The Higher Education Licensure Commission ("HELC", the “Commission”) is a five member Mayoral appointed regulatory, consumer protection authority. They are responsible for public protection with regard to legitimate quality education in the District of Columbia. The Commission establishes standards for postsecondary educational operations, authorizes operations, approves programs, issues or denies licenses to, and oversees all private postsecondary educational institutions in the District of Columbia.

The Commission is the Mayor’s only entity authorized to issue educational licenses and is charged with advising the Mayor and City Council with respect to postsecondary educational needs of the District. The Commission is responsible for ensuring that institutions under its jurisdiction meet and comply with the standards and other requirements established by laws and regulations. The Commission’s granting or denial of license assures students who are enrolled in District of Columbia institutions that the courses offered and degrees conferred meet their standards and that the institutions with which they are dealing are presenting themselves in an honest and forthright manner.

The Commission has additional functions which include, but are not limited to, regulating and enforcing postsecondary laws and regulations, maintaining the student records of institutions which close and have no other depository, issuing certified transcripts, and investigating student and faculty complaints against educational institutions under its jurisdiction.

Authorized Institutions List

• Active Institutions
• Closed Institutions

Meetings and Events

• Higher Education Licensure Commission Meetings
• New Applicant Workshops

For Institutions

• Frequently Asked Questions for Institutions
• Applications and Forms
• Higher Education Licensure Fees [PDF]
• Distance/Online Education Inquiries
• State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)

For Students

• Frequently Asked Questions for Students
• Closed School Transcripts
• Closed School Advisories
• Public Complaints

For Community Stakeholders

• Interest in serving on the Commission

Higher Education Licensure Commission Law and Regulations governing post-secondary education in the District of Columbia (District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) Title 38, Chapter 13, DCMR Title 5)

• Higher Education Licensure Commission Law
• Chapter A-80 Regulations Governing Degree-Granting Institutions Operating or Incorporated in the District of Columbia
• Chapter A-81 Regulations Governing Non-Degree Granting Institutions Operating or Incorporated in the District of Columbia
• Chapter A-82 Organization and Procedures of the Higher Education Licensure Commission
• Chapter 83 Delivery of Online Instruction by a Postsecondary Educational Institution

For additional information search Higher Education Licensure Commission from http://lims.dccouncil.us/.

Commission Staff

For general inquiries please email [email protected].