Proprietary & For-Profit Schools

Download Initial Application Form

The following materials must be submitted with the completed initial application:

• Licensing fee of $100.00 payable to the Treasurer, State of Maine
• A valid surety bond in the amount of $20,000.00
• Certificates of inspection
• Financial Statements
• Accreditation
• Copy of School Calendar
• Curriculum — showing the content of subjects taught, type of work or skills to be learned, equipment and instructional materials, and library resources
• Student Records — copies of forms used for student record maintenance
• Admissions requirements — catalogs, advertisements, policy for admissions
• Graduation Requirements — copy of the policy
• Attendance Policy, including:
  • Standards of Progress
  • Definition of the school's grading system
  • Minimum grades considered satisfactory and minimum achievement level necessary to graduate
  • Academic probation policy
  • Readmission policy for students dismissed for unsatisfactory progress
• Qualification of Instructors — a list of instructors by name, subject(s) taught, education/training, and experience
• Total cost, including:
  • Tuition and Fees
  • Room and Board
  • Other (specify)

Once all materials have been received by the Maine Department of Education, the application will be reviewed to determine if the school is approved for licensure.

All renewal applications must be mailed in hard copy along with the application fee and required appendices. To achieve a faster processing time, applicant institutions are strongly urged to scan materials and send in PDF form to HigherEd.DOE@maine.gov in addition to mailing a hard copy.

2026 Proprietary School License Renewal Application

• The Maine Commissioner of Education has been legally authorized, as the State approving agent, to license all privately-owned business, trade, or technical schools operating and/or soliciting in Maine.
• This application must be complete and must be accompanied by supporting information as well as proof of continuous bond coverage equal to the greater of 10% of the applicant's gross receipts from tuition in the 12 months prior to the application for renewal, or $20,000.

• Academy of Medical Professions
• Allied Career Training Institute
• Bloom School of Therapeutic Arts
• Downeast School of Massage
• Downeast Wellness
• Happy Paws Unleashed
• Lincoln Tech
• Maine Instrument Flight
• MEMA Technical Education Center
• New World Ayurveda School
• Northeast Technical Institute
• Shelter Institute
• SPA Tech
• Therapeutic Bodywork Learning Center
• Zardus Massage

For-Profit College and University Review

Since the enactment of §10706, for-profit schools that are eligible to distribute Title IV funding must complete a report based on the reporting criteria listed in the Reporting accordion below and submit it to the Maine Department of Education by July 1st of each year. The reports will be made public through this website. For-profit institutions that do not participate in Title IV funding are exempt from generating the report.

• A+ Pet Grooming Academy
• Academy of Medical Professions
• Airlink LLC
• Bliss Living, LLC d/b/a Downtown Yoga And Healing Arts
• Bloom! School of Therapeutic Arts
• Career Management Systems Inc. d/b/a Spa Tech Institute
• Downeast Health Spa, Inc. d/b/a Downeast School of Massage
• Happy Paws Unleashed Grooming Academy
• Lincoln Technical Institute, Inc. d/b/a Lincoln Technical Institute
• Maine Instrument Flight
• MEMA Technical Education Center (MTEC)
• New World Ayurveda School (online school only)
• New England School of Clinical Hyp
• Northeast Technical Institute
• Panacea Yoga Studios, LLC d/b/a Panacea School of Integrative Health
• Pliable U
• Protect Academy
• Saco River Education Inc
• Shelter Institute
• SoleWise School of Reflexology
• Southern Maine School of Massage Therapy
• Stone & Mud LLC d/b/a Acadia School of Massage
• Therapeutic Bodywork Learning Center
• VTEC
• Zardus Art of Massage — School of Massage, Inc. d/b/a Zardus Holistic Wellness Group Inc

For-Profit College and University Review

Since the enactment of §10706, for-profit schools that are eligible to distribute Title IV funding must complete a report and submit it to the Maine Department of Education by July 1st of each year. The reports will be made public through this website. For-profit institutions that do not participate in Title IV funding are exempt.

A for-profit college or university shall report annually by July 1st to the Commissioner the following information in accordance with rules established by the Commissioner:

• The amount of funding, disaggregated by campus, spent on each of the following as compared with total spending:
  • Educational instruction
  • Advertising
  • Executive salaries
• The percentage of those who graduated in the previous calendar year, disaggregated by campus and program, who have employment in the field of study
• The percentage of those who graduated in the previous calendar year, disaggregated by campus and program, who are employed
• As reported to the U.S. Department of Education, the percentage of graduates from the previous 3 calendar years who received federal student loans, including:
  • The percentage who have defaulted
  • The percentage whose loan balances declined in the 3 years after repayment first became due (excluding those deferred due to military service)
• The design and implementation of student support services, including how student complaints are handled and the number and nature of complaints received

The report will be evaluated using the following metrics to determine adequate educational standards. The postsecondary institution must meet all criteria to receive a satisfactory score.

Funding

• Spending on instruction must not be less than 50% or more than 15% of total spending on advertising.

Accreditation

• The institution must have the necessary accreditations to allow graduates to meet professional licensing or other career standards related to the educational programs for which degrees or certificates are granted.

Student Support Services

• The institution will be evaluated on the design and implementation of student support services, including whether the complaint process is transparent, includes an appropriate official to receive complaints, and provides appropriate and timely responses.

§10706-A. For-profit college and university review.

Miscellaneous Application Materials

• For-Profit School Blanket Bond Form
• Chapter 147: Licensing of Privately Owned Business, Trade, and Technical Schools (Proprietary) — guidelines and rules