

Pub. L. 114–315, § 409(c)(1), substituted “(3), (14), (15), and (16)” for “and (3)”.

Pub. L. 111–377, § 203(c)(1)2011—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “The Secretary or a State approving agency may approve accredited programs (including non-degree accredited programs) offered by proprietary for-profit educational institutions” for “A State approving agency may approve the courses offered by an educational institution” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 111–377, § 203(c)(2)Subsec. (b). , inserted “the Secretary or” after “this section,” in introductory provisions and after “as prescribed by” in par. (1).

Pub. L. 108–4542004—Subsec. (c)(4). added par. (4).

Pub. L. 108–1832003—Subsec. (c). added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 104–275section 3676(c)(7) of this title1996—Subsec. (b). amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “As a condition to approval under this section, the State approving agency must find that adequate records are kept by the educational institution to show the progress of each eligible person or veteran and must include as a minimum (except for attendance) the requirements set forth in . The State approving agency must also find that the educational institution maintains a written record of the previous education and training of the eligible person or veteran and clearly indicates that appropriate credit has been given by the institution for previous education and training, with the training period shortened proportionately and the eligible person or veteran and the Secretary so notified.”

Pub. L. 103–446section 3672(e) of this title1994—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). substituted “Except as provided in , a State” for “A State”.

Pub. L. 102–56820 U.S.C. 111992—Subsec. (a). designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former par. (1) as subpar. (A), redesignated former par. (2) as subpar. (B), substituted “the Act of ( et seq.);” for “sections 11–28 of title 20; or”, redesignated former par. (3) as subpar. (C), added subpar. (D) and pars. (2) and (3), and struck out former concluding provisions which read as follows: “For the purposes of this chapter the Secretary of Education shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations which the Secretary determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of training offered by an educational institution and the State approving agencies may, upon concurrence, utilize the accreditation of such accrediting associations or agencies for approval of the courses specifically accredited and approved by such accrediting association or agency. In making application for approval, the institution shall transmit to the State approving agency copies of its catalog or bulletin which must be certified as true and correct in content and policy by an authorized representative of the school. The catalog or bulletin must specifically state its progress requirements for graduation and must include as a minimum the information required by sections 3676(b)(6) and (7) of this title.”

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)section 1775 of this title1991—, renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (a). , substituted “3676(b)(6)” for “1776(b)(6)” in last sentence.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (b). , substituted “3676(c)(7)” for “1776(c)(7)”.

Pub. L. 101–2371989—Subsec. (b). substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 96–4661980—Subsec. (a). substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” in two places.

Pub. L. 94–502, § 513(a)(2)1976—Subsec. (a). , substituted “the Commissioner determines” for “he determines”.

Pub. L. 94–502, § 504(1), inserted provision requiring that copies of the school bulletin be certified by an authorized representative of the school and that the bulletin specify the progress requirements for graduation and certain other information.

Pub. L. 94–502, § 504(2)section 1776(c)(7) of this titleSubsec. (b). , inserted provision requiring that school records contain as a minimum, except for attendance, the requirements set forth in .

Pub. L. 89–3581966—Subsec. (b). inserted “or veteran” after “eligible person” in three places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2025 Amendment

section 207 of Pub. L. 118–210section 207(c) of Pub. L. 118–210section 3672 of this titleAmendment by , effective , and applicable with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after such date, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–315section 1015(c) of Pub. L. 116–315section 3672 of this titleAmendment by effective on , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2011 Amendment

Pub. L. 111–377section 203(e) of Pub. L. 111–377section 3034 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2004 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–454, title I, § 110(c)(2)118 Stat. 3605

Public Law 108–183117 Stat. 2660 “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 305(a) of the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 (; ).”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–183section 305(f) of Pub. L. 108–183section 3452 of this titleAmendment by applicable to courses approved by State approving agencies after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–446section 605(b) of Pub. L. 103–446section 3672 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to programs of education exclusively by correspondence and to correspondence-residence courses commencing more than 90 days after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–466section 802(h) of Pub. L. 96–466section 3452 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–502Pub. L. 94–502section 3693 of this titleAmendment by sections 504 and 513(a)(2) of effective , and , respectively, see section 703(b), (c) of , set out as an Effective Date note under .