SCHEV; evaluating certain activities/programs of private & out-of-state postsecondary institutions.
Summary
HB1995 directs the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to study whether Virginia should exempt certain noncredit courses offered by private and out-of-state postsecondary institutions from the state certification requirements that normally apply to schools operating in the Commonwealth. The bill specifically focuses on short, noncredit programs tied to nationally recognized certifications, including certified Scrum training and courses intended solely to prepare students for project management professional certification, so long as the course does not exceed the hours required by the certifying body.
Rather than immediately changing the law, the measure requires SCHEV to evaluate the issue and report recommendations to legislative committees by November 1, 2025. In making its recommendations, SCHEV must consider possible benefits, unintended or negative consequences, how other states regulate or exempt similar courses, and whether 23.1-226 of the Code of Virginia should be amended or otherwise modified.
Impact
The bill does not itself create a new exemption in the Code of Virginia; instead, it initiates a formal review of 23.1-226 and related certification rules for private and out-of-state postsecondary schools. Its practical effect is to place SCHEV on a deadline to assess whether certain workforce-oriented, noncredit certification-prep courses should be removed from the certification regime, which could affect schools, training providers, and students seeking professional credentials if future legislation follows the report's recommendations.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have received broadly favorable treatment throughout the legislative process, with strong committee and floor support in both chambers and only one recorded negative vote at the House conference-report stage. The votes suggest general agreement with studying a targeted regulatory exemption for short-term professional training programs, rather than immediate deregulation.
Contention
The main point of contention is the policy question of whether exempting these noncredit courses from state certification requirements would improve access and flexibility for workforce training or instead create unintended consumer-protection or oversight problems. Supporters appear to favor reducing regulatory burdens on nationally recognized certification prep courses, while any opposition likely centers on preserving SCHEV oversight and ensuring that exempt providers still meet quality and accountability standards. The Senate and House briefly disagreed over a substitute, indicating some differences in how the study or eventual recommendations should be framed, but those differences were resolved in conference.