Statutory Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 20-3-250.5(b)(2); 20-3-250.6(a)(1)  

An institution's programmatic offerings must sufficiently address the learning objectives to prepare graduates for employment in the field for which the training is offered, as determined by the GNPEC in its sole discretion.

1. Each individually offered program must be approved by GNPEC.  

2. Each program of study must include the following: 

  • Clear objectives; 

  • Established and appropriate entrance requirements; 

  • A detailed curriculum outline; 

  • Theoretical and practical components; 

  • Assessment of knowledge gained; 

  • Remediation services; and 

  • Final evaluation. 

3. Each program must have syllabi and written lesson plans available for each course or, in the instance of single course programs, for the whole program. 

4. Programmatic length must be satisfactory to ensure amount content offered is relative to the programmatic level.  

  • Certificate—Minimum credit hours (or equivalent) as determined by the commission; can be offered at any postsecondary level

  • Associate—requires at least 60 semester credit hours (or equivalent)  

  • Bachelor—requires at least 120 semester credit hours (or equivalent)  

5. Institutions offering credit for experience and/or competency, or equivalent, must have a policy in place for how credit is granted based upon documented metrics.  

6. Institutional accreditation must be first attained in order to offer graduate degree programs. 

7. The institution must be able to make available a list of potential employment opportunities for which the program prepares. 

8. If certification, licensure, or other state and/or national vocational approval may be required of the graduate to become employed in the field, the institution must disclose if the program does not meet those requirements prior to, or at the time of, enrollment in published institutional materials. 

  • No program shall use the word “certified” in the program name unless the program is specifically designed to lead to an industry-recognized certification and the institution requires the student to sit and pass the exam for graduation from the program, or as determined by the Executive Director in his/her sole discretion.

9. The institution must have a system in place for evaluating and documenting student achievement such as through periodic examinations, skills assessment logs, and/or standardized achievement tests. Furthermore, the following practices are required: 

  • Established grading system; 
  • Ongoing/updated record of grades; and 
  • Established exit criteria for determining successful completion of course work and programs. 

10. The institution must incorporate teaching methods and procedures to provide for direct meaningful interaction between students and faculty.

  • The commission has the authority to deny programs for insufficient program length or curricular quality.
  • Unaccredited institutions are prohibited from offering fully asynchronous online-only program delivery, as determined by the commission, which includes the use of curriculums developed by third-party vendors. Hands on/lab training related to a field or profession associated with public health, public welfare, or public safety, as determined by the commission, must be done in person, not virtually.
  • Asynchronous delivery of the curriculum as part of the total clock hours of the program instruction may be denied by the Executive Director based on the nature of the occupations for which the training is intended.

11. The institution must periodically evaluate its ability to satisfy its mission statement through methods such as student surveys or an institutional effectiveness committee and develop procedures to improve its ability to satisfy its mission statement as necessary. 

12. The institution must periodically survey faculty as part of an institution-wide evaluation of its ability to satisfy its mission statement. 

  • Faculty and staff must be notified of relevant institutional policy changes through regular training and/or meetings.